Research by the Recycle Your Electricals campaign found pet owners bought nearly 67 million items of ‘PetTech’ last year.
Pet owners have spent nearly £3 billion in fancy tech gadgets for their furry friends in the last year. They bought nearly 67 million items of ‘PetTech’, ranging from cameras to flashing LED toys, as well as light-up harness and GPS collars.
More than half were for entertaining our creatures, with 24 million electrical pet toys bought in the past 12 months. The bulk of goods were for dogs, with more than 45 million items bought for the nation’s pooches alone, the Recycle Your Electricals campaign found.
But nearly 30 million such devices were thrown away in the last year, or 44% of what’s bought each year. Campaigners say PetTech – and anything with a plug, battery or cable – can be reused, donated, or recycled, so it can go on to be re-used.
The average yearly spend per pet has now hit £139.80, with 12% of parents admitting they spend more on their pets than on their own children.
Animal behaviourist Chirag Patel said: “I am all for anything that improves the relationship we have with our animals and the quality of life on both sides of it. It is a remarkable relationship, and we only get it for a short time, so anything that creates special moments is worth having. I do not think technology is the thing to worry about. What matters is how we use it.”
The research found that more than three million pet cameras were snapped up to help Brits spend an astonishing 8.5 million hours every week checking in with their animal friends.
Animal lovers also bought 6.8m grooming accessories and 6.2m feeding and drinking equipment. They’re also using technology in an attempt to speak with their pets, the study found.
Nearly eight million items of communication ‘PetTech’ – consisting of cameras, speakers, talking pet buttons and more – have been bought over the last 12 months.
A third of such tech is bought as a gift, including three million gadgets given as birthday presents. More than half of owners say they think of their pets as their children. The research also found pet ownership has surged post-pandemic to nearly 59% of the population.
Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, which runs the Recycle Your Electricals campaign, said: “I know how useful it can be in helping take care of pets we love so much, and, on occasion, provide true hilarity for all the family.
“There’s still work to do to make sure those precious materials inside our electricals don’t go to waste, and that they are given that all-important second life. Please remember that anything with a plug, battery or cable can be reused, donated, or recycled. Doing so helps keep other families safe, as batteries from electricals in the waste system cause dangerous fires when crushed.”