Celebrity vet, Dr Chris Brown is about to kick off his third national pet census, hoping to find the answers to questions like, has the rising cost of living changed how you care for your pets? He believes the latest census results will provide valuable guidance for current and future pet owners on how to best care for their beloved animals.
The Drooly Important Pet Census, spearheaded by Dr. Chris Brown seeks to delve deep into the lives of pets and their owners across Australia. The aim is to gather valuable data to ensure Australia remains a pet-friendly nation.
Find out more: 7 of the best pet-friendly hotels in Sydney
“Australia is known for its high rate of pet ownership,” says Dr. Chris. “But before the first National Pet Census eight years ago, we had little information on our pets' behaviours and their owners’ habits.”
This initiative started back in 2016 when Dr. Chris noticed the lack of pet-related questions in the National Census. He quickly took action on social media to launch his own pet-focused survey. Over 130,000 pet owners across the country have since participated in the previous two censuses.
“Our 2021 survey revealed some fascinating insights, especially about how pets were handling their owners' return to work after COVID lockdowns,” Dr. Chris recalls. “Now, I’m eager to see how those pandemic puppies are getting along. This year, we're also looking into the health, happiness, and unique habits of all our pets in 2024, and the concerns their owners have.”
Pet owners of all kinds—from dog and cat lovers to those who care for birds and reptiles—are encouraged to take part in the online survey. The fun and insightful questionnaire takes about five minutes to complete and is available at Drool Pet Census.
This year’s survey includes new questions such as:
- Are there enough pet-friendly areas in your community?
- What are your thoughts on pets travelling in the cabin during domestic flights?
- If cost were no issue, what would you feed your pets?
- Do you think there are sufficient pet-friendly exercise options locally?
- What is your pet’s secret (or not-so-secret) shame?
“We’re particularly interested in finding out if dog owners feel there are enough places for their pets to exercise in their local areas. With Australia’s large pet population, accurate data is essential to make sure our pets' needs are considered in local planning. The data we collect will help us understand our pets better and will be shared with councils and governments to promote pet-friendly policies across Australia.”
Dr Chris Brown
Unlike other surveys that are often limited to state levels, Dr. Chris Brown’s Drooly Important Pet Census invites pet owners from all over the country to participate.
Interesting findings from the 2021 Pet Census include:
- 30 per cent of dog owners felt their dogs were needier post-COVID;
- 23 per cent reduced vet visits due to the pandemic;
- Top concerns for pet parents were separation anxiety and bad breath;
- Less than 1 per cent of pet owners didn’t converse with their pets.