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Our pets are indispensable members of our families. Their importance to us has only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. They give us unconditional support and love, and they help keep us from complete loneliness during these times of social isolation.
So, we compiled 18 statistics about pet adoptions in Australia, including dogs, cats, and general Australian pet statistics. Pets have proven to be more essential here than almost anywhere else!
Top 18 Australian Pet Adoption Statistics
- There are just over 6 million dogs owned in Australia.
- In the 2022-2023 financial year, 18,778 dogs were brought into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
- Almost 41% of the dogs that were brought into the RSPCA in 2022-2023 were adopted out.
- The most common reason that dogs were euthanased was due to behaviour problems.
- The cost of a dog from a breeder is almost four times as much as from a shelter.
- As of 2023, the most popular dog breed in Australia is the Cavapoo.
- 33% of Australian households owned cats as of 2023.
- 33,747 cats were received by the RSPCA in 2022-2023.
- 64% of the cats that entered the RSPCA in 2022-2023 were rehomed.
- Four times as much was spent on cats through a breeder compared to an animal shelter.
- 71% of cats owned in Australia are mixed breeds.
- 69% of Australian households had pets in 2023.
- After cats, fish are the third most popular pets in 11% of households.
- 87,465 pets were received through the RSPCA alone in 2022-2023.
- In 2022-2023, 29,495 animals were rehomed through the RSPCA across Australia.
- 90% of all Australian households have owned a pet at some point.
- 71% of pet owners say that their relationships with their pets are positive.
- Besides dogs and cats, the RSPCA received 34,552 other animals in 2022-2023.
Dog Adoption Statistics
1. There are just over 6 million dogs owned in Australia.
(RSPCA)
There are 48% of households that own at least one dog in Australia as of 2023. Dogs are definitely the most popular pet in Australia, with cats in second place.
2. In the 2022-2023 financial year, there were 18,778 dogs brought into the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
Of these dogs, 4,769 were reclaimed, and 2,875 were euthanased. The number of dogs received was down 2.3% from the previous year, but the number of dogs that were euthanased was up 15.74%.
3. Almost 41% of the dogs that were brought into the RSPCA in 2022-2023 were adopted out.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
In 2022-2023, 7,669 dogs were adopted out to new homes in Australia. Most of these dogs tend to be mixed breeds, which are also the most popular kind of dogs owned in Australia.
4. The most common reason that dogs were euthanased was due to behaviour problems.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
Of the 2,875 dogs that were euthanased during 2022-2023, 1,906 of them were euthanased due to behavioural reasons. The second most common reason was due to medical problems, at 842 dogs. The most euthanasias took place in Queensland.
5. The cost of a dog from a breeder is almost four times as much as from a shelter.
(Animal Medicines Australia)
A 2019 survey found that the average cost of buying a dog from a breeder was $940 from a breeder and $260 from an animal shelter, and these numbers still hold true. A lot of factors can influence the cost of a dog no matter which outlet you go through, but dogs from a breeder tend to cost more since they are purebred and are often rarer or more sought after.
6. As of 2023, the most popular dog breed in Australia is the Cavapoo.
(Margaret River Mail)
The Cavapoo is a designer dog that is a mix between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. The second most popular breed in Australia is the Dachshund. The Golden Retriever, French Bulldog, and Labrador Retriever round out the top five.
Cat Adoption Statistics
7. 33% of Australian households owned cats as of 2023.
(RSPCA)
This is behind dogs, which were in 48% of households, but there seem to be slightly more cats in the homes that have them. The average number of dogs per household is 1.3, and 1.4 for cats. There are around 5 million pet cats in Australia.
8. 33,747 cats were received by the RSPCA in 2022-2023.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
Of these cats, 1,530 were reclaimed and 6,224 cats were euthanased. The total number of cats received was down 5.13% from the previous year, and the number of cats euthanased was down 4.33%.
9. 64% of the cats that entered the RSPCA in 2022-2023 were rehomed.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
Of the 33,747 cats that entered the RSPCA, 21,735 were rehomed in 2022-2023. The total number of cats that were either reclaimed, returned, or rehomed was down 5.31% from the previous year.
10. Four times as much was spent on cats through a breeder compared to an animal shelter.
(Animal Medicines Australia)
Based on the same 2019 survey by Animal Medicines Australia, purchasing a cat through a breeder was $620 on average compared to an animal shelter at $155 on average. Again, this is due to breeders producing purebred cats that are of rarer or more sought after breeds, while most cats in shelters are mixed breed.
11. 71% of cats owned in Australia are mixed breeds.
(Animal Medicines Australia)
We don’t know how accurate this number is because many cat owners aren’t sure what breed of cat they own. According to the responses in the survey, the most common answer given regarding the breed of their cat was “don’t know”.
General Australian Pet Statistics
12. 69% of Australian households had pets in 2023.
(RSPCA)
In fact, there are more pets than people in Australia, with 28.7 million pets and 26 million people. Australia has a higher percentage of pets compared to most other countries, but interestingly, since 2019, the number of pets is down slightly while the number of people is up.
13. After cats, fish are the third most popular pet in 11% of households.
(RSPCA)
After fish comes birds at 10%, small mammals at 3%, and reptiles at 2%. There was also 1% of Australian households that had other pets, such as goats, horses, hermit crabs, and alpacas.
14. 87,465 pets were received through the RSPCA alone in 2022-2023.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
This is down from 94,828 pets that were received in 2021-2022, by a percentage of 7.76%.
15. In 2022–2023, 29,495 animals were rehomed through the RSPCA across Australia.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
These numbers include dogs, cats, and ‘other animals’, which incorporate birds and small mammals.
16. 90% of all Australian households have owned a pet at some point.
(Animal Medicines Australia)
This statistic includes 75% of households that didn’t own a pet in 2019.
17. 71% of pet owners say that their relationships with their pets are positive.
(Animal Medicines Australia)
3% of pet owners had a negative response, which was based on the cost of caring for the pet, the loss of spontaneity, the cleaning and maintenance, and grieving for a pet when it passes.
18. Besides dogs and cats, the RSPCA received 34,552 other animals in 2022-2023.
(RSPCA 2022-23 Report)
These other animals include livestock such as cattle, chickens, ducks, pigs, etc. (1,453), wildlife, such as birds, lizards, possums, koalas, turtles, etc. (26,675), and small pets such as ferrets, guinea pigs, mice, budgies, and more (6,424). 4,523 livestock animals and small pet animals were rehomed, while 2,959 wildlife animals were released back into the wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs were registered through Dogs Australia in 2022?
In 2022, there were 68,950 dogs registered through Dogs Australia. The majority of these dogs were gundogs, followed by working dogs, and then terriers. The total number of dogs registered through Dogs Australia was down almost 10,000 from the previous year. (Dogs Australia)
Who are the most likely to own pets?
The most significant percentage of pet owners in Australia, at 86%, were families with children under 18 years old. 80% of Millennials (ages 25-39) are pet owners, while 79% of Gen Z (ages 18-24) are pet owners. (RSPCA)
What is the most popular small mammal as a pet?
Guinea pigs are the most popular small mammal pet in Australia, followed by rabbits. Hamsters are also pretty popular small pets in Australia. (Animal Medicines Australia)
What is the most popular reptile?
Reptiles are the least popular kind of pet in Australia. But turtles and tortoises tend to be the most popular reptiles owned. (Animal Medicines Australia)
What is the main reason that pet owners love having pets?
The top reason that pet owners feel that they benefit from pets is having companionship, love, and affection. 49% rated this as the primary reason that they own a pet, followed by 19% who feel that their pets make life better in general, and 18% who reported improved mental health. (Animal Medicines Australia)
Conclusion
These statistics have made it quite clear that our pets are important to our families. The pandemic has only heightened how much we rely on our pets, as they give us necessary love and companionship.
Due to how much importance we place on this companionship, we are spending more time and money on them. Our animals give us unconditional love, and we need to do the same. Adopting an animal from an animal shelter is rescuing an animal from an uncertain future. It makes for an ethically worthy act and a meaningful experience.
Featured Image Credit: hedgehog94, Shutterstock
