AR-News: (US IL) Pet pampering unleashes emotions about discretionary spending

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

An estimated 9 million Americans bought their pets Valentine's Day gifts this 
month, part of a whopping $31 billion they will spend on their animals for 
all of 2004, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association in 
Greenwich, Conn.

And we're not talking rawhide chew toys. Last fall, a posh pet boutique 
called Down Town Dog opened in Chicago's Marshall Field's department store, selling 
Italian croco and crystal collars for $86 and Life of Ryley jackets for $122.

Upscale doggie day care, all the rage in big cities these days, starts at $30 
a day and lets Fido run free to make new canine friends.

Oh, and sorry, but the Burberry pet carriers at UptownPets.com are sold out.

Are you sputtering with indignation at what those billions could have done to 
feed the homeless? Cure AIDS? Save the rain forest?

Pardon the pet owner who doesn't lie down and roll over at the tsk-tsking.





full story:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/sns-yourmoney-value0215,1,222
7463.story?coll=chi-homepagenews-utl 

"The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing."
Albert Einstein
      /\   /\         
>' .' <   
                              
There is no justice, just us!  








    
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