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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2024 35 Tails & Trails - All Pets The percentage of pet owners in the U.S. spiked over the past 35 years, according to pet owner statistics analyzed by Forbes Advisor. The steady rise in pet ownership in the U.S. comes at a time when pet insurance is also rapidly gaining in popularity. More than 4.8 million pets are insured. Pet insurance can prevent you from paying the full cost of unexpected vet bills if your pet is injured or gets sick. It's a smart way to add a layer of financial security to your budget. Here are more interesting facts related to pet ownership: • As of 2024, 66 percent of U.S. households (86.9 million homes) own a pet. • Pet ownership has increased significantly over the past three decades. In 1988, only 56 percent of U.S. households owned a pet. • More than half of pet owners (51 percent) consider their pets to be as much a part of their family as a human family member. • 78 percent of pet owners surveyed acquired pets during the pandemic. • Households with annual incomes of $100,000 and over are most likely to own pets: 63 percent of households in this income bracket own dogs and 40 percent own cats. • Homeowners are more likely to own pets than renters: 58 percent of homeowners have a dog and 36 percent have a cat versus 39 percent and 29 percent of renters respectively. • Americans in rural areas are more likely to own pets than Americans in suburban and urban areas. 71 percent of adults living in rural areas have a pet. • Residents of rural areas are also more likely to have multiple pets: 47 percent of adults in rural areas have more than one pet, compared with 32 percent in the suburbs and 26 percent in urban areas. • 42 percent of dog owners and 43 percent of cat owners got their pets from a store, while 38 percent of dog owners and 40 percent of cat owners got their pet from an animal shelter or rescue. The bottom line is, regardless of your location or financial status, having a pet will definitely enhance your quality of life in so many ways. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net Seasoned Singles The continuing heat and many pre- planned vacations kept our planned activities to a minimum in August but we did celebrate recent birthdays at Mimi's Cafe and we had a great turnout for our Labor Day Potluck and Games at The Summit. If you're single and would like to join us for outings like these, we meet on the first Friday of the month in The Lodge Arts & Crafts Room at 6 pm. For more information, please contact Monica Sarafian at (626) 862-8215. ~ Phyllis Kates e Singles enjoyed celebrating July and August birthdays at Mimi's Cafe. Garden Club Please join us on Oct. 5 at 10 am in the RCN for a free speaker event. Barbara Levin, a UCCE Riverside County Master Gardener, knows what it takes to grow vegetables and herbs in our climate. She will speak on "Starting Seeds Successfully." An avid plant collector, Barbara will share how to grow vegetables and plants from seeds successfully in our region. She is the founder of gardening programs at the Braille Institute and the Children's Discovery Museum Rancho Mirage. Mark your calendars for May 17, 2025 when we will present the next Four Seasons Home Garden Tour. If you are interested in having your home featured on the tour, please contact Pat Wayne at pwayne1@outlook.com. ~ Pat Wayne

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