Six Ways to Pamper Your Pets
Article from the Daily Inter Lake, Saturday, January 14, 2012.

Pets are an important component of any household.  The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 63 percent of all households in the United States features one pet or more.

Today’s pets are genuine members of the family, and pet parents want to do as much as they can to pamper their cats, dogs, birds, and small mammals.

Dogs, cats, and other pets are acquired through a number of methods.  Statistics show that most pets come to families from friends or acquaintances for free or low cost.  According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, 10 to 20 percent of cats and dogs are adopted, while only 2 to 10 percent of animals are purchased from a pet store.

Individuals who want to go above and beyond in their treatment of pets frequently push pampering to the limits.  Some people treat dogs and cats as if they were children, with all of the same benefits.  Thousands of dollars a year may be spent being sure these animals live the high life.  Whether this has any benefit on the animals’ well-being is debatable; the fact remains that individuals spend quite a few dollars caring for their pets.
 
Those who want to take pampering to new levels can consider these pampering ideas:

1.  Pet treats:  While the occasional catnip or dog bone is a nice idea, there are entire bakeries designated to whipping up gourmet delights for pets.  Many feature organically grown food items that are human-grade.  Cakes, cookies and the like can be purchased that fit with the specific diet and tastes of the pampered pet.

2. Doggie daycare:  Why leave the pooch home alone when he or she can hang out with other tail wagging friends?  There are a number of businesses that now cater to the canines and offer fun activities and socialization for dogs who otherwise by latch-key pups.  Some daycare centers offer accommodations that mimic home, such as cozy couches and quiet corners in which to curl up.  Furthermore, they enable dogs to catch up with their friends, a necessity when Mom or Dad won’t let them log onto Facebook.

3. Home away from home:  Instead of sending pets to a boarder when individuals are on vacation, people are choosing to take pets along.  Road and Travel magazine has reported that many pet parents—approximately 78 percent of them—often take to the roads or the skies with their pets in tow.  There are many pet friendly accommodations, and travelers have been known to compare amenities and regulations when choosing a hotel/motel for their trips.

4. Pet birthday parties:  One in four pet parents in the U.S. has admitted to celebrating their pets’ birthdays, according to Best Friends Pet Care.  Some go as far as hosting a birthday party in honor of the birthday pup or kitty.  Some pet sitters are daycare centers actually will host pet parties where other animals can be invited to celebrate.  Pet parties are growing in popularity and can be quite lucrative considering the millions of pets currently in the country.

5. Spa treatment:  From lapping in a heated pet pool to receiving a massage, some pet owners treat their favorite friends to relaxation treatments.  Gone are the days of a simple bath and haircut at the local groomer.  Today’s dogs and cats can receive massages, aromatherapy and acupuncture while enjoying additional resort-like amenities.

6. Spending time:  Of course, one of the easiest ways to pamper a pet is simply to spend time and devote attention to the animal.  After all, most animals are content with some love and affection from their owners.

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