We love our pets, and we have a lot of them: According to a recent survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, there are about 90 million dogs and 94 million cats kept as pets in the United States. If you take into account canaries, rabbits, fish and other animals, the total number of pets in the country is a staggering 393 million — in 68 percent of American households. Pets are everywhere, but the quality and cost of living with them varies considerably depending on where you live.
WalletHub, the financial website, recently ranked the 100 largest American cities in terms of pet-friendliness, using 21 variables. Among them: the pet-friendliness of the rental market; average home size; preponderance of single-family detached homes (in other words, housing likely to have a yard for the dog); the cost per capita of veterinary care; local animal protection laws; and the availability of dog parks and other outdoor spaces. And, of course, the number of pet-friendly restaurants.
Despite its high veterinary costs, Scottsdale, Ariz., was best in show, thanks to abundant pet-related businesses and services, as well as pet-friendly indoor and outdoor space. New York City did well on outdoor space, but its high-priced veterinary care and other pet-related businesses dragged it down to 97th place. In last place: Newark, with relatively few veterinarians and other pet services per capita, and limited pet-friendly outdoor space.
WalletHub, the financial website, recently ranked the 100 largest American cities in terms of pet-friendliness, using 21 variables. Among them: the pet-friendliness of the rental market; average home size; preponderance of single-family detached homes (in other words, housing likely to have a yard for the dog); the cost per capita of veterinary care; local animal protection laws; and the availability of dog parks and other outdoor spaces. And, of course, the number of pet-friendly restaurants.
Despite its high veterinary costs, Scottsdale, Ariz., was best in show, thanks to abundant pet-related businesses and services, as well as pet-friendly indoor and outdoor space. New York City did well on outdoor space, but its high-priced veterinary care and other pet-related businesses dragged it down to 97th place. In last place: Newark, with relatively few veterinarians and other pet services per capita, and limited pet-friendly outdoor space.
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