Susan Dickenson

Buying for our precious pets

Two-thirds of America’s consumers have a pet, with 64% owning more than one, according to a new “How America Shops” release from WSL Strategic Retail group. The report also shows that when the economy gets tough, most pet owners, 63% to be exact, choose not to cut back on spending when it comes to their pets. Food (40%), followed by medication (29%) and toys (28%) are the top categories pet owners are spending more on. Half of the 18% of pet owners who say they’ve actually increased spending on their animal friends, and a third of them are sticking with top- of-the-line pet products. A majority of this group (68%) says they treat their pets like children... and that group includes the editorial staff here at Home Accents Today. In the Dickenson house, we've cut back on a few luxuries, but the quality of the dog and cat food, chewsticks and fancy collars has definitely improved over the past year. Peanut probably would complain that he hasn't seen as much of the sand and surf as he did last year, but I know he's glad our pet insurance helped when a late night mauling landed his best buddy kitty-Hank in the vet earlier this year. Presented here, more thoughts on the subject of pet spending from the proud parents in our office...

Posted by Susan Dickenson on June 26, 2009 | Comments (0)