INSIGHT 1: Embracing the Pet Revolution: As Pet Families Shape Our World, Data is Essential.

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A Changing World

On November 15, 2022, the United Nations (UN) announced a milestone in human history: the global population had reached 8 billion people.[1] To put this into perspective, the population in the 1800s was approximately 1 billion—a sevenfold increase over just two centuries.[2]

However, another notable demographic shift has quietly unfolded alongside this growth: households worldwide have welcomed over a billion additional “individuals” into their fold. These individuals, notably absent from official demographic records, represent the estimated population of pet dogs and cats currently living in homes across the globe.[3]

When factoring in other domesticated species such as fish, turtles, rodents, and birds, the number is likely far higher. Indeed, over half of the world’s population is estimated to live in a household with at least one pet.[4]

This dramatic shift signals more than just a trend in pet ownership; it underscores an important transformation in the structure and dynamics of modern households. Pets are no longer peripheral to family life—they are central to it. 

This "pet revolution" is a societal phenomenon with far-reaching implications, reshaping our understanding of community, caregiving, and the very concept of family itself. Its consequences are vast, rapidly unfolding, and still largely unexplored.

More-than-Human Families

Today, there is one characterization that many people agree with. Our animals are far more than just pets; they are actual members of the family.  But what was previously thought to be a phenomenon concerning the West, new research is suggesting otherwise. 

An extensive survey of dog and cat parents and veterinarians across the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and China found that 95% of respondents consider their pet a part of their family and 92% say no circumstance would persuade them to part ways with their beloved pets.[5]

What’s truly fascinating is how pets form powerful bonds with both adults and children. A study[6] by Matt Cassells et al., published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, found that children often derive more satisfaction from relationships with their pets than with siblings. Pets can significantly influence child development, enhancing social skills and emotional well-being.

But what do we really mean by pets as family? Researchers like Leslie Irvine and Laurent Cilia from the University of Colorado  Boulder have delved into this question, uncovering complex and often surprising answers.[7] 

One common explanation, the "deficiency argument," suggests that pets compensate for a lack of human relationships—a stereotype exemplified by the "crazy cat lady." Yet evidence contradicts this: families with children are more likely to have pets, and a strong bond with a pet or a history of pet ownership is the strongest predictor of future pet companionship.[8]

Irvine and Cilia propose a broader perspective, viewing families as inherently "more-than-human." This concept highlights the interdependence of humans and non-human actors—pets, plants, even microbes. 

By framing families as dynamic relationships rather than static structures, this approach acknowledges the vital caregiving roles of humans while recognizing the meaningful contributions of other beings to family life.

Rethinking everything

The bottom line is that the simplistic narrative of the "humanization of pets" fails to capture the depth of the human-animal connection. Above all, it ignores the fluid and evolving nature of these relationships, reducing pets to mere substitutes for human bonds. 

Families today are neither exclusively human nor purely animal; they are dynamic, interconnected systems where roles evolve and adapt over time. This perspective challenges traditional definitions of family and invites us to explore what it truly means to belong in an increasingly interconnected world.

As the boundaries between species blur, the impact extends far beyond individual relationships, influencing how we live, share, and thrive together as a society.

At Noble Alliance, we seek to understand these changes more deeply. How do different conceptions of pets as family members shape the demand for pet-centric solutions? Are there shared patterns across cultures and geographies, or do experiences diverge in meaningful ways? What insights can we gain by comparing these varied perspectives?

In this evolving landscape, the answers may still be unfolding, but embracing the complexity and uncertainty of these relationships paves the way to reimagine the very future of family itself.

Bridging the data gap

The concept of multi-species families demands deeper research and understanding, yet one fact is clear: the global pet revolution is fundamentally reshaping how we live, connect, and build communities. 

Despite the scale and significance of these transformations, a glaring question remains: where is the data? In an interconnected and data-driven world, lacking fundamental information—such as accurate pet ownership statistics—is untenable. This data isn’t a trivial curiosity; it is a critical tool for understanding and addressing the needs of animals, people, and communities. Without it, our capacity to craft effective public policies is severely hampered.

Data forms the backbone of initiatives ranging from urban planning that integrates pets to One Health strategies and disaster relief policies that consider multi-species families.[11-16] Yet, the systems needed to collect and centralize this information remain generally inadequate.

Public registries and microchipping offer promising solutions, but they are underutilized.[17,18] These systems are often limited to certain species and inconsistently implemented across nations. Even in places like the United States, where microchipping is relatively common, fragmented systems prevent a comprehensive understanding of pet demographics.[19] The lack of standardization and interconnectedness squanders opportunities to generate valuable insights and drive impactful action.

The absence of reliable, comprehensive data isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a growing unacceptable societal concern. Accurate pet statistics could transform how we approach hugely important questions like public health, welfare, infrastructure and more. For instance, understanding pet ownership trends can shape policies that not only enhance the welfare of companion animals but also strengthen public health, improve shared spaces, bolster emergency preparedness and security, and even drive innovative economic models for pet-centric services.

To truly embrace the global pet revolution, we must address this data gap head-on by fostering novel, collaborative models where governments, industry, veterinarians, public health authorities, and all stakeholders are empowered to work together. 

But none of these efforts will succeed without the active collaboration of pet parents and communities. This requires a significant investment in public awareness and education campaigns to ensure everyone is informed and engaged. 

Governments, organizations, and communities must prioritize the creation and maintenance of robust systems for tracking pet ownership, enabling them to respond effectively to the evolving needs of a society that increasingly values the human-animal bond. 

Without this critical information, we risk falling behind in meeting these needs and shaping a future that serves both pets and humanity.

INSIGHTS CONTRIBUTORS

Stefano Gnes Vera Gualdi

President & Co-founder Vice-President & Co-founder

Noble Alliance Association Noble Alliance Association

References

1.       United Nations. Day of 8 Billion | United Nations. 2022. Accessed April 26, 2023. https://www.un.org/en/dayof8billion

2.       Roser M, Ritchie H, Data EOOO world in, 2013 U. World population growth. ourworldindata.org. Accessed March 17, 2022. https://ourworldindata.org/world-population-growth?source=post_page-----d904819ea029----------------------

3.       MARS. Mars unveils the world’s largest pet parent study to better understand and serve the over one billion pets - and growing - across the globe | Mars Global. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-unveils-worlds-largest-pet-parent-study

4.       Growth for Knowledge. Pet Ownership Global GfK Survey.; 2016. Accessed March 15, 2021. https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2405078/cms-pdfs/fileadmin/user_upload/country_one_pager/nl/documents/global-gfk-survey_pet-ownership_2016.pdf

5.       Habri, Zoetis. New Research Confirms the Strong Bond Between People and Pets is a Global Phenomenon, 95% Worldwide Say Pets Are Family | HABRI. Press Room. January 16, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2022. https://habri.org/pressroom/20220116

6.       Cassels MT, White N, Gee N, Hughes C. One of the family? Measuring early adolescents’ relationships with pets and siblings. J Appl Dev Psychol. 2017;49:12-20. doi:10.1016/J.APPDEV.2017.01.003

7.       Irvine L, Cilia L. More-than-human families: Pets, people, and practices in multispecies households. Sociol Compass. 2017;11(2):e12455. doi:10.1111/soc4.12455

8.       Holland KE. Acquiring a pet dog: A review of factors affecting the decision-making of prospective dog owners. Animals. 2019;9(4):1-18. doi:10.3390/ani9040124

9.       Vera G, Gnes S. Petriots: From Home to the World. (Self-published, ed.). Amazon Italia Logistica S.r.l.; 2024. https://www.amazon.com/PETRIOTS-Journey-Letting-Animals-Fulfillment-ebook/dp/B0CHPMNLQY/ref=zg_bs_g_156477011_sccl_5/136-1464456-7072706?psc=1

10.     Haraway DJ. The Companion Species Manifesto Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness. Prickly Paradigm Press; 2003.

11.     Marana P, Labaka L, Sarriegi JM. A framework for public-private-people partnerships in the city resilience-building process. Saf Sci. 2018;110:39-50. doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2017.12.011

12.     Chadwin R. Evacuation of pets during disasters: A public health intervention to increase resilience. Am J Public Health. 2017;107(9):1413-1417. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2017.303877

13.     Hill L, Winefield H, Bennett P. Are stronger bonds better? Examining the relationship between the human–animal bond and human social support, and its impact on resilience. Aust Psychol. 2020;55(6):729-738. doi:10.1111/AP.12466

14.     Rodríguez-Mazahua L, Rodríguez-Enríquez CA, Sánchez-Cervantes JL, Cervantes J, García-Alcaraz JL, Alor-Hernández G. A general perspective of Big Data: applications, tools, challenges and trends. Journal of Supercomputing. 2016;72(8):3073-3113. doi:10.1007/s11227-015-1501-1

15.     McGreevy P, Thomson P, Dhand NK, et al. Vetcompass Australia: A national big data collection system for veterinary science. Animals. 2017;7(10):74. doi:10.3390/ani7100074

16.     Self SCW, Liu Y, Nordone SK, et al. Canine vector-borne disease: Mapping and the accuracy of forecasting using big data from the veterinary community. Anim Health Res Rev. Published online 2019. doi:10.1017/S1466252319000045

17.     Day MJ. The CALLISTO Project: A Summary. J Comp Pathol. 2016;155(1):S1-S7. doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2015.01.005

18.     Carvelli A, Scaramozzino P, Iacoponi F, Condoleo R, Marta U Della. Size, demography, ownership profiles, and identification rate of the owned dog population in central Italy. PLoS One. 2020;15(10 October):e0240551. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240551

19.     Ingwersen W. WSAVA Recommendations on Adopting and Implementing Microchip Technology that Adheres to the ISO Standards. Published online 2020. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Microchipping-A-Technology-in-Transition_0.pdf