More than 105,000 pets are expected to live in Logan by 2036, a 70% increase from the 2021 pet population numbers.
To prepare for the increase, we will need to build pet-specific spaces and protect the green space Logan already has, executive general manager at AVID Property Group, Bruce Harper said.
“Pets are a cherished member of the family and play a key role in maintaining our strong community spirit, encouraging neighbours to enjoy community spaces on daily walks and connecting with other residents over shared interests,” Mr Harper said.
According to RSPCA Queensland, owning a pet can have huge physical and mental health benefits for humans.
Increased exercise rates can lead to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which translates to fewer visits to the doctor.
Pets also offer companionship, and research shows they can lead to lower levels of loneliness. Particularly for people living with a disability or complex mental health needs.
Mr Harper said AVID’s Covella development at Greenbank included dog parks and walking trails to maximise access to the outdoors for residents and their pets.
Covella resident Justine Newland rescued a border collie- greyhound cross, called Lola, shortly after moving into the development.
Lola has helped Ms Newland and her partner connect with their neighbours and got them outside for regular dog park visits.
“When moving in, we hadn’t connected with many of our neighbours, but after rescuing Lola, we quickly formed several strong friendships through our frequent trips to the dog park,” Ms Newland said.
“While a furry friend was not part of the family yet, we knew it was something we wanted and made sure to choose an area with plenty of space and outdoor amenities.”
Greenbank currently has the highest level of dog ownership of all Logan suburbs, according to Animal Medicines Australia’s Pets in Australia report.
Senior data analyst from Raywhite Property, Atom Go Tian, said that high rates of dog ownership in Queensland’s regional suburbs, like Greenbank, could indicate that family-friendly areas with large land block sizes are desirable for pet owners.
“It’s a cause-and-effect kind of thing, I would say that the house prices and dog ownership are effects, and the cause is more of, you know, family-friendly, wide suburb and spacious houses,” Mr Tian said.
“If you are someone looking to have a dog, it does help to look at where everyone else is staying with their dogs.”
State-wide, Greenbank tied with six other suburbs across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Ipswich to rank fourth. In Queensland, dog owners lived more rurally compared to states like New South Wales and Victoria, where dog owners lived predominantly in major cities.
