Humane World for Animals reports on pet ownership trends

According to the Tierschutz-Barometer 2026 released by Humane World for Animals, pet ownership is significantly more common in households with children (61.6%) compared to those without (39.7%). The overall pet ownership rate across all households stands at 43.2%, with higher prevalence in rural areas (52.2%) than in urban settings (38%).

Among pet owners, cats are the most popular pet at 53.5%, followed by dogs at 48.3%. Other common pets include birds (7.6%), rodents (7.1%), and fish or invertebrates (6.4%).

The organization is currently promoting its ‘Mandat für Tiere’ petition, noting that 73.9% of respondents support integrating animal welfare into the school curriculum. The study was conducted by the Ipsos institute.