The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought consumer priorities into sharp focus, particularly as the illness continues to dominate the news, local and national government policy, and the way people are finding new patterns to conduct their days. What has continued to be a strong focus, at least for pet owners, are the furry, scaly and feathery friends who pre-pandemic might have been home alone all day, but are now sharing a larger part of their lives with the humans who are now telecommuting or simply not frequenting their local haunts or headed off for vacations.

In June 2020, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) released the “APPA COVID-19 Pulse Study of Pet Ownership during the Pandemic,” which found that pet ownership is holding steady during the pandemic, and a majority of pet owners reported that their spending hasn’t been influenced by the state of the economy.

“We know just how much pets mean to us, our mental health and well-being,” said Steve King, CEO of the APPA. “This initial study reaffirms that pet owners are appreciating the benefits of pet ownership now more than ever, which is incredible to hear.”

Pets get equal consideration during a crisis

Pets are credited with helping their humans with everything from mood to security to exercise and more, and surveys being conducted now really bear that out in these extraordinary times.

According to APPA’s study, 72% of owners agree that spending time with their pet is helping to reduce their stress and increase their sense of well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 70% say they’re spending more time with their pet right now and 60% say the extra time spent with their pet makes them feel closer and more bonded to their pet.

Spending-wise, there’s more good news for the pet industry. The APPA study shows that 64% of pet owners surveyed have spent the same amount of money on their pets as they did pre-pandemic — and 21% have spent either a little or a lot more. On the other hand, only 15% have spent either a little or a lot less on their pets since the pandemic began.