In the decade from 1994 through 2004, the amount of money spent on pet food, pet supplies, veterinary visits, medicines, live animals and services, more than doubled from $17 billion to $34.2 billion, Vetere said. In 2005 alone $36.3 billion was spent.
An increasing percentage of that money was spent on services that used to be reserved for people: massage therapy, spa treatments, couture clothing and gourmet food.
“Now you’ve got the Marriots, the Ws and the Westins where you can bring your pet along, and they’ve got room service,” Vetere said. One of these pet-friendly hotels “will bring you, for $19.95, tenderloin in a special souvenir dish with bottled water for your pet, and a bed,” he said.
For more wild facts about pets, go to cnn.com.
