It found 48 per cent of households owned at least one dog in 2022,up from 40 per cent in 2019,while nearly two in five dogs had been acquired since the pandemic. NSW had 2.02 million dogs and 1.58 million cats in 2022,according to the survey.
Peter Conway and his dog Trixie are regular visitors to the off-leash area at Hawthorne Canal Reserve,LeichhardtCredit:Peter Rae
Dr Katie Asplin,the AMA’s director of animal health policy and engagement said there are important social benefits from pet ownership.
“There’s a lot of evidence that pets are good for your mental health,and they’re good for your physical health,” she said. “So I hope councils are looking for ways to make it easier for people to own pets.”
The metropolitan area’smost populated council area,Blacktown,also has the highest canine numbers,with 64,769 dogs (around 0.7 dogs per child under 15). Wollondilly council on Sydney’s south-west fringe had more than three dogs per child,the city’s highest ratio.
Loading
Demographer Mark McCrindle said one reason dogs outnumber children across much of Sydney is a steady decline in the birth rate;in 2023 there were nearly 10,000 fewer births in the city than in 2018. Last yearSydney’s fertility rate – the expected number of births per woman – hit a historic low of 1.57.
“We’ve seen big changes in household structures as dogs have become more and more popular,” McCrindle said.
The canine population figures also highlight how patterns of dog ownership have shifted.
“Traditionally,dogs were a suburban thing in the big backyard,” said McCrindle. “But that’s all changed … dog ownership is now very much in keeping with inner suburban lifestyles.”
There were more dogs than cats in every Sydney council area,although numbers were fairly similar in the City of Sydney (1.2 dogs per cat),Georges River (1.2),Inner West (1.3),Ryde (1.4) and North Sydney (1.5).
Cats outnumber children in the City of Sydney and the Inner West,while in Woollahra felines sit almost on purr with kids,at 1.1 cats per kid. Liverpool and Cumberland have the lowest ratio of cats to children,where little people outnumber them by almost eight and six to one,respectively.
Inner West had 36,400 cats,more than any other Sydney council.
TheHerald’s comparisons used dog and cat numbers provided by Sydney councils or pet registration numbers collated by the Office for Local Government,as well as Bureau of Statistics regional population estimates.
Dog owners at Cafe Bones in Leichhardt.Credit:Peter Rae
A spokesperson for the NSW Office of Local Government said that for many people,pets are a part of the family and provide companionship.
“Bringing a pet home is a lifelong commitment,so it is important people understand the responsibilities that come with owning a cat or dog before they make this decision,” the spokesperson said.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.