May 21st, 2008
It’sa dog’s life, even in tough times
Pistol gets a hair cut from Marilyn Doss. Economic pressures may keep you from firing up the SUV, and it seems like pets may be the beneficiaries of your cabin fever.
In fact, the pet industry may stand to benefit, said Ernie Turnham at the Muskogee pet store, A Feathered Affair.
“When people can’t afford travel, they spend more on their pets,” said Turnham, whose wife owns the store. “They can’t go on vacation, can’t go see Granny, but they can play with their pets at home.”
Pet care and pet pampering remains a big business nationwide. The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association estimated that people will spend $43.4 million on their animal companions this year, up from $41.2 million in 2007.
Dog owners are more likely than cat fanciers to pamper their pet and treat it like a child or family member, the association said. A recent survey from the association said roughly 80 percent of dog owners and 63 percent of cat owners buy gifts for their pet.
A Feathered Affair owner Susan Turnham said her customers “will still buy toys and stuff, but nothing extravagant.”
More people also buy togs for their dogs. Turnham said she sells more pet clothes now than she did several years ago.
“Studded, diamond collars, dog clothes, bird toys,” she said. “I had someone ask for cat clothes. I have a cat, and my cat wouldn’t be caught dead in anything. But I used to have a cat growing up that I used to dress up.”
Jessica Richardson, manager on duty at Muskogee’s Petco store, said more customers buy clothes for their dogs than for their cats. Cat owners pamper their pets in other ways such as purchasing climbing trees and ornate scratching pads, she said.
Marilyn Doss, owner of Dandy Dog Grooming in Fort Gibson, said her business remains busy.
Tags: cat, dog