What the new pet study reveals about us and our animals

As a proud dog owner, I always follow surveys like this with great interest, and the new Pet Study 2024/2025 gave me quite a bit to think about. First, the headline finding: 96 percent of respondents say their pet improves their mental and physical well-being. I can only confirm that from my own experience — my dog is far more than a pet to me, he's family.

What I found interesting is that 83 percent see their animals as individual personalities. That's exactly why I now pay much closer attention to what I feed him. Nearly half of owners would be open to alternative protein sources such as insect protein, especially if the price is right. When shopping, though, price remains the most important criterion for many.

What worries me: only 72 percent now consider their pet healthy, down from 80 percent in 2020. Rising vet costs weigh heavily on more than two thirds of owners, and many are setting aside extra savings. At the same time, 47 percent would like digital solutions such as a health app for their pet.

In the end, the study shows one thing above all: our animals support us emotionally, but we face new challenges — from costs to sustainability. I hope the industry takes these findings seriously.

Source: Interzoo