| Have you ever thought about where your | | | | a staggering 51 Billion dollars by 2010. |
| grandparents and great grandparents shopped for | | | | We love our pets. We pamper them. We enjoy their |
| their pets? The probability of that would have been | | | | company. Now we can take our pets with us when |
| slim to none. Back then, times were tough and the | | | | we go to the corner store, visiting family and friends, |
| thought of spending hard earned money on the | | | | as well as during our vacation trip. The joy of |
| family dog, was out of the question. So, old Duke | | | | surprising them with a new toy on a special occasion |
| probably lived on a staple diet of table scraps and | | | | is priceless. Holiday time also means more |
| unwanted leftovers. His favorite chew toy was more | | | | opportunities to spoil them with lavish gifts. From |
| than likely, grandpa's have eaten steak bone. If | | | | high-end designer carriers to high-tech remote control |
| Boots, the barn cat got into a fight with a porcupine, | | | | mice, our companion animals deserve more than the |
| I'm sure our ancestors would have pulled the quills | | | | essentials. |
| out, with an old pair of rusty pliers. To ward off | | | | Shopping for our pets is becoming easier than ever |
| infection, Boots would have grimaced when grandma | | | | before. We can shop from the comfort of our |
| tended to his wounds with her recently made batch | | | | homes, if we don't want to drive to the mall. When |
| of Lye soap and water. | | | | we do our grocery shopping we not only have the |
| Fast-forward to the 21st century. Today, you can | | | | option to buy our four legged friend, a large bag of |
| purchase miniature sized cans of gourmet dog food | | | | good quality dog food, we now have the ability to |
| for your finicky Bichon or you can place an order for | | | | purchase a comfy dog bed too. Many traditional |
| a large bag of kibble and have it delivered right to | | | | retailers are looking at ways to give us more choice |
| your door. If you pet is injured or needs an | | | | by expanding their pet supply floor space. It seems |
| operation, you can take him to the local vet or in | | | | pet supplies can be found almost anywhere. |
| some cases, they will come to you. The pet industry | | | | Amazingly, in some states, you can purchase your |
| has changed over the years. The fact that young | | | | pup a Frisbee from a vending machine at the local |
| couples are waiting longer to start a family and the | | | | park. |
| senior population is becoming empty nesters and | | | | I'm sure it would be fair to say, that our ancestors |
| they are looking to fill the gap with companion | | | | would be surprised to see how the family pet has |
| animals. Overall pet industry sales have risen to a | | | | evolved from a meager existence to a pampered |
| whopping 43.4 Billion dollars, this past year. It's | | | | member of the family. |
| expected that on-line pet supply sales will increase to | | | | |