VOA慢速英语2018 美国人花钱为宠物做更多的事（在线收听）

Americans Spending and Doing More for Their Pets

More and more American families own pets.

越来越多美国家庭养宠物。

A recent study says that 85 million families in the United States own a pet.

最近一项研究表明，美国85%的家庭养宠物。

The American Pet Products Association’s study for the years 2017-2018 says that represents 68 percent of all families in the U.S.

美国宠物用品协会2017-2018年的这项调查表明，养宠物家庭占到了美国所有家庭的68%。

Thirty years ago, when the study was first done, 56 percent of families owned a pet.

30年前当这项调查初次完成时，有56%的家庭养有宠物。

The survey found dogs are the most popular pets. Sixty-point-two percent of homes own one. Cats are the second most popular with 47.1 percent of families reporting they had a cat. Freshwater fish came in third with 12.5 percent.

调查发现，狗是最受欢迎的宠物，62%的家庭养狗。猫是第二受欢迎的，47.1%的家庭称他们养猫。淡水鱼排在第三位，占全部家庭的12.5%。

Nicki Dobson is head of marketing and communication for Three Dog Bakery. The business calls itself the "original bakery for dogs." She said pets have become especially popular among Americans in the past 10 years.

妮琪·多布森（Nicki Dobson）是三犬糕饼房的营销传播负责人。该公司自称为狗狗最早的糕饼房。她说，过去10年里，宠物在美国人当中变得特别受欢迎。

She said, "People are having more pets and less children. People are concerned about what they eat. Our whole premise was trying to make things with human-grade ingredients and a focus on nutrition. They look like human food, but they're meant for pets."

她说：“人们开始养更多的宠物，生更少的孩子。人们关心宠物们吃什么。我们的设想是尝试用人用级别的成分制作食物并注重营养。它们看上去像是人类食物，但是是给宠物食用的。”

Another company, Posh Puppy Boutique, sells clothes, jewelry and other items for dogs.

另一家 Posh Puppy Boutique 公司销售狗用的服装、珠宝以及其它物品。

There are also pet hotels and pet health centers. One study found that Americans spend about $126 each month on their pets.

此外还有宠物酒店和宠物医院。一项研究发现，美国人每个月在他们的宠物身上花费126美元左右。

Three Dog Bakery opened in 1989. Dobson says there are now 45 bakeries around the world, including in Canada and China. She said cakes are the most popular item. She added that some people pay $50-75 on baked goods each week for their pets.

三犬糕饼屋于1989年开业。多布森表示，他们现在在全球有45家店，包括加拿大和中国在内。她说，蛋糕是最受欢迎的品种。她还说，有些人每周给他们的宠物在烘培食品上花50到70美元。

Pets rather than children?

宠物胜过孩子？

Some younger Americans seem to be choosing pets over having children. Some are making big life decisions, such as buying a home, around the lives of their pets.

一些美国年轻人似乎选择了养宠物而不是生孩子。有些人开始围绕宠物生活来做重大的人生决定，例如购买房子。

The SunTrust banking company did a study in 2017 of people under the age of 40 buying their first home. The study found that 33 percent said a good yard or good space for their pets influenced them to buy a new home. Only 25 percent said marriage was a reason, and 19 percent said the birth of a child.

美国太阳信托银行2017年对40岁以下人士购买首套房屋做了一项调查。调查发现，33%的受访者认为，一处适合宠物的好院子或空地促使他们购买新房。只有25%的受访者认为婚姻，19%的受访者认为孩子出生是买房理由。

Some companies now offer pet benefits such as pet insurance. They are also offering "pawternity" leave, which gives workers free time to spend with their new pets.

一些公司现在提供宠物福利，例如宠物保险。他们还提供宠物假，让员工们有时间跟他们的新宠物们在一起。

Dobson noted that taking dogs to work is now popular in places that permit it.

多布森指出，现在在一些规定允许的公司，带狗上班很盛行。

Americans' love for their pets is even influencing their travel plans. A recent survey found that 49 percent of pet owners have not left the country since owning their pet. Sixty-eight percent of those said it was because they feel guilty leaving their pets alone.

美国人对其宠物的爱甚至影响到了他们的旅行计划。最近一项调查发现，49%的宠物主人自从养有宠物之后再没有出过国。68%的受访者表示，这是因为他们觉得把宠物单独留下会很内疚。

Health experts say pets can improve the health of their owners. The American-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says pets can reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness.

健康专家表示，宠物可以改善主人的健康。美国疾病控制和预防中心表示，宠物可以帮助降低血压、胆固醇水平以及孤独感。

The CDC adds that pets also offer chances for outdoor exercise and socialization with other people.

美国疾病控制和预防中心还表示，宠物也给主人提供了户外运动以及与他们社交的机会。

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

original –adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning

premise – n. a statement or idea that is accepted as being true and that is used as the basis of an argument

focus – n. a main purpose or interest

benefits –n. something extra (such as vacation time or health insurance) that is given by an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay

insurance –n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and for which the company promises to pay money if a person suffers a loss (of their home, or health)