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Article: Pet spending at all-time high.(Animal Care)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- December 1, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The pet industry has doubled in size in the last 10 years, from $17,000,000,000 in 1994 to a projected $34,300,000,000 in 2004, growing larger than even the candy and toy industries. "More and more people consider and treat pets like children, and increases in spending reflect that trend," notes Bob Vetere, managing director of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
Indeed, 84% of American pet owners say they regard their animal as a member of the family. Consequently, the days of newspaper-lined dog beds and grocery store pet food are gone--pet owners want the very best for their feathered or four-legged friends. Welcome to the world of cat ...