Freshpet's COO says customers spend more on pets than children: 'Their dog comes before their partner, their kids'

As major milestones like buying a home or having kids have felt increasingly unattainable, younger generations have invested more in something arguably as rewarding: their pets. During the pandemic pet boom, an eye-popping 23 million American households adopted a cat or dog, which forced people to adjust their household budgets to afford a new furry friend.

But for many pet parents, having a dog or cat hasn’t just meant carving out an extra $50-$100 per month just for food and toys. Pet parenting has become more of a lifestyle, with people shelling out hundreds of dollars per month for fresh food—and sometimes thousands for special experiences like a Transatlantic flight or curated vacation.