The line graph illustrates the number of individuals who adopt dogs and cats in the UK. The statistics are provided in millions and contain a 35-year span from 1980 to 2015.
Overall, each category increased significantly at the end of the period. Initially, the number of dog owners dominated over the number of cat owners, but ultimately, the cat owners were able to overtake the number of dog owners.
From 1980, the number of people who adopted dogs fluctuated until 1995. Specifically, in 1985, the number of dog owners increased from 15 million to 17 million; however, that indicator declined in 1990 from 17 million to 12 million by 1995. After that year, in 1995, it was considerably extended to 21 million from 12 million. The number of cat owners was stable by 1990. Namely, in 1980 the indicator demonstrated 7 million, then it expanded to 8 million in 1985, yet it fell again to the previous level in 1990. Nevertheless, in 1990 it showed a robust growth by 1995, especially, from 7 million to 21 million.
In 1995, the number of people, who kept dogs was boosted from 21 million to 45 million by 2000. Nonetheless, from that year, this level indicated a slight decrease from 45 million to 39 million by 2015. Contrary to this indicator, the number of cat owners demonstrated a significant increase from 21 million to 47 million by 2015