Pet Care Services NAICS 812910

Jul 24, 2025 - Rising Prices, Labor Costs

• Consumer prices for pet care services increased by 5.9% in June 2025 compared to a year ago and were up 0.9% compared to the previous month, according to the Consumer Price Index data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by pet care services fell 1% in May 2025 compared to a year ago, per the BLS. In the past decade, employment by pet care services rose 103.6%, faster than the 13.4% growth in overall private employment, reflecting the growth in pet ownership during the period. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at pet services increased 8.3% in May 2025, reaching $22.11 per hour.
• Consumer sentiment, an indicator of discretionary spending, increased slightly in July 2025, rising to 61.8 in preliminary July data from 60.7 in June, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan hit a recent peak in December of 74, buoyed following the presidential election, but dropped to 52.2 in April 2025 as consumers expressed uncertainty about tariff effects and rising inflation. In July, respondents’ inflation expectations for the coming year were an anticipated price increase of 4.4%, which was tracking higher than in January, when respondents expected prices to grow by 3.9%. However, July’s inflation expectation results were lower than June’s, when respondents expected a 5% price increase for the coming year. The index serves as a predictor of consumer spending as it indicates consumers’ perception of their financial prospects and the broader economy.

• Dog owners are increasingly incorporating their dogs into their daily routines, with a growing number of owners bringing their dogs on errands, to work, and on trips, according to the 2025 Dog & Cat Report conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Nearly three-quarters of dog owners said they traveled with their dog by plane in 2024 compared to 68% in 2023. More than half of dog owners took their dogs with them on foot for daily errands, up 6% from 2023. Dogs are also visiting their owner’s workplaces, with 49% saying they are very or somewhat likely to bring their pet to the office if permitted. Cat ownership grew 23% in 2024, with 49 million households reporting owning a cat compared to 40 million in 2023. Demand for pet care services may decline if dogs are incorporated into travel plans, lessening the need for pet sitting and walking services.
• Pet care providers will want to take note of new data from Trupanion reported in Veterinary Practice News showing that anxiety-related health claims among cats and dogs have increased 93% nationally from 2019 to 2025. The growth in claims may not only reflect a rise in cases, but also greater awareness and access to care. Certain breeds tend to have more anxiety issues including Australian cattle dogs, terriers, Portuguese water dogs, Shetland sheepdogs, and American pit bull terriers. Cat breeds with higher anxiety claims include Siamese, Bengal, and Siberian cat breeds. Signs in pets of anxiety may include behavioral changes, excessive grooming or vocalization, and elimination outside the litter box, as well as clinginess and hyperexcitability. A variety of strategies are used to combat anxiety in pets including behavioral modifications, enrichment activities, steady routines, and creating safe environments. Trupanion findings come from an analysis of claims data from more than two million insured pets.