Why the pet industry is a $50 billion a year industry

Last week I blogged about the wedding industry ? a ridiculous money-eating monster that swallows up more than $30 billion a year from its victims. While I?m sticking to my guns about the sheer absurdity of the wedding industry, there is an even bigger economic monster that I myself have and continue to fall victim to.

In disguise as a furry, cute, lovable industry lays a huge fire-breathing, money vacuum of a beast ? the pet industry. The pet industry trumps the wedding industry, with an estimated $50 billion spent by Americans on their pets just this year. That includes purchasing the pets, food, healthcare, medication, grooming, boarding and more. In just the last five years, Americans have increased their annual pet spending by $20 billion. I believe a ?Holy cow!? is in order.

With 62 percent of Americans having pets, it?s evident that people love having pets, and judging by the financial statistics on their spending, it?s clear they are willing to spend a lot of money to keep their pets well and happy. So why is it that even in today?s trying economic times are people so willing to shell out their hard earned cash for a ball of fur, feathers or scales?

Before I got my two Mastiffs this year, I asked the same question. I couldn?t imagine myself spending so much money on an animal. It wasn?t until I took my furry little babies into my arms did I realize that pets aren?t an economic sinkhole, but that they?re actually good for people?s well being.

One of the biggest benefits of owning a pet is that they alleviate loneliness, especially with older folk, and/or stress. Coming home to a bounding, wiggling dog or a purring cat after a long, grueling day at the office help people leave their ?real-world? baggage at the door. For many people, pets are the only things they have to come home to ? and in these cases, many times the only thing to look forward to when coming home.

Before I had my pups, when my husband was out of town or working late, I would dread coming home to an empty house. Not only was I lonely, but I was scared that some crazed serial killer would come breaking down the door at any moment. Dramatic ? I know, but it would always cross my mind. After we got Duchess and Brutus, I didn?t think twice about being ?home alone? because I would never really be alone again. Not only do Duchess and Brutus keep me company and make me feel protected when my husband is away, they also make me laugh with their wrestling moves, keep me smiling with their adorable expressions and make me feel loved when they curl up next to me when it?s near bedtime.

Pets can also be a great alternative treatment for depression. According to WebMD, having a pet takes the owner?s focus off their own problems. The responsibility of having a pet? also requires the owner to take care of another living thing, providing the owner with a sense of fulfillment. Whether it?s a dog, cat, bird, snake, fish or spider ? all pets can give an owner a sense of purpose.

Pre-Brutus and Duchess, my husband and I were in a new city and an hour away from most of our family and friends. For the while that we didn?t have either dog, we spent our time cooped up inside, bribing our friends to drive out to our house so we would have someone else to talk to beside each other. And it?s not exactly easy to meet new people in a new city who you can invite over to just hang out. Love each other as much as we do, only socializing with each other every day was challenging. Enter Duchess in May, and suddenly socializing in our new town was easy. From taking her for a walk and meeting the neighbors, to taking her to the pet store or the local dog park, it just felt good talking with and meeting new people. Adding 100-pound, eight-month-old Brutus to the family just three weeks ago has boosted our social interaction even more, with people approaching us wanting to know if he?s a dog or a horse.

It?s important to point out that pets don?t just improve spirit and mood ? they also provide physical benefits. According to the Center for Disease Control, pets can also decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. Also, children who grow up with furry pets in the home are have less of a risk of developing allergies and asthma.?

Is it any wonder that people spend so much pampering their pets? To those who don?t have pets or who aren?t close to their pets, it may still seem ridiculous, but for those of us who truly love and feel loved by our pets, we are willing to spend and often times sacrifice to keep them healthy and happy ? because that?s exactly what they do for us. While the cost of vet bills, holistic foods, comfy beds, rhinestone collars and squeaky toys may rack up quite quickly, to pet owners pet spending isn?t a burden, it?s an investment into our own well being.

Source: http://projectquinn.com/pets-take-from-pocketbook-deposit-in-the-heart/

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