Is your state pet-crazy? The most devoted owners ranked

Alaska, Kansas and Wyoming have America’s most adventurous pets, according to new research.

A survey of 5,000 cat and dog owners, with 100 in each of the 50 states, explored the unique ins and outs of pet ownership, aiming to uncover some “pet owner superlatives,” including who is most likely to take their pet on an epic adventure.

Results revealed that The Last Frontier has the most adventurous pets, with 62% of Alaskans saying their pet always wants to explore, while 26% of Kansans said they tend to get into mischief outside.

But that’s not the only superlative that Alaskans can boast: the results found they’re also the most attached to their pets.

North Carolinians also ranked in the top five most attached and 56% said they have a second shadow — wherever they go, their pet goes.

Commissioned by Banfield Pet Hospital and conducted by Talker Research, the survey found plenty of pet-obsessed owners in other states, too — such as who is most likely to seek veterinary care, celebrate their pet’s special day and pamper them.

Kentuckians take their pets with them for good reason: they were the most likely to bring their pets to the vet. That was followed by two other Southern states — Alabama and Tennessee, who are surely most likely to be on a first name basis with their veterinary team.

Tennessee pet owners take things a step further, as they’re the most likely to have more apps on their phone for their pet’s wellness than their own.

In Massachusetts, respondents know how to throw a party — as pet owners here were the most likely to celebrate their pet’s birthday. Florida and Maryland were the other states most likely to celebrate their pet on their special day.

Forty-five percent of Bay Staters surveyed will get their pet a birthday treat every year, and 12% admit they look forward to their pet’s birthday more than their own.

Outside of their special day, owners in Maryland know their pet still deserves extra attention, which might be why they’re the most likely to pamper their dog or cat.

While some of this pampering includes brushing their fur regularly (35%) and staying on top of their bath routine (32%), those in Maryland take things to another level.

Seventeen percent of Marylanders have done photoshoots with their pets, and 14% said their pet has various outfits to wear.

“One thing we know at Banfield is that while each pet owner has a unique approach, we all share a common passion and love for our pets,” said Alea Harrison, Chief Medical Officer of Banfield Pet Hospital. “These pet owner superlatives reinforce the growing human-animal bond and importance of regular preventive veterinary care.

Some respondents don’t want to leave home without their pets — resulting in Louisiana, New York and Florida having some of the most well-traveled pets.

Owners in Louisiana are the most likely to travel with their pet, but they’re not going the farthest: Pets in Florida have traveled to the most states with their owner, while those in New York and Washington are most likely to have traveled internationally.

Others prefer to stay home with their pets: respondents in Nevada reported spending the most time with their pets. Those in Connecticut earned the superlative for having the cuddliest pets and respondents in Indiana have the most “homebody” furry friends of all.

PET OWNER SUPERLATIVES STATE-BY-STATE
● Alaska — most likely to take their pet on an adventure
● Alaska — most attached to their pets
● California — most likely to prioritize their pet’s needs over their own
● Connecticut — home of the cuddliest pets
● Colorado — most likely to prioritize their pet’s mental and emotional wellness
● Delaware — most likely to use tech to manage their pet’s care
● Florida — most well-traveled pets (number of states)
● Georgia — most likely to have a wellness plan for their pet
● Indiana — spends the most time being “homebodies” with their pets
● Kentucky — most likely to take their pet to the vet
● Louisiana — most likely to travel with their pets
● Maryland — most likely to pamper their pet
● Massachusetts — most likely to celebrate their pet’s birthday
● Michigan — where pets are the No. 1 most routine-oriented and least likely to try new things
● Nevada — spends the most time with their pet
● Oklahoma — most likely to spend more on their pets grooming than their own
● South Carolina — most likely to never miss a flea and tick treatment
● Tennessee — most likely to have more apps on their phone for their pet’s wellness than their own

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 5,000 cat and dog owners, with 100 in each of the 50 states; the survey was commissioned by Banfield Pet Hospital and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 10–25, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.