About 20 million U.S. pets live in poverty with their owners, and 70% of them have never seen a veterinarian, according to a Harris Poll survey prepared for the Humane Society of the United States.
Other key findings include:
- 39% of pet owners said that at certain points they couldn’t afford their animal’s needs, such as emergency and preventive veterinary care, food and supplements.
- Most respondents agreed that one’s financial situation shouldn’t impact their ability to own a pet and that owners shouldn’t forfeit a pet if they fall on hard times.
- 75% of respondents said a person’s socioeconomic status shouldn’t prevent pet adoption.
- 91% of pet owners said they would make significant sacrifices — for example, giving up daily luxuries, money, relationships and job status — for their pet.
- Nine in 10 respondents said support services should be in place to help pets impacted by poverty.
“The human-animal bond transcends demographics, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of animal companionship,” said Kitty Block, the Humane Society’s president and CEO. “Millions of loving pet owners cannot afford or don’t have access to veterinary services or pet resources.”
To address the problem, the Humane Society launched the More Than a Pet campaign, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in May. The campaign elevates awareness and assists pet owners who face economic hardships and struggle to access veterinary care.
“No one should ever have to think about giving [a pet] up because they don’t have access to pet food, supplies and essential resources,” said Jackson Galaxy, the campaign’s celebrity ambassador. “We need to do all we can to keep these families together.”