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Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Whether you live in North Carolina and want to learn a little more about the rest of the state’s pets, you’re thinking about moving there with your pets, or you just want to learn a bit more about pet ownership in North Carolina, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve highlighted 14 pet ownership statistics for North Carolina, and we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions along the way too!
Top 14 Pet Ownership Statistics in North Carolina
- 41.3% of homes in North Carolina have a dog. (World Population Review)
- The average home in North Carolina has 1.6 dogs. (World Population Review)
- 34% of dog owners would spend $4,000 to save their dogs. (World Population Review)
- 6.5% of dog owners stayed at a job they didn’t like for their dog. (World Population Review)
- 58.6% of homes in North Carolina have a pet. (World Population Review)
- 26.5% of homes in North Carolina have a cat. (World Population Review)
- The average home in North Carolina has 1.8 cats. (World Population Review)
- Raleigh North Carolina has the fifth most pet-friendly spaces of any city in the United States. (Forbes)
- Raleigh is the second most pet-friendly city in the United States. (Forbes)
- 30,848 dogs and cats were killed in shelters in North Carolina in 2022. (Best Friends)
- North Carolina animal shelters took 120,500 animals in 2022. (WRAL News)
- There were 56,505 stray animals in North Carolina in 2022. (WRAL News)
- North Carolinians surrendered more than 30,000 pets. (WRAL News)
- North Carolina shelters had the second-highest kill rate in the country in 2021. (WRAL News)
Dog Statistics
1. 41.3% of homes in North Carolina have a dog. (World Population Review)
North Carolina is very much a dog state, and with over 40% of homes in North Carolina owning a dog, it’s almost 50/50 when you go into a home if there’s a canine there or not. Dog ownership numbers continue to go up year after year in North Carolina, so don’t expect the pups to get anywhere any time soon.
2. The average home in North Carolina has 1.6 dogs. (World Population Review)
If a home in North Carolina has a dog, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll have more than one. In fact, the average number of dogs in a home is 1.6, meaning it’s more likely that you’ll find more than one dog in a home than in a home with just one.
3. 34% of dog owners would spend $4,000 to save their dogs. (World Population Review)
People in North Carolina love their dogs. One way that North Carolina dog owners show their love is by putting their money where their mouth is. In fact, if a dog incurs a medical expense of about $4,000, 34% of dog owners in North Carolina would cover the bill.
4. 6.5% of dog owners stayed at a job they didn’t like for their dog. (World Population Review)
If you want to keep your employees happy in North Carolina, you need to ensure they can keep their pups happy. In fact, 6.5% of people in North Carolina reported being unhappy with one of their jobs but sticking with that job solely because of their pup.
Pet & Cat Statistics
5. 58.6% of homes in North Carolina have a pet. (World Population Review)
North Carolinians love their pets, and it’s why close to 60% of homes in North Carolina have at least one pet. When you go into a home in North Carolina, you better be ready to greet a furry friend of some sort!
6. 26.5% of homes in North Carolina have a cat. (World Population Review)
Cats aren’t quite as popular in North Carolina as dogs, but they’re still pretty popular. Just over 1 in 4 homes in North Carolina have at least one cat, leading to plenty of cats throughout the state.
7. The average home in North Carolina has 1.8 cats. (World Population Review)
Most homes in North Carolina that have a cat have more than one. In fact, the average number of cats in a home with a cat is 1.8, making it far more likely that someone has more than one. Cats are addictive, so it makes sense that once you get a cat, you’re more likely to get another!
8. Raleigh North Carolina has the fifth most pet-friendly spaces of any city in the United States. (Forbes)
Raleigh is famous for how friendly it is for pets and their owners, and with the fifth most pet-friendly spaces compared to any other city in the United States, there aren’t many places you can’t bring Fido. People love their pets, and in Raleigh, you can bring them all over the place.
9. Raleigh is the second most pet-friendly city in the United States. (Forbes)
If you’re looking for a super friendly space for you and your pet to hang out, it’s tough to find a better place than Raleigh North Carolina. There are tons of pet-friendly spaces, affordable pet care, and so much more. In fact, Raleigh is the second most pet-friendly city throughout the entire United States.
Animal Shelter Statistics
10. 30,848 dogs and cats were killed in shelters in North Carolina in 2022. (Best Friends)
North Carolina has one of the highest kill rates in the country, and when you factor in the sheer number of pets that enter shelters, that equals a ton of animals getting put down. The numbers are starting to improve, but it’s a slow improvement and there’s plenty of work to do still.
11. North Carolina animal shelters took 120,500 animals in 2022. (WRAL News)
Between strays, surrendered pets, and those born in captivity, animal shelters in North Carolina take in tons of animals. With 120,500 animals entering the doors of an animal shelter in 2022, that means lots of animals throughout the state need a home.
12. There were 56,505 stray animals in North Carolina in 2022. (WRAL News)
Stray animals are those that don’t have a home and are living on the street, and in 2022, North Carolina had more than 56,000 stray animals. It’s a lot of cats, but a fair number of dogs and other more exotic species make it onto the list too.
13. North Carolinians surrendered more than 30,000 pets. (WRAL News)
While North Carolinians have tons of pets and love them, there’s also a bad habit of turning them over to a shelter. About 30,000 family pets get surrendered to a shelter each year, and with such high kill rates, not every surrendered pet makes it out.
14. North Carolina shelters had the second-highest kill rate in the country in 2021. (WRAL News)
If you’re looking for a state that doesn’t put down many animals, North Carolina isn’t it. In fact, it has the second-highest kill rate in the entire country. The rate is dropping, but there’s still lots of room for improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which State Has the Most Pet Shelters?
You might think a state with a ton of people would have the most animal shelters, but that’s not the case. Wyoming actually leads the list as the state with the most animal shelters despite having one of the smallest populations. (24/7 Wall Street)
Which State Euthanizes the Most Animals?
California is the state with the most people, and it’s also the state that puts down the most animals. In fact, California euthanizes more than 100,000 animals each year, which is more than three times as many as third-ranked North Carolina. (Best Friends)
What Is the Most Euthanized Animal?
While most people think that dogs are the most euthanized animal, it’s actually cats. Only 2% of cats that enter animal shelters make it back to their families, and many never get adopted out. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for a shelter to euthanize a cat. (American Humane)
What Is the Most Common Exotic Pet in the United States?
While some people think that the most commonly owned exotic animal is a reptile, amphibian, or bird, it is actually fish. There are about 13.3 million fish (11.1 million freshwater and 2.2 million saltwater) kept as pets by people in the USA. These pet fish could range from the more common goldfish to the more exotic neon tetra. (American Pet Products Association)
Is North Carolina a Dog-Friendly State?
Yes! Whether you want a dog, cat, or another exotic animal, North Carolina is an extremely pet-friendly state. Bring your pup, cat, or exotic pet to North Carolina!
Conclusion
Now that you know a little more about pet ownership statistics in North Carolina, it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with that information. You can decide to try and make a change to some of them, appreciate the positive stats, or just learn about them in general. No matter what you choose, it’s good information to have!
Featured Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock
