Bells Will Be Ringing, Tails Will Be Wagging: Pet Owners to Spend an Average of $137 on Furry Friends During Holidays

SunTrust spoiler alert: Dogs will fetch more gifts than cats this year

News provided by

SunTrust Banks, Inc.

Nov 21, 2019, 13:55 ET

ATLANTA, Nov. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the SunTrust (NYSE: STI) National Financial Confidence Poll, pet owners are not holding back on holiday cheer for their furry friends – half of Americans are putting their pets on their gift list, planning to spend an average of $137 on four-legged family members this holiday season.

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Half of Americans are planning to drop money on their pets this holiday season, spending an average of $137 on their four-legged family members. Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC
Half of Americans are planning to drop money on their pets this holiday season, spending an average of $137 on their four-legged family members. Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC
In the timeless debate of cats versus dogs, dogs win this round. Dog owners are much more likely to give their pet a present (59 percent) than cat owners (34 percent). Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC
In the timeless debate of cats versus dogs, dogs win this round. Dog owners are much more likely to give their pet a present (59 percent) than cat owners (34 percent). Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC
The most common gifts are new treats (65 percent) and toys (61 percent), followed by festive holiday clothes (19 percent). Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC
The most common gifts are new treats (65 percent) and toys (61 percent), followed by festive holiday clothes (19 percent). Photo credit: That Dood Squad, LLC

"For many people, pets are members of the family, so it's expected that we would want to include them in the holiday fun," said Brian Nelson Ford, financial well-being executive at SunTrust. "Our studies show that the holiday season often comes with pressure to overspend. Gifts for pets, friends, neighbors and other obligations can add to the pressure when the spending is unplanned. It's important to be upfront about what we care about, and build our holiday spending plan to enjoy the memory-making moments of the holidays."

The Pawfect Holiday
Pet owners are approaching the holidays on their own terms with seasonal celebrations for their furr-iends. But in the timeless debate of cats versus dogs, the survey finds that dog owners are significantly more likely to buy a gift for their furry friend (59%) compared to cat owners (34%). What are they giving? The most common selections are new treats and toys (65% and 61%, respectively), followed by holiday clothing (19%). Younger pet owners are significantly more likely to buy their pets a gift this season, leading with Gen Z (63%) and millennials (57%), followed by Gen X and Boomers (51% and 46%, respectively).

Teaming up with Atlanta-based social media icons, That Dood Squad, SunTrust is taking a closer look at how pet lovers are prioritizing their gift list this year through a series of festive photos.

"As a dog mom, I look forward to diving into the holiday hustle and bustle with my pup without breaking the bank," said Kim McNamara, one of the owners that comprises the social media-famous dog crew, That Dood Squad. "This holiday season, give your pets the gift they cherish the most – quality moments with you."

Get ready to enjoy the holidays with confidence. Plan your shopping (even for your pets), travel, celebrations, giving and savings with resources and tools on onup.com/holiday, and live your #bestlife.

SunTrust National Financial Confidence Poll
The SunTrust National Financial Confidence Poll, the source of the findings cited above, is fielded quarterly and representative of the U.S. adult population with 2,500 participating Americans of different ages, incomes and geographic regions. Statistics referenced in this release are from the poll fielded in Q3 2019. The survey defines Gen Z as those born between 1997 – onward, millennials as those born between 1981 – 1997, Gen Xers as those born between 1965 – 1980 and Boomers as those born between 1946 – 1964.

About SunTrust Banks, Inc.
SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) is a purpose-driven company dedicated to Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being for the people, businesses, and communities it serves. SunTrust leads onUp, a national movement inspiring Americans to build financial confidence. Headquartered in Atlanta, the Company has two business segments: Consumer and Wholesale. Its flagship subsidiary, SunTrust Bank, operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states, along with 24-hour digital access. Certain business lines serve consumer, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients nationally. As of September 30, 2019, SunTrust had total assets of $227 billion and total deposits of $168 billion. The Company provides deposit, credit, trust, investment, mortgage, asset management, securities brokerage, and capital market services. Learn more at suntrust.com.

SOURCE SunTrust Banks, Inc.

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