Americans now spend $41 billion a year on their pets—more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world. That's double the amount shelled out on pets a decade ago. That puts the yearly cost of buying, feeding, and caring for pets in excess of what Americans spend on the movies ($10.8 billion), playing video games ($11.6 billion), and listening to recorded music ($10.6 billion) combined.
It wasn't so very long ago that the phrase "a dog's life" meant sleeping outside, enduring the elements, living with aches, and sitting by the dinner table, waiting for a few scraps to land on the floor. Today's dog has it much better. APPMA reports that 42% of dogs now sleep in the same bed as their owners, up from 34% in 1998. Their menu reflects every fad in human food—from locally sourced organic meat and vegan snacks to gourmet meals bolstered by, say, glucosamine to ward off stiff joints. Half of all dog owners say they consider their pet's comfort when buying a car, and almost a third buy gifts for their dogs' birthdays.
The rising status of pets has started an unprecedented wave of entrepreneurship in an industry once epitomized by felt mice and rubber balls. There are now $430 indoor potties, $30-an-ounce perfume, and $225 trench coats aimed solely at four-footed consumers and their wallet-toting companions. Even those who shun animal couture are increasingly willing to spend thousands on drugs for depression or anxiety in pets, as well as psychotherapy, high-tech cancer surgery, cosmetic procedures, and end-of-life care. About 77% of dogs and 52% of cats have been medicated in the past year, according to APPMA, an increase of about 20 percentage points from 1996. Some spending can be spurred by vets who find such services more lucrative than giving shots or ending a pet's life when it contracts a painful or terminal disease.
Once acquired as sidekicks for kids, animal companions are more popular now with empty-nesters, single professionals, and couples who delay having children. What unites these disparate demographic groups is a tendency to have time and resources to spare. With more people working from home or living away from their families, pets also play a bigger role in allaying the isolation of modern life. About 63% of U.S. households, or 71 million homes, now own at least one pet, up from 64 million just five years ago. And science is starting to validate all those warm feelings with research that documents the depth of the human-animal bond.
PetSmart, for one, has shifted its mission from being the top seller of pet food to helping consumers become better "pet parents." Along with making his 928 retail locations homier and hosting pet parties, Francis is rolling out blue-shingled "pet hotels" (kennels) in his stores. They feature private suites with raised platform beds and TVs airing shows from Animal Planet for $31 a night, as well as "bone booths," where pets can take calls from their owners, and porous pebble floors where dogs can pee. Cats get live fish tanks to watch in their rooms and separate air filtration systems so their scents dont drive the dogs crazy. The hotels, along with services such as grooming, training, and in-store hospitals, have helped PetSmart expand its service business from essentially nothing in 2000 to $450 million, or 10% of overall sales, this year. Pet owners are now less driven by price than "emotion and passion," says Francis, who shares a bed with his wife and their mutt, Bit o' Honey.
Those are the same primal urges that drive the fashion world. Mario DiFante, who staged New York's first Pet Fashion Week last August, has an elevated view of the place of dogs and cats in the family hierarchy. As he puts it: "Many of us consider pets as the new babies." That means clothing furry little ones in an ever-expanding range of sweaters, raincoats, leather jackets, and dresses. For Lara Alameddine, co-founder of Little Lily, a better word might be "babes." Her four-year-old company clears $1 million a year selling products including doggie slippers, bikinis, and even canine versions of Oscar-night gowns. It's popular with celebrity dog owners such as Paris Hilton, who often dresses up her Chihuahua, Tinkerbell. "We're catering to the owner's sense of style," says Alameddine. "There are no bones on our clothes."
What do you all think about these facts? Do American's spend too much on their pets? How much do YOU spend on your pets?
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They deserve good things, too!
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We went out to buy a scratching post for them (to avoid both the declawing and the new furniture costs) and the only things we could find were these ENORMOUS scratching posts built into cat-condos. We chose to buy some rope and wrap it around a board, then tie that to the bannister: works better than the old one did.
They all have their own space to sleep in that is not our bed. We grow our own catnip and make our own toys. Everyone is spayed/neutered. We try to make sure everyone is comfortable!
I'm the one that most will say shouldn't have pets because I can't afford to register then, get their shots etc. We also buy the cheapest cat food that we can. It's not that I don't want to spoil them and take care of them the way they should be though.
I personally, can't understand people who think pets are just a stupid animal, to be tossed aside as soon as they are bored with them. Matter of fact, I hold great contempt for folks like that. I could no more toss any of our pets out, than any of you could toss your child out.
I've been around cats most of my life. And my Siamese... "Tippy"... was 22 years old, when I had to put her to rest. She was born into my hand, the runt of the litter and the LOVE OF MY LIFE! I mourned her loss, horribly so, for many years. I still get "misty" when I think of her.
Yes.. some folks get carried away on spending... they obviously have the money. We don't. We suffer financially when we have to spend for major health issues. But, when you love a cat or dog, what else can you do?
I feel sorry for folks who don't have the ability to "love" an animal.
That is just too uneconomical.
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My dog sleeps in our bed too and we always make sure to have treats for her. She doesn't get birthday gifts or any other gift for that matter. Although sometimes my hubby will buy her things I don't think she really needs, like a new toy or an expensive treat, but that's okay, she's part of our family.
I also spent $263 for my dog to fly home with us. But I really didn't have a choice on how much I paid, the price is set at $100 each way and a $63 Health Certificate to fly your dog!
But when a fully grown, 3lb 4 oz dog eats a rotten yard walnut, that's a $120 vet fee. The biggest costs we incur are unexpected vet visits (meaning some are emergency, on call expenses as well.)
And treating them is expensive too, we only give them pork chew sticks.
Luckily, the only one of the 9 that plays with toys is our daschund who loves to retrieve. Out of 9 dogs, thank you God that one of them likes to retrieve! He loves to fetch and stuff his ball toys in holes and under the couch. Here's the busted part of this comment:
This weekend I buried and 4" pipe perpendicular to a steep, short incline in the backyard. Along with a 45 angle pipe at the top and a 22 degree at the bottom, this made for a kind of doggie putt putt, mini golf course hole for him to drop his toys. Once in the pipe, the balls run down the hill and spit out of the ground again.
I'm busted - total cost a dog ball undergorund pipe: $28.00
With that said, I do think there are some rediculous things on the market for our pets.....ie:clothing (they already have cloths....called fur), strollers (they have 4 legs and need to excercise). Some people tend to humanize dogs a little too much by dressing them up and carrying them around everywhere. Dogs should be allowed to be dogs.
they are fed Avoderm dog food, which has no rice/corn by-products and high quality meat/fish. I spend, between the 4 of them, at least $100 monthly on food and at least $600 annually on vets. They are much better behaved than most of my neighbors' kids, except for Chelsea who likes to escape, although she hasn't done that in over a year.
I used to have 2 of my dogs in agility, which kept them busy and also kept me in shape. My dogs help me to get excercise, keep me healthy(petting animals keeps down the bp), my kids? Help me drink! They call when they need money, want to borrow the car, need the laundry...my dogs? Just want a puppy treat once in a while.
Donna's post inspired me to write this article, which I hope you'll read as it will let you know exactly how I feel about it! Click here to read.
We have a multi colored toy poodle we rescued from the Humane Scociety. Her name is Shadow or the princess. They both have dog beds. Shadow has a couple pieces of clothing.
The most outrageous thing we have bought them are Halloween costumes. Cmip was Spiderman and Shadow was a pumpkin. That got started because my husband loves Spiderman and couldn't leave it at the store.