Companion animals bring joy to their owners, provide emotional support, reduce feelings of stress and loneliness, and increase social contact.
The animal health industry actively promotes responsible pet ownership through the responsible use of medicines ensuring good health for our pets.
Follow our We Care campaign on Facebook for further information on responsible pet ownership.
In general terms ‘companion animals’ are all animals which are kept by people for companionship and enjoyment. They are often referred to as pets, with cats and dogs being the most popular pets.
Others include:
Worldwide there are 223 million dogs and 220 million cats (excluding strays).
Source: Vetnosis
Population
Sources: FACCO (France), PFMA (United Kingdom) and IVH (Germany)
Households
For further national figures view the FEDIAF facts and figures 2012