Keeping our pets safe is something we should be continually aware of, not just when we get a new puppy or kitten! Any veterinarian’s office will tell you that there’s a ton of dangerous stuff around people’s homes and yards …
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Learning how to train a kitten isn’t hard when you realize that consistency, kindness, patience and the right training methods are key!
In this post, we’ll discuss:
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The post How to Train a Kitten first appeared on People Loving Animals.
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Lea-Ann Germinder With Lola
“Love Your Pet Day and all the many pet holidays were in the distant future. It was the age of the .coms (as in pets.com). Goodnewsforpets’ parent company, Germinder & Associates, managed the traditional newsroom for WVC and concurrently launched a virtual newsroom. It’s hard to believe now, but he buzz about launching websites was very much like the buzz about AI today, although the pace was not quite as fast, it was still very exciting,” says Editor + Publisher Lea-Ann Germinder.
Original Goodnewsforpets.com Logo
The 2000 site included the Cat Writers’ Association of America (CWA) as the first media partner courtesy of CWA president emeritus Amy Shojai. The Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) signed up courtesy of Mordecai Siegal. Steve Dale was the first featured columnist. Later columnists included the late legendaries Mordecai Siegal and Ranny Green. Julie Lux also contributed her talents as an editor in later years. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Fort Dodge Animal Health, the American Animal Hospital Association, and Addison Laboratories were featured on the site. Other exhibitors at the conference could post their news in addition to “.com” companies from the Discovery Zone.
“We’ve attended dozens of veterinary conferences since, written thousands of articles, and posted an equal number of press releases. My special favorite still is the guest column interview. Now, most of my time is focused on responsible AI research, but I have learned so much from building a website with an incredible team from scratch. In particular, I thank the incomparable Shelli Manning and Amy Davis, the team who helped launch the site with me,” said Germinder.
Today, the core mission of providing “good news” for pets remains unchanged. Some content is sponsored, some are labeled Chewy affiliate content, and some is posted as a service to the veterinary community and pet-owning public.
“Before I launched Germinder + Associates, my team and I at another agency had launched a pet dental website for the “Pets Need Dental Care, Too” campaign for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the dental groups. The news hook at the time was we had a website. When I launched Germinder & Associates in 1998, we had several animal health clients, so it made sense to launch a website. However, I could never have imagined all the incredible experts I’ve had the honor to interview and the stories we’ve been able to share. I hope to share many more as our 25th anniversary year unfolds, “said Germinder.
Thank you to our Goodnewsforpets.com community, the sponsors and partner organizations, and our columnists and writers over the years. We share this celebratory day and year with you. #Goodnewsforpets25
Lea-Ann Germinder at WVC 2018, 18 years after the launch of Goodnewsforpets.com at the Conference
Today is not just any day—it’s Love Your Pet Day, dedicated to cherishing our furry friends. But for me, it’s even more special. Today marks the official 25th Anniversary of Goodnewsforpets.com. This milestone gives me great “paws” but also fills me with immense pride and gratitude and the desire to spread love to all who have supported this journey.
The official launch date of Goodnewsforpets.com was February 20, 2000, at Viticus Group’s Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, but this was an entrepreneurial adventure from the start. In true entrepreneurial form, the concept for Goodnewsforpets as a portal site for pet news was developed after many discussions with technical experts. Concepts were scratched out on notepads during my many airplane travels when internet access on the plane was also a faraway reality. There were also many sleepless nights well before that inaugural launch day.
Back then, the world was buzzing about the rise of the internet, much like today’s conversations surrounding AI. Websites were the news, and social media platforms were still a few years away. The launch of Goodnewsforpets.com at WVC was a leap into the future—a time of excitement and innovation, but I had no idea what was to come.
Amy Shojai and Lea-Ann Germinder in 2020, 20 years after the launch of Goodnewsforpets.com
When we first started, Goodnewsforpets.com was fortunate to have the support of the Cat Writers’ Association of America (CWA) as our first media organization sponsor, thanks to Amy Shojai’s vision. Soon after, the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA), with the legendary Mordecai Siegal at the helm, joined us after I met him in the Westminster Kennel Club press room at Madison Square Garden.
Steve Dale had already signed on as our very first featured columnist (I had told him about the idea, and he quickly and gratefully for us said – I’m in), and over the years, we had the privilege of working with Ranny Green, Mordecai Siegal, and Julie Lux as editor, and so many CWA leaders like Deb Barnes. Also, there are so many DWAA leaders, including past president Jen Reeder, who was installed into the DWAA Hall of Fame and who I recently interviewed. I have warm memories of these associations and the many companies and associations we have been proud to work with for sponsored content and pro bono educational purposes.
My focus the last few years has been on responsible AI research, and I am now entering a new chapter of focusing some of this research on veterinary medicine, which I hope will include sharing those insights with you. Through the years, we’ve covered countless stories, attended veterinary conferences, and published thousands of articles and press releases. I hope I can also bring some of those highlights to your attention in the coming months.
I am grateful that Goodnewsforpets.com remains a trusted resource for pet owners and the veterinary community.
So, as we kick off our 25th Anniversary Year, I invite you to celebrate with us! Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just discovered us, thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to celebrating our 25th anniversary year. It feels pretty darn good.
Spreading the love, another look at my recent guest interview with Jen Reeder:
A Big Round of Paws for Super Star Writer Jen Reeder, 2025 DWAA Hall of Fame Inductee
First in A Series on Goodnewsforpets.com: AI in Veterinary Medicine
Editor’s Note: Jonathan Lustgarten, MS, PhD, VMD, CSPO, is the Director of AI and Machine Learning for Mars Veterinary Health and a past president of the Association for Veterinary Informatics. He lectures frequently at veterinary meetings and is a leading expert in the use of AI in veterinary medicine. Goodnewsforpets.com Editor and Publisher Lea-Ann Germinder sat down with him at VMX 2025 to discuss AI’s impact, challenges, and future in veterinary medicine. With a focus on responsible AI implementation, Dr. Lustgarten provides insights into where the technology is headed and what veterinarians should consider as AI tools continue to evolve to improve pet healthcare and veterinary medicine.
Dr. Lustgarten, AI has been a major topic in veterinary medicine. What do you think is the biggest challenge in properly implementing AI?
The biggest challenge isn’t necessarily just the technology—it’s the operational aspect of integrating AI correctly. Veterinarians are already juggling a lot, and while AI can make tasks faster in theory, it often requires an upfront investment of time and effort. There’s also a misconception that AI always improves efficiency, but when generative AI misses the mark, it can take longer to correct errors than if a veterinarian had done it manually.
For example, voice-to-text applications are gaining popularity, but they still pose accuracy issues. The real test of efficiency isn’t just whether AI saves time, but whether it produces accurate, reliable results consistently. AI also needs to be transparent so veterinarians can understand how AI produced the output.
Is generative AI the only AI used in the veterinary clinic or are there other types of AI used?
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT is not the only tool in the veterinary clinic, but it often overshadows other forms of AI. There’s a lot of valuable AI technology in the veterinary clinic that isn’t generative that is used in diagnostics for example.
Non-generative AI, that is AI that is used to predict discrete states or things, has the distinct advantage of easily identifying (and correcting) if it is wrong. You know if it predicts the pet will get renal disease, and it does not, that the AI was incorrect. Generative AI is more nuanced as you can have an output that is close but may not capture the full story or complexity of what was said or done. Is this then a “good” or “correct” output is much harder to evaluate and improve on except by the tincture of time.
Where do you see AI making the biggest impact right now in veterinary medicine?
Right now, we’re seeing the most progress in administrative AI—things like appointment scheduling, answering basic pet health questions, and prescription management. These areas benefit from automation because they’re routine and structured. However, when it comes to direct medical decision-making, we’re further away from AI playing a dominant role. One of the biggest barriers is that veterinary medicine lacks the volume of structured data that human medicine has and the money to make the data structured when it is not, making AI training more challenging.
AI hallucinations, or incorrect outputs, have been a big concern. How do they affect veterinary applications?
This is a critical issue. AI systems sometimes fabricate information with great confidence, which can be dangerous in a medical setting. We’ve seen cases where AI systems in human medicine made up patient histories, and that kind of risk extends to veterinary AI. If veterinarians don’t double-check AI-generated content, errors could easily make their way into medical records, potentially leading to incorrect treatments. That’s why education and responsible AI practices are so important.
What about data privacy? How secure are these AI systems for veterinary practices?
Security is a big concern, especially when it comes to how AI companies handle data. Many AI providers claim to be HIPAA-compliant, but that mainly refers to access control, not necessarily to how they use the data internally. Some agreements allow AI companies to use uploaded data to improve their models. Veterinarians need to be aware of what they’re agreeing to when they use these systems and avoid entering personally identifiable information (PII) into free AI platforms.
What advice would you give veterinarians looking to evaluate AI tools for their practice?
First, always test AI tools yourself before committing to them. Don’t just rely on a demo video—request a trial period and use the AI on complex cases, not just simple ones. If an AI company cannot provide examples of mistakes their system has made and how they corrected them, that’s a red flag. Every AI system will make errors, and transparency about those errors is key.
AI regulation in veterinary medicine is still evolving. How does this compare to human medicine?
Human medicine has far more established frameworks for AI oversight, with professionals trained in biomedical informatics and regulatory pathways for AI-powered medical devices. Veterinary medicine doesn’t yet have equivalent structures, so we’re seeing a lot of AI tools being introduced without formal vetting. That can lead to problems down the line, as regulations will eventually catch up. My concern is that if AI adoption happens too quickly without proper oversight, we could see significant failures that impact patient care, and it can detract from or stop future development, which is akin to what happened to machine learning in human medicine in the early ‘00s.
Given the rapid changes in AI, where do you think we’ll be in veterinary medicine in five to ten years?
I believe we’ll see a shift toward AI as an assistive technology rather than a replacement for human expertise. Think of AI in cars—people trust lane-keeping assist, but they don’t want to give up control completely. The same will be true in veterinary medicine. AI will be an invaluable assistant, helping veterinarians recall medical histories, organize data, and improve workflow, but it won’t replace human decision-making.
We must ask your view on the debate on when we will see artificial general intelligence (AGI)?
In terms of artificial general intelligence (AGI), I’m skeptical that we’ll see anything close to human-like intelligence soon. AI excels at pattern recognition, but true intelligence requires reasoning, emotion, and creativity—things that are incredibly difficult to program. What we will see is highly specialized AI that’s exceptionally good at specific tasks but not an all-knowing system that can replace veterinarians. I do think we will have to differentiate between AI intelligence and human intelligence. I believe those two will divide as the technology progresses.
Finally, what should veterinarians do now to prepare for AI’s role in their profession?
Stay informed and engage with AI thoughtfully. Veterinarians should educate themselves on AI’s capabilities and limitations, advocate for responsible AI policies, and demand transparency from AI providers. As AI becomes more prevalent, it will be crucial to balance innovation with ethical considerations to ensure these technologies truly benefit both veterinarians and their patients.
Thank you, Dr. Lustgarten, for your expert insights on AI in veterinary medicine. Stay tuned for more interviews with leading experts on AI and veterinary medicine to improve pet healthcare!
Disclosure: Lea-Ann Germinder conducted this interview in person with Dr. Lustgarten. AI tools were used to record, transcribe, and edit, with Lea-Ann Germinder performing the final oversight and Dr. Lustgarten reviewing for accuracy.
We have been privileged to interview many leaders in veterinary medicine and the pet space. I’m thrilled to share this latest guest interview with Jonathan Lustgarten, MS, PhD, VMD, CSPO, who speaks about the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI in veterinary medicine. As Dr. Lustgarten points out, AI in veterinary medicine is not new; for example, in radiology. But generative AI has created a hyped up conversation about AI in all aspects of life, including veterinary medicine. He is helping to educate veterinarians on what to look for now and what the future holds. I met him at last year’s VMX and was delighted to get an update from him at VMX 2025. This will be the first in a series of interviews with veterinary leaders working to bring responsible AI to veterinary medicine to improve the workflows in the clinic, the well-being of the veterinary healthcare team, and most important of all, the health and healthcare of our beloved pets.
As I noted in my last blog post in 2000, the world was buzzing about the rise of the Internet. Fast-forward 25 years, and the buzz is all about AI. For several years, I have focused on doctoral research on responsible AI. My research has focused on how strategic communicators use AI responsibly, and now I’m turning to organizational use, specifically in veterinary medicine.
What does responsible AI mean in veterinary medicine? What are AI’s benefits to pet owners? There is much to discuss. We’ve started with Dr. Lustgarten’s interview, and I look forward to diving in and reporting back—along with other news in veterinary medicine.
If you are reading this now and going to WVC, I look forward to reflecting on the many memories of the past 25 years of Goodnewsforpets.com coverage, catching up on your news, and, most of all, covering the news of how AI is transforming veterinary medicine. It’s good to be 25!
See you there or see you online!
#goodnewsforpets25
Andrea Davis, Chief Executive Officer Viticus Group
“Our expansion to Nashville marks a significant milestone for both the veterinary and human healthcare industries,” said Andrea Davis, chief executive officer, Viticus Group. “For nearly a century, we’ve been at the forefront of hands-on training and education from our home base in Las Vegas. Now, with this new location, we’re broadening our reach – creating even more opportunities for professionals to advance their skills, build their confidence and shape the future of their practice. We are here to stay with the Vegas lights and look forward to the Nashville sights!”
With its flagship WVC Annual Conference continuing in Las Vegas, Viticus Group remains dedicated to providing unmatched continuing education while building its second home in Nashville. The new facility will be a cutting-edge bioskills training center designed to provide advanced hands-on education for veterinary and human health professionals. In addition, the upcoming conference, the first new national veterinary continuing education conference in more than 40 years, will introduce an experience that will match the energy and level of continuing education that WVC participants expect, expanding Viticus Group’s legacy of delivering premier continuing education and networking opportunities. Specifically, with the concentration of veterinary professionals in the geographic areas near Nashville, the accessible and centrally located city provided a logical choice to create an additional home for Viticus Group.
To stay updated on Viticus Group expansion plans, visit viticusgroup.org and join the Alert List.
Source: WVC News release
Check out our guest interview with Dr. Anthony Pease, Viticus Group Chief Medical Offer, for more!
Hands-On Lab Learning Center Expansion Leads to Two WVC Conferences
Editor’s Note: Viticus Group (formerly Western Veterinary Conference) was “the conference where it all happened” — where Goodnewsforpets.com was launched 25 years ago. We were thrilled to visit with Dr. Anthony Pease, Viticus Group’s Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, at this year’s conference in Las Vegas to not only celebrate Goodnewsforpets anniversary but also talk to Dr. Pease about the exciting news of building a second Oquendo Center-type hands-on learning center in Nashville plus the launch of a second WVC conference in 2026.
First, congratulations on this huge news. What can you tell us about the decision to launch a new learning center PLUS a national conference in Nashville?
Thank you. We have found that the Viticus Group’s Oquendo Center is the only place outside any academic institution offering a standalone hands-on training facility for the veterinary profession. Here, we can teach all the state-of-the-art techniques and things that you may not have picked up in school or never got to practice enough to feel comfortable. Some examples are fracture repair, soft tissue surgery, and all that sort of stuff.
What I’ve loved about being the chief veterinary medical officer of Viticus Group is that my whole role is to build confidence. In general, there’s so much information for veterinarians to learn. When you get out into practice, you’ve trained your whole life, and then suddenly, you’re doing that work every day and no longer in training.
We built the Oquendo Center 15 years ago when WVC needed a place to do hands-on labs during the conference, and then we expanded to an Eastern campus. We have 140,000 square feet of dedicated training facilities here in Las Vegas. We’ve kept going and use it even after the conference. We see about 5,000 veterinary professionals. We even do work with the human health side every year.
How many labs do you offer?
When we have conferences, we usually have about 30 hands-on labs, but more people wanted this type of training, so we went up to 44 hands-on labs this time. Amazingly, we have approximately 1400 people doing hands-on training over the next four days. We realized we couldn’t do enough of it, so rather than trying to build a third building in Las Vegas, we said let’s start going someplace else. Andrea Davis, Viticus Group’s CEO, and I searched, and the location selected was Nashville.
How did you arrive at Nashville as the site?
As part of our strategic plan, when we talked to the Executive Board, we discussed an East Coast expansion, and everyone was on board. That was back in 2023. In early 2024, we started traveling around. We picked out five different areas that we wanted to look at. We just fell in love with Nashville. It just made a lot of sense. It’s seven minutes from the airport. Our center’s going to be seven minutes from the airport. We said this would be great, and we could do hands-on labs, but we’re good at conferences, too. Nashville also has an excellent convention center. We started talking with them, and it probably took another six months to talk through. We don’t want to bring a little regional conference; we want to do a national conference.
How did you land on doing the Nashville conference in the fall?
Back in 2021, during Covid times, we had to move our conference because we couldn’t do our conference in February. We shifted it to September, and many people felt the timing was excellent. It was a nice time to have it towards the end of the year because people were closing out their CE, and maybe they couldn’t get away in January or February. That resonated with us, too. We decided that if we were to do a second conference, we should do it in Q3 or Q4. We decided to do the 2026 and 2027 conferences in August. The dates are August 16 to the 18th, 2026.
Goodnewsforpets.com Editor & Publisher Lea-Ann Germinder with Dr. Anthony Pease, Viticus Group Chief Veterinary Medical Officer at WVC Vegas 2025
How did you decide on the length of the new conference?
We do four days in February in Las Vegas, so we decided to start with three days. But we have our teaching facility, so we’ll probably do hands-on for four days to keep it moving. The idea is that it’s going to be a 170,000-square-foot exhibit hall. It’s going to be everything that you’re used to in Las Vegas, but we’re going to do much more interactive learning, including innovation technologies. It’s pretty exciting.
How did you arrive at the type of content you will be providing?
We want to get the instant applicable stuff for veterinary professionals, whether they are technicians, front office workers, practice managers, or owners of large or small animals. There’s something for everybody.
What was the exhibitor and sponsor feedback you received?
We contacted most of the larger companies’ CEOs and Chief Medical Officers, and they were ecstatic. I think it will be such a great time, such a good time of year for them. We want to say, look, there have been many smaller conferences that spring up, and it’s not what this is. There hasn’t been a major national conference created since NAVC created their conference [now named VMX]43 years ago. At that point, they were the Eastern Veterinary Conference and evolved. The Western Veterinary Conference will be WVC Las Vegas, and WVC Nashville.
WVC will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. Where are you going to celebrate that centennial?
We’ve been starting work on that. It will be our hundredth year in Las Vegas, and now we will also be in Nashville to have two parties. We will do something celebrating 100 years—where we’ve been for the last hundred years and where we’re going in the next hundred years. Technology like AI, which we discussed earlier, will play a massive part as technology advances. Thinking back to 1928 and where that conference was versus what we’re learning about now, it’s all very exciting.
Thank you, Dr. Pease. We wish you a wonderful opening of the facility and conference in 2026—and we plan to be there!
To stay updated on Viticus Group expansion plans, visit viticusgroup.org and join the Alert List.
Check out a bit of the backstory on how WVC Nashville came to be, along with its hands-on learning center (chicken or the egg?) with our guest interview with the fabulous Dr. Anthony Pease, Chief Veterinary Medical Officer of Viticus Group. We are delighted that Dr. Pease will not only return for this interview. A Goodnewsforpets.com Surprise Alert: We will be visiting with Dr. Pease for our AI in Vet Med series very soon!).
The new conference is especially exciting as it is the first national veterinary continuing education conference in more than 40 years. It promises the same high-quality programming and dynamic atmosphere the veterinary community has come to expect from WVC now in an East Coast setting.
In addition to the conference, Viticus Group’s planned bioskills training center in Nashville will support advanced hands-on learning for veterinary and human health professionals. With a high concentration of vet pros in the surrounding region, Nashville (aka Music City) is a perfect complement to the original Las Vegas designation and the ideal second home on the East Coast.
Mark your calendars (we did on Goodnewsforpets.com’s calendar page):
WVC Nashville Conference: August 16–18, 2026 at Music City Center
Training Facility Opens: Summer 2026 (subject to change)
2027 Conference Dates: August 22–24, 2027
Also of note for 2026, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will celebrate its 150 anniversary year, still back at Madison Square Garden (yay!), February 2-3, 2026. (Note: A reader wrote in that the event starts at the Javits Center on January 31st but Westminster has no official announcement posted yet. Our Feb 2-3 dates are from Ticketmaster.
With WVC-Nashville, the Animal Health Corridor annual meeting, and SuperZoo on the calendar in August, we are getting ready for a busy fourth quarter in 2026. With the rapid pace of developments in AI and more, I welcome the opportunity to stay on top of the vet and pet world news.
It’s an exciting time all around, and now, it’s on to the Global Pet Expo!
APPA 2025 State of the Industry Report Cover Image Courtesy of APPA
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) announced at Global Pet Expo that the total U.S. pet industry expenditures reached $152 billion in 2024, showing continued growth and resiliency. The expenditures were released alongside the association’s 2025 State of the Industry Report during Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s premier event.
The 2025 State of the Industry Report provides comprehensive analysis and visuals of industry expenditures, ownership trends, consumer habits, sentiment and behaviors with comparative data across each generation.
Pete Scott, APPA President and CEO
“The pet industry continues to demonstrate resilience, even amid economic uncertainty. What’s encouraging is that pet ownership itself is expanding, with 94 million U.S. households now owning at least one pet, up from 82 million in 2023. These figures reaffirm that pet care remains a top priority for Americans, reflecting the deep and lasting bond between people and their pets, especially with the Millennials and Gen Zs who are more likely to have multiple pets than their Boomer and Gen X counterparts,” said Pete Scott, APPA President.
Key findings from the report include:
1. The pet industry shows continued growth and resiliency, with the total U.S. pet industry expenditures reaching $152 billion in 2024. $157 billion in sales is projected for 2025. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. pet owners say the current economy has not affected their pet ownership.
2. Pet ownership regains momentum. Ninety-four (94) million U.S. households own at least one pet, compared to eight-two (82) million in 2023. Overall, pet ownership has increased for both dogs and cats, with 51% of U.S. households (68 million) owning a dog and 37% of U.S. households (49 million) owning a cat.
3. Amid rising egg costs, backyard chicken ownership is rebounding.
Eleven (11) million U.S. households own backyard chickens (a 28% increase from 2023).
4. Gen Z shows significant growth in pet ownership and is the generation most likely to own multiple pets.
In 2024, Gen Z comprised 20% (18.8 million) of U.S. households that owned a pet, a 43.5% increase from 2023. Gen Z also contributed to significant growth in dog and cat ownership, making up 20% of both dog and cat owners, an 18% and 25% increase from 2023, respectively. Seventy percent of Gen Z pet owners have two or more pets.
5. Millennial and Gen Z men are obtaining more pets.
Fifty-eight percent of Gen Z and 63% of Millennial dog owners are men, a 15.2% and 18.6% increase from 2023, respectively.
Surprisingly, the most significant growth in cat ownership was among Gen Z and Millennial men, with 38% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennial cat owners being men, a 17.8% and 23.9% increase from 2023, respectively.
6. Pet owners are concerned about affordability and access to pet services and veterinary care.
Thirty-seven percent of U.S. pet owners are concerned about access to veterinary care, with 60% citing affordability and 32% saying ease of getting an appointment as their top concerns. Twenty-two percent of U.S. pet owners are concerned about access to pet care services, with 38% citing affordability and 31% saying ease of getting an appointment as their top concerns.
7. Pets are redefining the hybrid work model.Fourteen percent of people report that their workplace allows pets, a 17% increase from 2023.
Most human resources professionals and senior leaders believe pets benefit the workplace. Eighty percent agree that a pet-friendly workplace helps recruit and retain the best talent, while 75% think it helps drive return-to-office efforts.
8. Calming products are an essential component of pet care, especially among Gen Z and Millennials.
Seventy-eight percent of Gen Z dog owners and 71% of Gen Z cat owners use calming products.
Seventy-two percent of Millennial dog owners and 66% of Millennial cat owners use calming products.
9. Pet owners shop across online and in-store, making a strong omnichannel presence essential to pet retailers.
Fifty-one percent of buyers typically shop for pet products online.
Forty-seven percent of buyers shop for pet products in-store.
Ingrid Chu, APPA VP, Insights and Research
Added Ingrid Chu, APPA’s vice president of Insights and Research: “Gen Z is driving a remarkable shift in pet ownership, with a 43.5% increase in pet-owning households from 2023 to 2024. This generation is also leading in multi-pet ownership. What’s particularly exciting is how they discover and engage with pet products; social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram play a crucial role in their purchasing decisions. As pet brands look to the future, leveraging visual and digital-first strategies will be key to capturing the attention of this rapidly growing demographic.”
The American Pet Products Association is a membership organization serving the pet industry through services and programs designed to help its members prosper. Since 1988, APPA has published the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, the premier resource of its kind, providing in-depth data on consumer behavior. APPA’s research and insights monitor consumer habits, identify short- and long-term trends and discover new opportunities in pet ownership, pet product and service consumption published across four quarterly reports, including State of the Industry, Dog & Cat, Fish & Reptiles and Horse, Birds & Small Animals.
Source: APPA News Release