Everyone loves animals, especially children who grow up with them. When you have a pet, the love and affection you feel for it multiplies manifold. Pets are great company. They bring joy and laughter into your home, they make you smile when they see you smile at them, and most importantly they act as a constant reminder of your fondness for them. What’s more, keeping a pet provides several benefits for both human and animal alike – from reducing loneliness to increasing oxygen concentration in the blood stream through increased breathing rate and cleaning the air by adding aromatic scents. With so many wonderful benefits to be reaped from pet ownership (and so few negatives), it is not surprising that Americans are now almost obsessed with owning pets. In fact, there are more than 725 million individual dog people and cat people in America alone – that’s over half of the population! So what kind of pet is most popular in America? And which other countries have similar interests? Read on to find out…
Dog Breeds
When it comes to choosing a dog, Americans tend to go for the popular breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, or German Shepherds. This trend can be observed across every age group as well, with dogs being the most popular pet among millennials. In fact, Americans own more dogs than children! However, the most popular breeds are not always the most suitable for all environments. For example, while the Labrador is great for families with small kids, it can be a problem if your home has high surfaces because the dog may pee on the floor. More importantly, many popular dog breeds are not very healthy. For example, Golden Retrievers are extremely prone to getting diseases like diabetes, hip dysplasia, and even cancer. So while they make great family dogs, they are definitely not the best pets for everyone.
Cat Breeds
Cats are the second most common pet in America, with about 79 million households owning at least one. While many people prefer dogs for their companionship, many also feel that cats are more companionable than dogs. In fact, many cat owners say their pets bring them much more joy than a dog would. What’s more, unlike dogs, cats are very easy to maintain, requiring little to no grooming, feeding, or exercise. They also make great pets for people who are too busy to spend time with their dogs or for those who just do not like dogs.
Bird Species
When it comes to birds, American pet owners tend to go for the most common species like parrots, cockatiels, or budgies. These species are also very popular in other parts of the world, with many people keeping them as pets in Europe, Asia, or even South Africa. However, there are many more exotic bird species found only in America – they include the Northern Cardinal, the Rose-ringed Parakeet, the Blue-headed Hummingbird, and the Western Bluebird. These are great for those who are looking for unique pets that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Rabbit Breed
Although rabbits have been used as a source of food and medicine for thousands of years, they only became a common pet in America in the early 20th century. However, with the growing popularity of rabbits as pets, many rabbit breeders have also come up with exotic rabbit breeds that are not found in other parts of the world. Some of the most popular American rabbit breeds include the Netherland Dwarf, the Californian, or the New Zealander. These are great for those who want to keep pets as pets but do not have the space to keep a dog or a larger exotic pet.
Reptile Species
While snakes are not particularly popular pets in America, they are quite common in other parts of the world. For example, many people in South America keep snakes as pets, and even though these species are poisonous, they have become socially accepted in many parts of the world. Another common reptile species in America is the turtles, which are also quite common in other parts of the world. In fact, there are many more reptile species in America than in any other part of the world.
Omnivore Species
When it comes to omnivores, America is again a bit ahead of the curve – people here are much more interested in keeping hedgehogs or giant rats than in other parts of the world. While these are great pets for those who like unusual pets, many people who keep these species tell us they are not much fun as pets. Hedgehogs are great pets for those who like unusual pets but are not much fun as pets. However, they are easy to maintain, eat a little fruit, sunflower seeds and vegetables, and need little care. However, they are not very popular pets, with only about 100,000 hedgehogs being kept as pets in America. Giant Rats are very similar to hedgehogs, but they tend to be a bit more social and require less space.
Conclusion
American culture is extremely diverse, with people from all walks of life living together in a melting pot that creates new and interesting customs every day. Among these customs is the widespread love for pets. As we have seen in this article, there are many different kinds of pets that Americans love. However, while many of these species are found only in America, they are by no means rare. In fact, many of them are quite popular in other parts of the world as well. However, this does not mean that we should import these species into our countries as pets. While they may be exotic, exotic animals require much more care than the average pet does. Also, their habitat is often limited to just one or two countries, making it difficult for people to adopt these species as pets. Now that you know which kinds of animals Americans love, it’s time to go out and find the perfect pet for your family.
