Nearly two-thirds of US households have at least one pet. More than ever, companion animals are a part of life – especially in cities, where most Americans live.
Cities offer access to many resources, but they are often not distributed evenly. Some scholars describe parts of US cities with few or no grocery stores as food deserts. Others have identified zones they call transit deserts, where reliable and convenient public transportation is scarce or non-existent.
Although the framing of “desert” is controversial, there is little disagreement that access to goods and services in many US cities is unequal. I’ve studied urban animal welfare issues for the past 15 years, and I’ve learned that the inequities and economic stress people face also affect animals.
Recently, University of Nebraska geographer Xiaomeng Li and I explored access to animal welfare services in Detroit. We found that pet resources are more likely to be located in ZIP codes with more highly educated residents, higher incomes, fewer children under 18 and higher median rents.
If households with pets are located mainly in these areas, it makes sense for pet resources to be similarly concentrated. However, while many households in Detroit own animals, some parts of the city offer more access to basic pet supplies and care than others.
Pets have costs and benefits
Detroit has 639,111 residents in 2020. Assuming pet ownership in Detroit resembles the national average, nearly two-thirds of its 249,518 households will have at least one pet, making the total more than 157,000 companion animals in the city.
Detroit is struggling more economically than the US overall, with a median household income of $36,140, compared to the US median of $67,521. Nearly one-third (30%) of Detroit residents are in poverty, compared to 11.4% nationally. Racial segregation and income inequality are also high.
Detroit’s well-publicized economic and financial struggles have weakened the city’s ability to provide services, including animal care and control. Other factors, including vacant and abandoned housing and a high number of stray and feral dogs, add to the animal welfare challenge.
However, there are good reasons for Detroit and other cities to support pet ownership. Studies show that having companion animals in the home boosts a person’s mental and physical well-being. Dog owners report getting more exercise than non-dog owners. And surveys conducted during the pandemic suggested that animals reduced the stress and anxiety of lockdowns.
Mapping pet care resources
For our analysis, we compiled data on the locations of pet stores and veterinarians from the ReferenceUSA Business Historical Data Files and Google Maps. We combined this with census data to see how pet resources relate to the demographic characteristics of Detroit ZIP codes. We also mapped demand for animal support services, which we defined as dog bites and animal cruelty cases, in each ZIP code.
Our main finding is that Detroit has few dedicated pet stores and veterinary clinics, and these resources are unevenly distributed. Eleven of the city’s 26 ZIP codes, clustered in contiguous areas, have no pet stores or veterinary clinics. They form two large areas: a band that reaches the center of the city, and a zone in the southwest of Detroit.
We’ve identified 11 specialty pet supply stores that serve Detroit’s 243,000 households. Four of these stores are in the downtown/midtown area – which, due to gentrification, has an increasing number of younger, white and higher-income residents.
The other seven stores are scattered around the city. This distribution leaves a large underserved area in between, where many residents live a mile or more away from a pet store.
Veterinary practices are not integrated in the same way. Although there are few veterinary offices associated with our estimated number of pets, these offices are spread relatively evenly throughout the city and are more likely than pet stores to be centrally located or more low-income ZIP codes.
Overall, we found that Detroit ZIP codes with more young, single and highly educated residents and higher median rents have more pet resources per capita. More densely populated areas – such as Mexican Town, which has a high number of Hispanic residents, and the city’s east end, which has a high proportion of African Americans – have fewer.
Overtasked animal shelter
Lack of access to pet food and supplies is a problem in low-income areas, even in the age of online providers like Amazon and Chewy. Shopping online requires internet access and credit card payment. People who can’t order pet supplies by mail need physical access to stores.
There is no official source of data on Detroit’s pet abandonment rates, but the city has a longstanding and significant stray dog problem.
In 2022, Detroit’s four largest animal shelters took in 7,095 dogs. For comparison, Animal Rescue League shelters in Boston, with a similar population size, took in 1,049 dogs in 2019.
The collective 2022 dog euthanasia rate for the four Detroit shelters is about 22%, although it varies widely among shelters. Animal shelters designated “no-kill” generally aim to euthanize no more than 10% of the animals they take in, and do so only when irreversible health or behavioral issues arise. prevents animals from finding new homes. Detroit Animal Care and Control, a city agency, regularly runs beyond capacity and has to euthanize animals due to lack of space.
Having ready access to pet resources can encourage Detroit residents of all income levels to adopt pets and help prevent them from leaving shelters.
Getting more help for pet owners
Encouraging more pet-related businesses to open in distressed and underserved areas is an economic development challenge. Small-business incubators can support prospective pet store owners and vets who are open to locating in lower-income areas. These organizations typically provide locations for new businesses, offering below-market rents, startup capital and small revolving loan programs.
Incubators are usually run by local governments or public-private partnerships. These organizations can use incentives funded by local taxes to attract businesses to the pet care sector.
Community programs also have a role. In areas of high poverty, simply educating people about what types of resources are available is a useful starting point.
Many national organizations have programs to help pet owners who are struggling financially. For example, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides services to underserved communities, including low-cost veterinary care, supplies and information. Other nonprofit organizations operate mobile veterinary clinics that provide services in areas of need.
In Detroit, organizations like Dog Aide and CHAINED, Inc. provides resources for pet owners, including pet food, outdoor housing, fencing, medications such as heart worm pills and flea preventatives, and low-cost spay and neuter services.
Many food banks and pantries provide free food for pets – a particularly effective way to help animals and people. Some home delivery programs, such as Meals on Wheels, partner with pet suppliers to bring pet food and medications to elderly and disabled clients.
Supporting people and their four-legged companions can promote human and animal health and reduce pressure on animal shelters. Our research shows that cities like Detroit, where many people struggle financially and don’t have easy access to transportation or online shopping, can significantly improve the lives of residents by helping them meet the basic needs of their pets.