Why Americans Spend Big Bucks on Their Pets

[Dover]

A Dog's Life Is Looking Better and Better
Why Americans Spend Big Bucks on Their Pet


Mar. 21, 2005 - The W Hotel near Times Square offers a special room service menu, monogrammed beds, bath robes and a masseuse, and has a psychologist on call if the need arises.

That's not just for you. It's for your dog, if you bring one along.

"When you check into our welcome desks at any of the properties, we always let you know what languages we have by our talent here that are speaking human languages," said Ross Klein, senior vice president of the W chain, "and we added 'woof' and 'meow' to that as an official language about two years ago."

Collette Leonard checked in with Gabby, her teacup Yorkshire terrier. After they settled into their room, Gabby had steak sent up.

"I would say she's very pampered. What do you think?" laughed Leonard, a marketing executive. "I'm single and I travel a lot. I work a lot of hours and it just makes me feel that I'm not away from home as much as I really am."

Numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that Gabby's first-class treatment is part of a growing phenomenon in America. In the last 10 years, the percentage of households with pets has remained relatively stable, but the amount of money people spend on their pets has doubled. Last year it was more than $34 billion. That is more than Americans spend on sporting goods, candy, jewelry, toys or shoes.

Breakfast at Sniffany's
At a Manhattan shop called Trixie + Peanut, people can buy dog boots, dog sweaters, dog necklaces and dog toys from "Chewnel No. 5" or "Sniffany & Co."

"We've had people in here that have spent over $1,000," said Mark Edwards, owner of Trixie + Peanut....cont'd

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Business/story?id=601799&page=1

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. My parrots are my kids

they eat breakfast with me and they eat dinner with me and my husband.. we don't spoil them that much, after all they eat from my plate... whyatever I cook they eat.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. My dogs have been more loyal than any boyfriend I ever had.

I got a dog for my husband. Best trade I ever made.

I still miss my ex-husband, but my aim is getting better.

[kodi]

3. why? because my dogs are the only things i trust to be loyal to me

.

[TrustingDog]

4. and they trust you.

[kodi]

8. Tribute To A Dog

"The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son and daughter that he has reared with loving care may become ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith.

"The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him when he may need it most. Man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our head.

"The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his DOG.

"A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground,where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.

"When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey throught the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the cold, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, and to fight against his enemies.

"When the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."

-Senator George Vest, 1870.

btw: kodi is my dog's name

[RebelOne]

5. Dogs are not on this earth for long, so why not spoil them?

I have a very spoiled rotten Rottie. She gets tons of treats. I am a vegetarian, but I buy ground round and mix it into her dry food. I may not eat meat, but I am not going to force my dog to become a vegetarian. Dogs are natural carnivores, humans aren't. She has T-shirts and sweaters. Her 2 newest T-shirts read "My IQ is higher than the President's" and "I heart Democrats."

[solinvictus]

6. I love my doggies!!

That's why I spoil them.

[radwriter0555]

7. I've spent more than $6,000 on my dogs in the past year, on medical bills

and pampering. Wouldn't have it any other way... but I count my blessings every day I'm able to DO so.