Oklahoma is one of the top states for pet ownership
BY SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Monday, January 28, 2013
1/28/13 at 7:30 AM
She may go by Cat, but Catherine Ingram is more of a dog person.
"An avid dog person," she said. "I've never been without an animal, except the four years I was at Oklahoma State (University), and I missed it terribly."
Ingram, who now has two adopted dogs in her south Tulsa home, is one of thousands in Oklahoma who own pets.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's newly released U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, 43.2 percent of Oklahomans own dogs and 32.6 percent own cats, both higher than the national averages of 36.5 percent and 30.4 percent respectively.
The numbers are higher still in the seven-county Tulsa metro area, where 54.4 percent report being dog owners and 28.5 percent say they own a cat, according to Scarborough Research 2012.
The veterinary association's sourcebook shows that Oklahoma ranks 10th in the nation for dog ownership and 18th for cat ownership, figures that aren't surprising to some.
"Our way of living in general, we have good core values and families are very important. Pets are a part of our family," said Gina Gardner, president of the Tulsa Humane Society.
Ingram's animal family includes Barkley, a 10-year-old Jack Russell-miniature schnauzer mix who was adopted from Tulsa Animal Welfare, and a 1 1/2-year-old dachshund-Yorkshire terrier-Chihuahua mix named Sophia who came from the Humane Society of Tulsa.
"I bond with them. I love the unconditional love they give back," she said, adding that she shows pictures of her dogs to friends as often as pictures of her grandson. "They're part of my life. I can't imagine not having an animal."
That love of animals seems to be pervasive in Oklahoma, whether people live in cities or the country, said Mark Ferrell, president of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association.
"Our pets are our companions. Oklahoma, being a little less urban, maybe we're a little more animal-friendly," said Ferrell, whose practice Town and Country Veterinary Clinic is located in McAlester. "There's land, there's space. We have a lot of places that are animal-friendly. We have backyards and places where it's fine for dogs to go."
The veterinary association's last pet ownership study five years ago ranked Oklahoma second in the U.S. for dog ownership. Ferrell and Gardner said the recession affected not only people, but their pets, which may be why the state dropped to No. 10 in the recent study.
"We did have more people looking to adopt five years ago," Gardner said. "Now we focus more on people keeping their pets."
In the last few years, the Humane Society has started a pet food pantry to assist pet owners who are having trouble paying for food, as well as offering free spay and neuter clinics to low-income pet owners.
Gardner said five years ago, the nonprofit organization never got calls seeking assistance with food and veterinary care, but now it's a main focus.
Some people have had to relinquish their pets because they lost their jobs, their homes or had to move someplace that wouldn't allow pets, she said. The downturn in the economy also delayed some people getting a pet.
Ferrell said he's seen the number of veterinary visits decrease in recent years as well because clients either don't have their pets anymore, or they aren't bringing their dogs and cats for appointments because of the cost.
Ingram said she adopted Sophia after a man relinquished her to the Humane Society.
"He couldn't afford to feed her. He was very upset," she said, but despite the hardships, many people still make their pets a priority and want to share their home with a dog or cat.
Owning a pet can actually be good for your health, Gardner said.
"It's very good for companionship. It encourages people to exercise. It lowers blood pressure," she said. "The joy of that companionship, the joy those pets bring people. It's truly a family member for a lot of people."
Percentage of population that own pets
United States
| Dog owners |
36.5 percent |
| Cat owners |
30.4 percent |
Oklahoma
| Dog owners |
43.2 percent |
| Cat owners |
32.6 percent |
Tulsa's seven-county metro area
| Dog owners |
54.4 percent |
| Cat owners |
28.5 percent |
SOURCES: American Veterinary Medical Association's U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook and Scarborough Research 2012
Top states for dog ownership
| Arkansas |
47.9 percent |
| New Mexico |
46 percent |
| Kentucky |
45.9 percent |
| Missouri |
45.9 percent |
| West Virginia |
45.8 percent |
| Mississippi |
45.2 percent |
| Alabama |
44.1 percent |
| Tennessee |
44.1 percent |
| Texas |
44 percent |
| Oklahoma |
43.2 percent |
Top states for cat ownership
| 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 |
| New Hampshire |
34.2 percent |
Bottom states for dog ownership
| Illinois |
32.4 percent |
| New Jersey |
32.4 percent |
| Minnesota |
31.9 percent |
| Maryland |
30.8 percent |
| New Hampshire |
30.3 percent |
| Utah |
29.4 percent |
| Rhode Island |
29.3 percent |
| New York |
29 percent |
| Connecticut |
28.3 percent |
| Massachusetts |
23.6 percent |
| District of Columbia |
13.1 percent |
Bottom states for cat ownership
| California |
28.3 percent |
| South Carolina |
27.8 percent |
| Rhode Island |
27.6 percent |
| Alabama |
27.4 percent |
| Florida |
27.3 percent |
| Georgia |
27.3 percent |
| Illinois |
26.3 percent |
| Louisiana |
25.9 percent |
| New Jersey |
25.3 percent |
| Utah |
24.6 percent |
| District of Columbia |
11.6 percent |
SOURCE: American Veterinary Medical Association's U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook
Original Print Headline: Puppy love
Sara Plummer 918-581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Cat Ingram kneels with her adopted dogs Barkley (left) and Sophia at her house last week. STEPHEN PINGRY / Tulsa World
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