Traditionally, the real estate industry has regarded pets as a hindrance to home sales. But, according to REALTOR® Magazine, pets are quickly becoming “a plus in the marketing of home sales” as more agents are touting the pet-friendly aspects of homes to their clients.

To many people, a house is not a home without pets. It may seem strange to some, but dog lovers worry about Fido’s needs just as they might worry about the needs of a fellow human. In honor of Adopt a Dog Month, check out the following statistics that show just how much American homeowners (and real estate agents!) love their dogs, cats, and other pets!

According to a 2017 report by the National Association of REALTORS®:

• 99% of pet owners consider their pet to be a member of the family
• 95% of home buyers with pets believe it’s important to choose an animal-friendly community
• 89% say they would not give up their pet if their housing situation required it
• 83% of survey respondents reported owning a dog
• 81% of Americans say their pets play a role in choosing their housing situation
• 80% of REALTORS® consider themselves animal lovers and 68% have a pet
• 67% of REALTORS® report that having a pet has a moderate to major effect on homeownership
• 61% of U.S. households had a pet or planned to get one in 2016
• 38% of buyers want to live near a walking path and 33% want to live by a dog park
• 31% of pet owners won’t make an offer on a home that doesn’t meet the needs of their pet

Tip: Consider creating a “pet showcase area” in the home as part of your staging strategy. An organized feeding area in the kitchen, a toy box in the backyard, and a decorative leash hook in the entryway are nice ways to show off the pet-friendly aspects of a home without having animals underfoot or evidence of them throughout the house.

For a few real-life examples of pets playing an important role in their owner’s housing decisions, check out “When the Dog Decides Where You Live” in the August 2016 edition of The New York Times.