The Burrow
Nov 6, 2024
With a recent report revealing that there are 362 million homeless cats and dogs worldwide, it’s evident that there are plenty of animals in need of a loving home.1 And it’s figures like this that have inspired us to see in which locations across Australia, the United States, and Europe people are showing the most interest in giving an animal a second chance at life.
From cats and dogs to rabbits and reptiles, the pet insurance comparison experts analysed the search volume per 100,000 population associated with adopting various species. An average number of searches was calculated, and this was then used to rank our locations from highest to lowest.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the figures to uncover the animal adoption capitals around the world!
For those who have the capacity to offer time, care, and support, pet adoption can give animals an all-important second chance at life. And in various US states, numerous people are showing curiosity when it comes to adoption.
Up first on our list we have Vermont, a state with a population of 643,077. The average search volume for animals and adoption stands at 224 in Vermont, and interest in dog adoption is the highest on our list (coming in at 880 per 100,000 people).
Vermont also boasts an impressive score when it comes to cat adoption, with a search volume of 487 per capita. Equally, the state tops the ranking for interest in parrot adoption, with a search volume of 87 per 100,000.
Next up we have New Hampshire, a state where people are showing considerable interest in dog adoption (774 per 100,000 people). And it appears that many are eager to adopt cats too, as we found a similarly high search volume of 446 per capita!
Maine sits comfortably in third place, with an average search volume of 181 for animal adoption overall. We also noticed a similar pattern for dogs and cats, with fairly high search volumes for both (727 and 416 per 100,000 people).
In Maine, we equally found a search volume of 6.6 per capita for gerbil adoption, which is without a doubt one of the higher figures on our list!
In fourth place in our US ranking we have Rhode Island, a state with a population of 1,097,379.
Rhode Island has the highest search volume for rabbit adoption, at 78 per 100,000 people. Similarly, it is the second highest when it comes to searches for cat adoption, totalling 475 per capita in a 12-month period.
Nevada completes our top five, with an average search volume of 169! While it’s the lowest for those hoping to adopt a cat, many in Nevada are expressing interest in adopting dogs, with the search volume standing at 751 per 100,000 people.
So, there we have our top five locations, but which states complete our top ten? Well, in sixth place we have Wyoming, where people are showing interest in horse adoption (with a search volume of 250 per 100,000). North Dakota is next, with a fairly high score for reptile adoption (50 per 100,000). And finally rounding off our list we have Alaska, Delaware, then Connecticut!
Next, it’s time to look at the figures surrounding interest in animal adoption across Australia. So, let’s see which cities stole a spot in our top five ranking…
Up first we have Melbourne, a city with a population of 4,246,375. When it comes to those searching for cats to rehome, we found a search volume of 85 per 100,000 people (the highest on our Australian list).
What’s more is that we also found a search volume of 9 per capita for rabbits, also the highest on our list!
In second place we have Adelaide, a city in which people are showing notable interest in reptile adoption. It has a search volume of 1 per 100,000 people, and the same goes for parrot adoption!
Again, many in the city are searching for cats and dogs, and we found search volumes of 39 and 26 per capita respectively.
Brisbane claims third place, with the search volume for cat adoption standing at 40 per 100,000 people (just slightly more than in Adelaide). And in terms of those searching for dogs, we found a search volume of 22 per capita.
A select group in Brisbane are also showing interest in adopting a horse, and we uncovered a search volume of 2 per 100,000.
There are various animals in need of a home in Sydney, but luckily, there are also many potential owners seeking animals to adopt.
While there are fewer searches for dogs in the city (16 per 100,000), there are a larger number searching for cats with a search volume of 41 per capita!
The final city in our top five is Perth, with an average score of 7. Perth is fairly high up the list when it comes to horse adoption, with a search volume of 2 per 100,000 people.
The search volume for cat adoption stands at 31 per capita, and while it’s not the highest on our list, there’s still a considerable amount of people hoping to rehome a cat.
In sixth place we have the Gold Coast, with an average search volume of 6, and Canberra comes in seventh. Finally, rounding off our Australian top ten we have Hobart, Darwin, and Wollongong.
Finally, how do these figures vary when we analyse the search volumes in different countries across Europe? Below we’ll uncover the top five European animal adoption hotspots.
First up we have Iceland, a country with a population of 393,396. The search volume for cat adoption stands at a whopping 501 per 100,000 people in Iceland, the highest on our list, and it also has the highest search volume associated with rabbit adoption (361 per capita).
With an average search volume of 144, Ireland comes in second place! One of the highest search volumes we found in Ireland was associated with reptile adoption, coming in at 246 per 100,000.
Equally, like many of our locations, the search volumes for cat adoption and dog adoption were high (totalling 258 and 253 per capita).
In third place we have the United Kingdom, with an average search volume for animal adoption of 102.
The United Kingdom is our top European location for dog adoption search volume (coming in at 452 per 100,000), and it also has the most searches for guinea pigs (7 per 100,000).
In fourth place we have Slovenia, a country with a population of 2,118,697. Plenty of people are searching for the term ‘horse adoption’ in Slovenia, evidenced by the search volume of 306 per 100,000 people.
We also found a search volume of 80 per capita for parrot adoption, which is one of the higher figures on our list.
With an average search volume of 89, Latvia completes our European top five.
We found a search volume of 61 per 100,000 people for dog adoption in Latvia, plus a fairly high search volume for rabbits, coming in at 162 per 100,000.
Lastly, which locations stole spots six to ten? Well, Lithuania comes in next, with an average score of 69, and Moldova follows closely behind, scoring 58. Finally, rounding off our top ten are Slovakia, Croatia, and the Netherlands.
Adopting a pet is a life-changing decision that can undoubtedly bring you a lot of joy, but it shouldn’t be done in haste, and there are a few things you’ll need to consider beforehand.
First of all, you’ll need to ensure that your living situation is appropriate to welcome an animal into. For instance, if you’re adopting a dog, do you have an outdoor area, and if so, is it safe and secure?
Another aspect to consider is other residents of the home. For example, if you live with a partner or a family member, you’ll need to make sure they too are committed to the arrival of a new pet.
Next up, you’ll need to bear in mind your current work situation as well as your lifestyle. If your job requires long hours away from home or frequent trips away, you might not be in a position to care for a pet needing regular walks and companionship.
Your daily routine is a huge determining factor in whether adopting a pet is the correct choice for you.
Finally, before adopting an animal of any kind, you’ll need to bear in mind that they may potentially arrive with behavioural issues due to past trauma. So, patience is key, and you must be certain that you’re fully prepared to meet their needs.
You’ll need to commit to the long-term care of your pet, taking into account their requirements (both physical and behavioural).
Compare the Market’s Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, said adopting can give pets a new lease on life, but having pet insurance cover could make owning one more affordable, too.“Whether you’ve recently adopted a new pet, or you think adoption may be on the horizon for you, securing cost-effective and comprehensive pet insurance should be something you consider,” Mr Taylor said.
“Pet insurance can make the ongoing cost of pet ownership more affordable and help your pet maintain good health with regular checkups.
“Adopted pets may come with pre-existing problems, too. Although problems that occurred before your policy starting generally won’t be covered, it may still be possible to insure a pet for other costs of pet ownership. Certain policies cover behavioural training, which can be integral in helping your pet settle in.”
Factors & Sources:
www.keywordtool.io
This dataset contains 3 rankings, one for countries in Europe, another with all 50 US states, and one for cities in Australia. We analysed these locations based on the search volume for terms including: ‘cat adoption’, ‘dog adoption’, ‘rabbit adoption’, ‘horse adoption’, ‘reptile adoption’, ‘guinea pig adoption’, ‘parrot adoption’, and ‘gerbil adoption’. These figures were then used to calculate search volume per 100,000 population. Search volume data between September 23 – August 24.
An average number of searches was calculated, using search volume for all pets rounded to the nearest whole number, and this was used to rank the locations from highest to lowest.
All figures are calculated per 100,000 population and rounded to the nearest whole number.
Additional sources: