Growing Number of Pets

A developing trend is the growing number of pets. The U.S. now has more households with pets than with children, and in 2024, China was on track to have more pets than toddlers by the end of that year.

Cities can obtain a "pet-friendly" certification to attract tourists, and the number of U.S. dog parks is exploding. Across the country, developers are adding dog-specific areas in and near housing complexes to attract buyers, and despite laws prohibiting owners from bringing their pets aboard public transit, many do so anyway. The rise in pets and pet liberties may be a result of changing generational norms, so planners will increasingly need to consider how public spaces can accommodate pets in appropriate ways.