Celebrate National Pet Day on Patch!

Whether they’re furry, feathered or just a little bit scaly, pets are awesome.

That’s a point that a large percentage of Americans seem to agree upon. The Humane Society of the United States says there are about 78.2 million dogs owned in the United States. An estimated 86.4 million cats have homes to call their own.

Collectively, Americans spent a whopping $53.33 billion on pet-related expenses in 2012, according to the American Pet Products Association. We’re on track to break that number in 2013 by more than $2 billion.

The numbers speak volumes about just how much Americans love their pets. So does this interesting tidbit from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s website: “In 2011, six-out-of-ten pet owners, or 63.2%, considered their pets to be family members.”

So, as Americans celebrate National Pet Day (April 11), we’d like to take some time out to honor those extra “family members” in your life.

Show off your favorite furry, scaly or feathered friend by clicking on the big green-and-white button in this story to upload their pictures to Dunedin Patch. Let us know why your pet is special by commenting below, too!

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