Are Americans having small dogs INSTEAD of babies? How the rise of pooch ownership correlates with declining birth rates

[jmyrlefuller]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2602745/Are-Americans-having-small-dogs-INSTEAD-babies-How-rise-pooch-ownership-correlates-declining-birth-rates.html#ixzz2yc

by Margot Peppers
April 11, 2014



For many adults, having a baby is the most important milestone in life. For others, however, adopting a small dog is apparently just as good.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Health Department published on Quartz, the birth rate among American women between the ages of 15 and 29 has dropped ten per cent in just six years.

As this number continues to fall, the rate at which Americans of the same age bracket are adopting small dogs - that is, pooches who weigh less than 20lbs like terriers, chihuahuas and beagles - is on the rise.