Americans are pampering their pets more than ever. From Scripps Howard News:
Sammy is a glossy brown bird-hunting dog. Last month, his "pet parent" paid $170 for a party at Adventure Hounds' private park.Welcome to the great American pet-pampering machine.
As the number of childless couples grows and young professionals delay child rearing, pets have become cherished surrogate children. They sleep in their owners' beds, they eat special food, they go to day care and, yes, they have birthday parties.
Americans will spend $38.4 billion on their pets this year, including $2.7 billion on "other services" such as boarding and grooming. Businesses that offer luxurious dog day care, dog parties and dog boarding are thriving.
"Whatever makes people happy is a good thing," said Connie Wilson, founder of Modern Dog magazine.
Dogs provide love, they help owners get out and walk, and they help people meet new friends.
"People spoil their children all the time," Wilson added. "Nobody writes newspaper articles about it."
But even Allyson Taylor admits it's "a little embarrassing" how she pampers Sammy.
"He has a down comforter. He prefers Egyptian cotton sheets," Taylor said with a self-conscious laugh. "Trust me, this dog wants for nothing."
The growth potential of doggie day care is "huge," said Heidi Flammang, founder of Boulder franchiser Camp Bow Wow. "People don't cut back at all when it comes to their pets. Especially on dog care."
Proof: Camp Bow Wow franchises, costing $50,000 each, broke even in the first year, she said. The number of franchisees tripled to 140 last year, and Flammang expects her business to double again this year.
