Welcome to the Week’s Review of Canine Social Media
Welcome to this Special Feature on the DoggieU K9 Blog for an update on this week’s dog-related social media from around the world. There are so many stories. Here we will share some of the best stories this week.
Enjoy & share them.
Pet parents on the move! The 10 fastest-growing dog-friendly cities in America.
New survey data from Zillow and Rover shows that pets are driving housing decisions.
More than 60% of dog parents credit their dog’s happiness and well-being with inspiring them to move
- Nearly three-quarters of U.S. dog owners report they would consider moving to a home that better suits their dog’s needs.
- The fastest-growing dog-friendly city in the country is Antioch, Tennessee, near Nashville.
- Just over half of dog owners find it challenging to find a dog-friendly rental.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of dog parents surveyed would consider moving to a home that better suits their dog’s needs. Previous Zillow research shows 61% of recent homeowners and 57% of renters are pet owners, underscoring the impact this demographic has on overall national housing demand that remains stronger than ever.
According to Zillow, “pandemic pet ownership soared among renters, which has impacted their home preferences. More renters now report owning at least one pet, compared to 2020. Like recent movers on the whole, they appear to be seeking out more space and relative affordability in places where they can get a fenced backyard or room for a doghouse.”
Survey of Cities
To find the fastest-growing dog-friendly cities, Rover and Zillow considered newly registered dog-owner accounts from Rover’s database of millions of pet profiles, together with Zillow page views of pet-friendly single-family home rental listings.
Top 10 fastest-growing dog-friendly cities of 2022, according to Zillow and Rover
Zillow and Rover’s survey also found that 72% of dog parents find it important to live in a dog-friendly city with plenty of other dog owners, dog parks and pet-friendly rentals. Around 61% credit their furry friend’s happiness and well-being as inspiration to move.
“It’s clear our pets are at the center of our families, and they’re influencing how and where we live,” according to a trends expert at Rover. “Pet parents want to do right by their dogs, including giving them the best resources and opportunities to be happy. At the same time, people have realized that pets can improve our own health and wellbeing. Moving to a location with a big backyard and proximity to a park can not only improve our pet’s life– it may also lead to more exercise, more outdoor time and more social interaction that can actually make an impact on our own happiness.” [Link]
Insect food for pets: University of Washington students developing sustainable dog treats
You may have heard of insect-based food for humans. Now the sustainable alternative is expanding to pets.
Several students in the ‘master of science in entrepreneurship’ program at UW, decided to take on an Environmental Challenge Practicum to pioneer a startup that focused on sustainability.
- The idea came from Mallory Morse who envisioned a more sustainable food source for her English bulldog. Rather than using salmon-based products with environmental implications, Morse turned to insects, a more sustainable food product.
Photo: UW - “It started with me just making treats in my kitchen,” Morse said.
- With $595 in prototype funding from the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at UW, the group called their startup “Just Right Bite.” They began testing different measurements of insect-based flour to create the first pet treat in their own kitchens. After months of trial-and-error, the team brought its prototype for pets (and humans) to try at the competition.
- The team of undergraduate and graduate students leveraged their expertise to craft a brand image and prototype for Just Right Bite. The bright colors and branded stickers drew attendees to their display.
- Just Right Bite from UW won the $10,000 Herbert B. Jones Foundation Second Place Prize at the 2022 Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge!
- They plan on entering other competitions and continue to refine Just Right Bite’s product to increase shelf stability. The team aims to get their product out to customers as it grows as a brand. “We’re looking at our options and our vision and deciding which route is appropriate for us and what we want to achieve,” Morse said.
- There are several other startups developing insect-based food products, one of which has raised more than $20 million in venture capital to support its sustainable alternative to animal feed. There seems to be serious interest in insect-based foods and the pet food industry is interested in startups like Just Right Bite.[Link]