As the Christmas shopping season gets underway, it turns out that dog gifts are a $5 billion dollar industry! From the Miami Herald:
It's a gift list to drool over: Canine Holiday Cookies, Piņata Bird Toys, Puppy Pops and a pink Barbie Princess Canopy Bed -- with accessories -- for the family feline.With costly bells and whistles, family pets are taking a larger bite out of the holiday shopping budget. Indeed, from seasonal trinkets to photo shoots with Santa, holiday spending on pets has become a $5 billion business, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
In South Florida, pet stores, clothing designers and animal grooming salons are nipping at the market with a wide range of toys, accessories and clothing. What's more, animal photo sessions with Santa have become increasingly popular at area malls and pet stores. And nationwide about 55 percent of shopping centers and malls provide such photo opportunities, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, a New York-based trade group.
It's mostly a business for the dogs and cats, but in South Florida, parrots, rabbits and gerbils are also showing up to sit on Santa's lap.
Not strictly a Christmas present but in light of the season I'm getting our new outdoor cat a new and warmer basket to sleep in. I'm thinking of getting a heated one, does anyone have any suggestions?
Posted by: Marc at November 28, 2004 02:55 PMFunny you should ask... I did a post about pet beds last March, right here.
Posted by: Jeff Soyer at November 30, 2004 01:04 PMThanks Jeff. That link helped.
Posted by: Marc at November 30, 2004 01:54 PMI bought our small Chihuahua a winter sweater yesterday. I gave it to her as soon as I got home, but I consider it an early present.
I will be getting both dogs and all the cats presents. Most likely all will be edible. But I will look around a bit and see if anything fancy catches my, well, fancy.
Posted by: Jeff at November 30, 2004 05:17 PM