By Angelic Lara and Candace Dulley Organizational & Household Decision Making

Consumers Pamper Pets with Healthier Products Focus on nonhuman family members Spending on pets has doubled in the last decade “Pets are increasingly thought of as family members, so not only are we willing to dig deeper into our pockets for our pets, the choices we make for them are a direct reflection of our personal preferences, values and ideals,"

The Family Unit Families with kids Married/Single with no kids Empty nesters "For the most part, as parents, we don't skimp on our kids until or unless we really have to. And same goes for our pets today,"

Pet Industry $50.84 Billion est. spending on furry friends in % of the U.S. owns a pet Average annual amount spent Dogs – $1542 Cats – $1217 Average # per household Dogs – 1.7 Cats – 2.2

Products and Services Marketing to your pet Basics Food Toys Clothing Luxury items Luxury Grooming Spa Pet burialburial Pet Hotels Specialty foods Specialty Lactose free Pro-biotic Vegan Pet Insurance Doggy daycare

Discussion Has anyone purchased a designer or luxury item for your pet? Since you’ve left home do your parents treat a pet as a child? Do you take into account your pet when making purchasing decisions?

References m our-pets family/pets/story/ /Consumers-pamper-pets-with- healthier-products/ /1