Boston Among 10 Worst Cities for Pet Lovers

By FRANK O’LAUGHLIN (Patch Staff)

Out of the 100 largest cities in the United States, Boston is among the worst for pet lovers, according to a recent study done by WalletHub.

The number of households in America which own a pet is at an all-time high. In 2014, nearly 80 million homes had either a cat or dog. With that said, WalletHub took an in-depth look 2015’s best and worst cities for pet lovers.

WalletHub conducted the study to help “current and aspiring pet parents enjoy the company of their furry friends without breaking the bank.” 16 key metrics were used when comparing the cities, including minimum pet-care provider rates and the number of pet businesses per capita.

Cincinnati checked in as the best city for a pet lover. St. Louis, Colorado Springs, Tampa and Richmond rounded out the top five. Newark was ranked the worst city for a pet lover, followed by New York City, Santa Ana, Detroit and Memphis.

Boston checked in with a ranking of 93, placing it among the top 10 worst cities in America.

The study uncovered these interesting stats:

• Veterinary care costs are two times higher in Seattle than in Milwaukee.
  
• Dog insurance premiums are two times higher in New York than in Detroit.
  
• Orlando, Fla., has 60 times more veterinarians per 100,000 residents than Newark, N.J.
  
• San Francisco has 26 times more pet businesses per 100,000 residents than Detroit.
  
• Scottsdale, Ariz., has 19 times more animal shelters per 100,000 residents than Lexington, Ky.
  
• San Francisco has 73 times more pet-friendly restaurants per 100,000 residents than Detroit.

Click here to learn more information regarding the study >>>