The $41 Billion American pet economy

[Cowperson]

If there's still any doubt whether the pampering of pets is getting out of hand, the debate should be settled once and for all by Neuticles, a patented testicular implant that sells for up to $919 a pair. The idea, says inventor Gregg A. Miller, is to "let people restore their pets to anatomical preciseness" after neutering, thereby allowing them to retain their natural look and self-esteem. "People thought I was crazy when I started 13 years ago," says the Oak Grove, Mo. entrepreneur. But he has since sold more than 240,000 pairs (a few of which went on prairie dogs, water buffalo, and monkeys). "Neutering is creepy. But with Neuticles, it's like nothing has changed." Nothing, except there's a fake body part where a real one used to be.

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, with annual spending expected to hit $52 billion in the next two years, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research company based in Rockville, Md.

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.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20024783/

Good luck to Michael Vick and his jury trial.

Cowperson

[ken0042]

That may sound like a lot, but really that's only $137 per person per year. And I can burn through that with my rabbit in just a few months. I'm sure some of you dog owners might spend that much on your buddies in a single month.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That may sound like a lot, but really that's only $137 per person per year. And I can burn through that with my rabbit in just a few months. I'm sure some of you dog owners might spend that much on your buddies in a single month.

Per household would be a higher number than per capita.

Also, higher than video games, movies and music COMBINED . . . . that's really amazing when you think about it.

Another column below . . . . "Saving my cat, no price too high."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19875405/site/newsweek

Cowperson

[FireFly]

I believe it. I know what I spend on my cats to keep them happy, not that it's ever enough. Also, with animals being a fashion trend for a while, (how lame was that?) I can see people spending more on them then. How much do we spend on fashion?

[Azure]

I spend a lot of my dog and cats to make sure they're healthy. This isn't a big surprise...although the number seemed a bit inflated until Ken made his point.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Azure

I spend a lot of my dog and cats to make sure they're healthy. This isn't a big surprise...although the number seemed a bit inflated until Ken made his point.

Actually, they provided us the data we needed . . . . $41 billion dollars divided by 71 million households gives us $578 per household per year.

Which would be quite a bargain at my house with two dogs and four cats.

Cowperson

[troutman]

http://www.lifegem.com/secondary/bel..._main2006.aspx

At LifeGem, we understand that pets are cherished companions and unconditionally loving family members.
Since introducing the LifeGem to the world, we have received hundreds of requests to memorialize pets as LifeGems. The answer is YES, we absolutely can and will create a LifeGem memorial of your precious pet.

[Devils'Advocate]

Does the $41 billion include vet fees? My cats are bleeding me dry. The vet has put them both on this expensive medication and they need constant testing. I am never, ever getting another pet after these guys...