UK dog population at all-time high, says Mintel

Britain's dog population has reached an all-time high of 8.3 million, up from 5 million in 1970 and nearing the 8.6 million cat population (down from 2004's peak of 9.6 million), according to a Mintel report for the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association.
"Dogs are now seen as a fashion accessory, with the likes of Paris Hilton seen carrying hers around, whereas cats are getting less attention," said Ben Perkins, an analyst at Mintel. "They aren't seen as a sociable animal and you're not likely to see a celebrity holding a cat."
Figures from the Kennel Club show that "handbag dog" breeds, such as Pugs, have increased sixfold and Chihuahuas have trebled since 2001. This, according to experts, may be partially due to an increase in amateur dog breeding. "It is easy money, but it means some breeds have seen a huge rise in numbers and many of those dogs end up in rescue centers because they can't be looked after," said Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today.

UK domestic cat and dog population larger than thought

A new study has found that the UK domestic cat and dog population is larger than previously reported by industry figures.
The paper published in The Veterinary Record by Dr. Jane Murray in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at Bristol University and colleagues aimed to estimate the number of UK domestic cats and dogs and identify the characteristics of their owners.
The study also found the following:

*The likelihood of dog ownership increased as the household size increased;
*Dogs were more likely to be owned by households with gardens and rural households and less likely to be owned by households with someone educated to degree level and households with cats or children less than 11 years old;
*Female respondents and those less than 55 years old were more likely to own a dog than others; and
*There are a similar numbers of pet cats and dogs.