The State of the Pet Industry in 2020

Wag! Index

The state of the pet services industry in the US by city

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a lasting impact on everyone, and the pet services industry is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced pet parents to rethink how they care for their pets and Pet Caregivers are facing unprecedented challenges. Wag!, the #1 Pet Services platform, has helped Pet Caregivers and Pet Parents alike adapt to this ever changing environment with socially distanced services.

What’s happening across the US with pet services?

The data indexes the following:

First, the overall impact of COVID-19 on pet services by showing the week-over-week recovery in pet services (Dog Walking, Boarding, Sitting, Drop-In, and Training) based on a sample of pet service businesses operating on the Wag! Platform. The data set is focused on recovery from the bottom, where only essential services were operating, which corresponds to the week of April 6, 2020. For example, the comparison between the week of July 4, 2020 to the bottom of April 6, 2020 highlights the "recovery rate" of a given city. If a service operating on the Wag! platform completed 18 services in the week of July 4 and 9 services in the week of April 6, the data would show a 100% recovery rate. To ensure a broad enough data set, only states or metros with 100 or more pet service businesses operating on the Wag! platform in 2020 were included.

In totality, this represents approximately 10,000 pet service businesses.

Additionally, we've segmented the data by US city, so you can compare where recovery is taking shape and how that recovery compares across geographies. In the future, we'll segment the data by pet service specific categories, such as outside vs. inside services, travel vs. non-travel, and duration.

Percent improvement from the beginning of shelter in place to present day

Frequently asked questions

What is Wag!?

Wag! is the #1 app for Pet Parents -- offering 5-star dog walking, pet sitting, veterinary care, and training services nationwide. Book convenient pet care in your neighborhood with the Wag! app. Whether you’re looking for daily walks, planning a trip, stuck at work, or just want your best friend to have some company - any day, anytime pet care is available through the app.

Is the pet industry growing?

The pet industry is growing rapidly. Pet ownership and family incomes are both on the rise, and are directly correlated. Younger generations now make up a larger piece of the pie when it comes to owning pets, as Millennials and GenZ make room for fur babies and are starting families later in life as compared to older generations.

How much is the pet industry worth in 2020?

According to Jeffries Equity Research, the global pet industry is worth $131B in 2020.

Where do most pet owners live?

Traditionally, more rural and suburban areas take up the largest percentage of pet-owning households. Though, in more recent years, urban household pet ownership rates have increased.

What is the most popular pet in 2020?

Dogs are the most popular pet in 2020. While there are more cats, fish, and other small companion animals in terms of sheer numbers, more households have at least one dog than any other pet according to the AVMA.

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Resources

Socially distanced pet care services near you

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The psychological benefits of sheltering in place with your dog

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COVID-19 & your pet - resource center

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