It’s widely known that we Brits adore our pets, and for many, the idea of life without them is unthinkable. According to Statista, 57% of households in the UK have at least one pet.
However, recent findings from Puppies.co.uk have brought to light some rather surprising trends regarding emotional support animals. Each year, this top dog-only marketplace in the UK analyses Google search data to gauge interest in various pets as emotional support animals.
Unsurprisingly, dogs remain at the top of the list for the second consecutive year, closely followed by cats. Snakes held the third spot last year but have seen a decline in interest. Surprisingly, alligators have surged into the third spot. Known for their aggressive nature when provoked, these creatures seem to be gaining popularity, perhaps in part due to Wally, the emotional support alligator, who boasts over 34,000 followers on Instagram and 132,000 on TikTok, where he’s often seen snuggling up with members of the public.
Here are the most sought-after emotional support animals of 2024 based on Google searches:
- Dogs (27,000 searches)
- Cats (5,200 searches)
- Alligator (3,800 searches)
- Chicken (450 searches)
- Otter (400 searches)
Nicki Rodriguez, a cleaning influencer from Essex, shared how support animals have positively impacted her family’s life. Her 13-year-old son Harry, who has autism, volunteers at an animal centre called Living Things UK.
“When Harry was 10 months old, he was not hitting any of his milestones or responding to his name,” Nicki says.
“I had previously worked as an LSA with children with hidden disabilities so my gut instinct was to get Harry assessed. He was diagnosed with ASD when he was 2.5 years old.”
“Harry has always been compared to a young Chris Packham with his passion and knowledge of animals,” she adds. “6 months ago, Harry’s riding teacher and mentor, James Embery at Mill Lane Riding School, gave Harry a puppy dachshund as a gift where Harry thrives being around animals. From a very young age, Harry has always preferred being with animals and reptiles to being with people.”
“We have been loaning a horse called Alfie since September last year and it has worked perfectly. We have Alfie 3 days a week.”
“The bond Harry has with Alfie is amazing but it is also the social aspect which has been so important,” she says.
“Having his dachshund Roddy, his hamster Shelby and his bearded dragon Missy bring out an empathic emotion as well as happiness, which is something those with ASD struggle with.”
“Harry has been a changed boy since we got his pets and found Living Things,” she adds. “When Harry is struggling with the daily things he finds challenging in life, his animals offer him comfort and also calm him. He has a Sensory Processing Disorder so stroking and smelling them relaxes him. Harry’s Dad and I are so thankful for the animals as it has made our son so happy.”
Similarly, Eden Byrne, a social activist from Belfast, says her support dog Tilly has helped her through tough times.
Tilly is a trained autism and diabetic assistance dog and has been by Eden’s side during really hard days. Eden was diagnosed with Long COVID in March 2022 and said, “When I’m lying down and really tired on the sofa, she comes over immediately to check that I’m okay and due to my condition, I’ve been waking up really early in the mornings. She always keeps me company and provides me with that reassurance and support in the morning when I feel like I’m really alone and things are really really difficult for me.”
Featured Photo by sabina fratila on Unsplash.