America’s Love Affair With Pets Stronger Than Ever (NAPSA)—If you think the country is going to the dogs— you’re right. It’s going to the dogs—and the cats and fish and iguanas. According to The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), Americans own more pets than ever before. Sixtytwo percent of all households in the U.S. now own a pet, which is the highest level recorded since APPMAbegan monitoring ownership in 1988 when ownership was 56 percent. This love affair with pets has fueled one of the country’s healthiest industries, with sales of pet products now at $31 billion, outpacing the human popular toy industry ($20.3 billion in annual sales) and the candy industry ($24 billion). It has also spurred the creation of toys, clothing, bedding, furniture and treats that rival those of humans. According to the survey, more off . PET TOPIC—62 percent of all households in the United States now own a pet. grances, feathered French day beds, and rhinestonetiaras. Interestingly, new technology and innovation are spurring more and more products that makeit easier than ever to ownpets, care animal owners have purchased a gift for their pet, while three out of 10 fish and reptile owners have also boughttheir peta gift. Someof the trends emerging from our love affair with pets include more pet-friendly destina- for pets, and take them with you. For the home, products include programmable feeders, self-cleaning trays and cages, and battery operated toys. For road trips, you can now find everything from motion sickness aids and boxed meals for pets that include food, water and a toy to fluorideenhanced bottled water for dogs that comes in a plastic bowl with a lid that doubles as a Frisbee. panies offering pet products— dogs, 16 million small animals, 17 than half of America’s pet owners buy gifts for their pets. Sixty per- cent of dog, cat, bird and small tions, more non-traditional com- With 77 million cats, 65 million companies like Paul Mitchell, million birds, nine million rep- more products coming onto store counting...America’s love affair Omaha Steaks, Origins, HarleyDavidson and Old Navy—and shelves that resemble human products. These include edible greeting cards, matching ensembles and baconflavor popcorn. For owners that spare no expense on their furry, feathered and finned best friends, products on the market include faux mink coats for cold afternoon outings, designer bird cages, botanical fra- tiles, seven million saltwater fish, 185 million freshwater fish and with pets, and the array of products they lavish them with, is sure to keep growing. Every two years APPMA’s National Pet Owner’s Survey, the pet industry’s most comprehensive consumer research study, examines demographics, buying habits, and other traits of U.S. owners of dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles,
