AVMA spotlights healthy routines as pet ownership, dog numbers rise

More U.S. households now live with pets than a decade ago, and the American Veterinary Medical Association is using National Pet Week to make sure that growth comes with realistic expectations. The group said pet-owning households climbed from 71.5 million in 2016 to 77.5 million in 2025, while the owned dog population grew from 76.8 million to 87.3 million. With 58.6% of U.S. households now sharing life with a pet, the AVMA is pressing a simple point for dog people who know the grind of high-octane breeds: love is not enough without routine.

National Pet Week runs May 3 to May 9, 2026, and the AVMA said the observance was created in 1981 by the AVMA and the Auxiliary to the AVMA. This year’s theme, “Happiness is a Healthy Pet,” fits the organization’s broader push to tie the human-animal bond to everyday care. The AVMA said nearly 80% of owners consider their pets members of the family, but it framed that bond as a matter of habits, prevention and follow-through, not sentiment alone.

The week is organized around daily themes that read like a checklist for anyone living with a dog that never seems to run out of gas: “Choose well, commit for life,” “Behavioral health: Good habits for happy pets,” “Nutrition and exercise matter,” “Love your pet? See your vet!,” “Travel with care,” “Emergencies happen. Be prepared,” and “Plan for their care. Give them a lifetime of love.” For handlers of drivey dogs, the most useful line is the least glamorous one: the AVMA says owners should provide physical and mental stimulation appropriate to a pet’s species, age, breed and health status.

That matters because the AVMA’s own guidance treats walking as more than a bathroom break. It says dog walking provides physical exercise and mental stimulation, helps preserve muscle tone and joint movement, and can help overweight dogs lose weight. For a dog that needs a real outlet every day, those details are the difference between a manageable companion and a bored wrecking ball.

The AVMA said the total U.S. population of pet cats and dogs is estimated at 163.6 million in 2025, a reminder that the country’s pet boom is not just about numbers but about responsibility. In Schaumburg, Illinois, the message behind National Pet Week is plain: the dogs that thrive in busy homes are the ones whose people build their lives around movement, preventive care and consistent structure.