New study says Idaho ranks 9th for pet ownership

It may not come as a surprise for dog- and cat-loving Idahoans, but The American Veterinary Medical Association's new U.S. Pet Ownership Demographics Sourcebook has confirmed that many Idahoans have pets.

The state ranks 9th for pet ownership with 62 percent of households owning a pet.

Still, the numbers are down from the last study in 2006, which found that Idaho ranked 2nd, with 73.4 percent of households owning a pet.

The survey is conducted by the AVMA every five years and always includes a breakdown of pet ownership by state.

The most recent survey reveals that the top 10 pet-owning states are: Vermont (70.8 percent); New Mexico (67.6 percent); South Dakota (65.6 percent), Oregon (63.6 percent), Maine (62.9 percent); Washington (62.7 percent), Arkansas (62.4 percent), West Virginia (62.1 percent), Idaho (62 percent), and Wyoming (61.8 percent).

The Sourcebook also ranks the top states by dog ownership and cat ownership. Idaho made the top 10 for cat ownership.

Top Dog-Owning States The Sourcebook reveals that the states with the most dog owners in 2011 are: Arkansas (47.9 percent); New Mexico (46 percent); Kentucky (45.9 percent); Missouri (45.9 percent)k; West Virginia (45.8 percent); Mississippi (45.2 percent); Alabama (44.1 percent); Tennessee (44.1 percent); Texas (44 percent); and Oklahoma (43.2 percent).

Top Cat-Owning States The 2011 top 10 states with the most cat-owning households are: Vermont (49.5 percent); Maine (46.4 percent): Oregon (40.2 percent); South Dakota (39.1 percent); Washington (39 percent); West Virginia (38.1 percent); Kentucky (36.8 percent); Idaho (34.6 percent); Indiana (34.4 percent); and New Hampshire (34.2 percent).