Researchers surveyed over 2,500 pet and non-pet owners across three U.S. cities and one Australian city.

Several pet product manufacturers adopted minimum advertised pricing (MAP) policies recently, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the independent pet specialty channel.

In total, Packaged Facts estimates there are around 67 million households with pets, which is 55 percent of all U.S. households.

The city welcoming home the most puppies so far this year is New York, followed closely by Los Angeles, then Boston, San Francisco and Seattle.

During Global Pet Expo, the Fear Free team sought out the best consumer products for reducing fear, anxiety and stress in pets.

The report analyzes 53 of the largest cities across the country based on 10 key metrics broken down into three key dimensions: pet needs, pet recreation and city profile.

The survey shows a new generation of pet owners contributing to the growth of pet ownership.

The Labrador Retriever has held the No. 1 spot on the list for a record-breaking 26 consecutive years.

Internet sales of pet products are forecast to grow between 10 percent and 15 percent annually through 2018.

The research adds strength to claims that household pets can help support healthy child development.