New York Ranks Among America’s Biggest Pet Adoption States

Animal shelters across New York helped thousands of pets find homes last year, and new research shows the Empire State is one of the top pet adoption states in the country.

Nearly 200,000 Pets Were Adopted In New York

According to the pet insurance experts at Compare the Market AU, New Yorkers adopted an estimated 195,030 pets based on the most recent shelter data available. That number ranked New York fourth in the nation for total pet adoptions, behind only California, Texas, and Florida.

The study found that New Yorkers adopted: 65,601 dogs and 129,429 cats.Researchers also found that 591 animal rescue groups and shelters across New York contributed data to the report.

Cats Were Adopted More Often Than Dogs

One interesting finding from the study was that cats were adopted far more often than dogs in New York. Researchers say that trend showed up in several large states, especially places with bigger urban populations. In New York, cat adoptions nearly doubled dog adoptions.

Pet Ownership Can Be Expensive

The report also looked at how much Americans spend owning dogs over their lifetime. Costs included things like food, vet care, grooming, insurance, and other expenses. The most affordable dog breed was the Shiba Inu, with lifetime costs around $25,200.

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The most expensive breed was the French Bulldog, with ownership costs topping $40,700 over a lifetime. One of America’s most popular breeds, the Labrador Retriever, was estimated to cost about $26,800 over its lifetime. The numbers show many New Yorkers are still opening their homes to rescue pets in a big way.