Lexington ranks among top 15 of nation’s pet friendly cities

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – For most people, pets are close to being a member of the family.

And during the coronavirus outbreak, that’s often even more so as pets provide comfort and companionship during sometimes lonely days of isolation.

They even help provide exercise for those necessary walks.

And fortunately for Lexington area residents, the city ranks among the 15 most pet-friendly cities in the country, according to a new review by personal finance website Wallethub.

The city ranks 13th out of the top 100 cities and some other area cities also rank among the top 30 with St. Louis 6th, Cincinnati 11th, Nashville, 17th, Columbus, Ohio, 23, Pittsburgh, 28th and Ft. Wayne, Ind. 30th.

Louisville is 35th and Indianapolis 53rd.

Pet-owning households in the U.S. are projected to spend $99 billion this year. In order to determine where Americans’ animal companions can enjoy the best quality of life without breaking the bank, WalletHub compared the creature-friendliness of the 100 largest cities across 25 key metrics.

The data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability.

The data set ranges from minimum pet-care provider rate per visit to pet businesses per capita to walkability.

Most Pet-Friendly Cities Least Pet-Friendly Cities
1. Tampa, FL             91. Newark, NJ
2. Austin, TX            92. Chula Vista, CA
3. Las Vegas, NV         93. Mesa, AZ
4. Orlando, FL           94. Buffalo, NY
5. Seattle, WA           95. Laredo, TX
6. St. Louis, MO         96. Bakersfield, CA
7. Atlanta, GA           97. Honolulu, HI
8. New Orleans, LA       98. Santa Ana, CA
9. Birmingham, AL        99. San Bernardino, CA
10. San Diego, CA        100. Fresno, CA

Some key stats about the highest- and lowest-ranked cities:

*     Corpus Christi, Texas, has the lowest average veterinary care costs (per visit), $38.75, which is 2.1 times lower than in Washington, the city with the highest at $80.09.

*     Miami has the most veterinarians (per square root of the population), 0.3350, which is 88.2 times more than in Newark, New Jersey, the city with the fewest at 0.0038.

*     St. Paul, Minnesota, has the lowest monthly dog-insurance premium, $34.84, which is 2.5 times lower than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at $88.76.

*     San Francisco has the most pet businesses (per square root of the population), 0.8427, which is 24.8 times more than in Newark, New Jersey, the city with the fewest at 0.0340.

Years ago, pet owners had access to only a handful of businesses offering animal services and supplies. Petco and PetSmart were among the biggest names. But the market for pet businesses is growing to fill increasing consumer demand.

For example, in 2019, the pet food industry reached a $97 billion global value. There are also new ways to buy goods for your animal, such as monthly subscription boxes.

But adding an animal to the family roster can be hard on the wallet. A long list of expenses that include licenses, grooming and medical care can cost from around $230 to more than $2,000 annually, depending on the type of animal.

Health insurance alone can exceed $200 per year for a dog, and it may not even be worth it. And if you rent an apartment with an animal, you can expect to pay hundreds, if not thousands, more for a pet deposit, fee and rent.