There are many things that California is synonymous with, from its gleaming beaches to the state’s picturesque parks and soaring mountains.
The one thing the state is not known for is its pet ownership, however, as California has the lowest rate in the Lower 48. In total, 40.1% of California residents own either a cat or a dog.
April 11 is National Pet Day, a day for people everywhere to love on their fur babies a little extra. But which states love their pets the most? BetCalifornia.com, home to coverage of all things California sports betting, sought to find out.
BetCalifornia.com used data from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook to calculate which states had the highest percentage of pet ownership.
Pet-Loving States
When sports betting becomes legal in the state, BetCalifornia.com will be the source for California sportsbook promos.
Where California Pet Ownership Stacks Up Nationally
Residents of the Golden State don’t appear to see need for man’s best friend, ranking well behind their neighbors when it comes to pet ownership rates.
Oregon is the highest ranking state bordering California, ranking 23rd nationally with a pet ownership rate of 59.2%.
California’s eastern neighbors, in Arizona and Nevada, rank 29th and 35th nationally, with rates of 58% and 53%, respectively.
The state finished behind Rhode Island on the national leaderboard, with the Ocean State winding up at 45.4%.
Wyoming (71.8%), West Virginia (71.0%), Idaho and Vermont (70.0% apiece) were the only states to finish at or above 70% pet ownership nationally.
Author
Christopher Boan is the lead writer at BetCalifornia.com, specializing in sports betting issues in the western United States. He's covered sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
