In recent years, the intersection of pet ownership and behavioral science has opened intriguing avenues into understanding human personality and social behaviors. While cultural stereotypes often dictate that dog owners are outgoing and community-focused, and cat owners are introspective and unconventional, a recent large-scale data analysis offers empirical insight into how these pet preferences may correlate with philanthropic habits. This groundbreaking study harnesses the power of big data and advanced machine learning techniques to explore how pet ownership could serve as an indicator for charitable giving behaviors across the United States.
The Dartmouth-led research team undertook an unprecedented examination of around 63 million individual donors, tracking 788 million charitable transactions amounting to nearly $70 billion over a decade, from 2013 to 2022. Such an extensive dataset, sourced from the cloud-computing management giant Snowflake, ensures a robust statistical framework for analyzing donation trends with respect to various donor demographics and behavioral characteristics. The study meticulously constrained donation amounts to a range between $20 and $100,000 to focus on typical charitable actions, thereby excluding outliers that could skew the analysis.
Beyond raw donation figures, the study integrated demographic indicators including age, gender, race, marital status, number of children, income, education levels, and political affiliation. This multi-faceted approach allowed the research to control for confounding variables and isolating the impact of pet ownership on philanthropy. By leveraging CatBoost, a cutting-edge machine learning model specialized in handling categorical data, the analysis delved deeply into the complex interrelations between these categorical factors, enhancing the precision and interpretability of findings around donor behavior patterns.
The results revealed a nuanced landscape in how pet ownership correlates with giving. Individuals without pets surprisingly donated the highest average total amounts, contributing an estimated $1,060 on average over the ten years, reflected in somewhat less frequent giving patterns. Among pet owners, cat owners engaged in giving both more frequently — averaging 15 donations within the timeframe — and with larger overall sums than dog owners. Dog owners gave an average of $700 total donations, distributed over approximately 13 transactions, slightly less than cat owners but still significant. Interestingly, those owning both cats and dogs fell in between, averaging $630 in donations across 14 giving events.
This stratification challenges simplistic notions about pet-related personality types and charitable tendencies. Existing psychological research, including studies published in noted journals, have linked traits like openness and neuroticism to philanthropic inclinations. Cat owners, who tend to score higher on these personality dimensions, may be motivated by amplified emotional engagement or cognitive complexity driving more diverse and frequent charitable actions. The data-driven approach of this Dartmouth study validates and extends these personality-based hypotheses by adding empirical philanthropic data to the discourse.
Beyond the psychological perspective, these findings carry significant implications for nonprofit marketing and fundraising strategies. Recognizing subtle but meaningful behavioral distinctions among dog and cat owners, as well as non-pet owners, allows charitable organizations to tailor outreach and campaign messaging with greater precision. For instance, campaigns targeting cat owners might emphasize engagement and repeated giving opportunities, while those aimed at dog owners could focus on community-centered initiatives. Non-pet owners, seeming to donate the most in terms of monetary value, can be a key demographic for large-scale, one-time donations.
Assistant Professor Herbert Chang, the study’s lead author and a quantitative social science expert at Dartmouth, underscores the importance of these insights. “Our research captures the intricate ways in which pet ownership intersects with personality and philanthropic behavior. While the divergences are modest, they mirror everyday intuitions and offer a tangible framework for targeting and understanding donor segments,” he notes. Chang’s commitment to refining predictive social models using machine learning spells promising new directions for quantitative sociology.
Integral to the study was CatBoost, an algorithm designed for handling categorical features in machine learning tasks, which enabled the researchers to dissect the multifarious background variables of donors. This approach exemplifies how contemporary computational techniques augment traditional social science inquiry, enabling analyses at unprecedented scales and complexity levels. The blending of psychological theory, socio-demographic data, and AI-based analytics marks a turning point in how human giving behavior can be systematically understood and leveraged.
It is worth noting that the research design intentionally focused on recurring charitable actions by downloading frequency alongside the dollar amount, as frequency demonstrates engagement and sustained commitment beyond episodic generosity. Cat owners’ higher donation frequency indicates behavioral tendencies toward consistent involvement in philanthropy, an insight with practical implications for donor retention programs. Meanwhile, dog owners’ moderate frequency may reflect a different motivational structure, potentially tied to broader social affiliations and community activities.
The richness of this dataset, combined with sophisticated analytical models, provides a compelling evidence base for future studies exploring behavioral correlates of pet ownership beyond philanthropy itself. Personality traits linked to pet preferences not only influence financial giving but might also impact volunteering, social activism, and community-building initiatives. The ongoing integration of social science with data technology promises far-reaching insights into the ways humans interact with both animals and society.
As organizations attempt to maximize fundraising efficiency, appreciating the subtle behavioral nuances outlined here are critical. The distinction across no-pet owners, cat owners, dog owners, and those owning both serves as a novel categorization criterion, complementing traditional demographic markers. Investments in tailored messaging and outreach that account for pet-owner profiles may improve engagement rates, donor loyalty, and ultimately the scale of charitable contributions.
In summary, this Dartmouth study offers a fresh perspective on the social psychology of giving by using pet ownership as a lens into philanthropic behavior. Through harnessing big data, advanced machine learning, and a nuanced understanding of personality, the research illuminates behavioral patterns that can influence both academic inquiry and real-world philanthropic practice. With cats edging out dogs in donation frequency and diversity, and no-pet owners leading in overall contributions, the findings defy common stereotypes and unveil a layered portrait of generosity intertwined with human-animal bonds.
The study was published in the journal Anthrozoös on September 19, 2025, and represents a meaningful advance in the field of quantitative social science. Interested parties may contact Professor Herbert Chang for further commentary or inquiries. As philanthropic campaigns continue to evolve in sophistication, integrating these findings could enhance their efficacy and deepen our collective understanding of what motivates people to give.
Subject of Research: The study investigates the correlation between pet ownership types (cat owners, dog owners, both, or none) and patterns of philanthropic behavior, focusing on donation amounts and frequency over a 10-year period.
Article Title: Pet Ownership Ties As Indicators for Giving Behavior
News Publication Date: 19-Sep-2025
Web References:
- Article DOI: 10.1080/08927936.2025.2544418
- Prior Research Source: Psychology Today
References:
- Prior research linking openness and neuroticism personality traits to giving behavior.
- Utilization of CatBoost machine learning for categorical data analysis.
Keywords:
Pet animals, Domesticated animals, Dogs, Cats, Philanthropy, Emotions, Personality traits, Money, Quantitative social science, Machine learning, CatBoost, Giving behavior
