Pet industry recession proof?

A new report by the American Pet Product Association said that total spending on pets in 2008 topped $43 billion, an increase of 4.9 percent over 2007.

And it seems 2009 is trending that way as well.

Bob Vetere, President of APPA, wrote the article you can see here.

He said it comes as no surprise that, as pets are increasingly important in their owners' lives, what people spend on them is reflected in the health of the industry, which is the eighth largest retail segment in the U.S., ahead of toys, jewelry, candy and alcohol.

[After the first half of 2008] the economy collapsed with the woes of Wall Street. However, the resulting impact on the pet industry reveals a promising resiliency even through the toughest of times. With the final spending figures for 2008 released and early indicators for 2009 interpreted, the pet industry has fared better than most. While no industry is truly recession-proof, the pet industry seems recession-resistant. One popular newspaper referred to the industry as “the antidote to the recession.”

Greater than anticipated growth, Vetere said, was in routine veterinary services and pet-sitting and boarding, growing at 10 and 6.7 percent over 2007, respectively.

Sales of food grew 3.7 percent of 2007, while over-the-counter medications grew only 2 percent.

We love our pets, it seems. Have any of you cut back? If so, how?

Please respond to the poll on the left side of this page.

This and that, again

A cautionary tale: Cat peeing on a laptop may have started house fire. Click here.

Pet psychics: Come on. Can you finish the statement: "There's a sucker born ... "? Click here.

Pet ban: NYC Housing Authority ban on dogs larger than 25 pounds may fill city animal shelters. Click here.

Pet portrait: $1,400 for a photo session of your dog? And it doesn't include airfare to Seattle. Click here.

Cat shelter in Beacon needs funds

Photo by Karl Rabe/Poughkeepsie Journal

Check out the front page of the Mid-Hudson section in today's paper for a story on Mid Hudson Animal Aid in Beacon.

The online version is here.

The shelter has been around for 30 years, but, as we are all aware, these are hard times and donations are way down.

They could have to stop taking in cats until conditions improve.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Mid Hudson Animal Aid, Inc., 54 Simmons Ln., Beacon, NY 12508. Donations can also be made on line at www.midhudsonanimalaid.org. Call 845-831-4321.

Festival of dogs

Photo: Sarah Bradshaw/Poughkeepsie Journal

This Saturday over in the magical land of the Town of North East will be an event for dogs and their owners called the Festival of Dogs.

It is being sponsored by the Harlem Valley Chamber and will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ledgewood Kennel.

Admission is free to watch all the events dock jumping, agility course demonstrations, flyball and disc throwing.

Fees are required to participate in the events, however, ranging from $5 for disc throwing to $20 for dock jumping competition. Non-competing dock jumping costs $10 for two jumps.

Dog show classes, for $5 each, include best costume and outstanding ability or feature. Participation forms for all events can be downloaded from this link.

All dogs must be leashed and should be well-behaved. A current rabies certificate is mandatory.

Ledgewood Kennel is located here. Use the map to create your own directions.

Still tough out there for some pet owners

Here's another article on how pets are being impacted by the recession.

The Dallas Morning News said more pet owners are cutting out vaccinations, skipping veterinary visits and even surrendering the animals to shelters or opting for euthanasia for sick animals instead of having to pay for long-term medical care.

"There's a lot of pain," said Nikki Walker, development director at Operation Kindness, a North Texas shelter that has seen owner surrenders increase dramatically. "People are having to make tough decisions about feeding their pets or feeding their children."

In March, the American Veterinary Medical Association reported statistics showed how the recession was affecting vet care.

The study found clinic visits were down and pet owners were choosing less expensive treatments and refusing nonessential and diagnostic procedures.

Locally, there is a shelter that takes in cats and kittens — Mid Hudson Animal Aid, Inc., in Beacon — that may have to stop taking in cats until its donations increase. Their capacity is 180 felines; they know have well over 200.

I'm working on a story about the private, nonprofit organization, in fact photographer Karl Rabe is scheduled to shoot some pictures at the shelter today. As soon as I know when the story is going to run, I'll post information.

It's the look

I was driving up Route 9 yesterday on my way home and I saw a Jeep ahead of me in an adjacent lane.

It was a warm day, so the windows were down and, much to my dismay, I saw a dog with its head sticking out the window feeling the breeze

That is something I disapprove of, so I was surprised, as I got closer, to see the pooch wearing goggles. Like an aviator.

I couldn't safely get a picture of it, but as soon as I got home I hit the Enterwebs.

Sure enough, someone makes googles for dogs.

Doggles, they are called.

I can understand there might be times when a dog in a rescue or search operation could be better served by having eye protection.

And they do look kind of cool.

But silly, or functional? You decide.

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Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Stay safe.

Jackson's animals know, move on

In case anyone was concerned, Michael Jackson's tigers have been told that he died.

The L.A. Unleashed blog in the Los Angeles Times reported the Tippi (The Birds) Hedren, who operates the Shambala preserve that now houses Jackson's tigers, said she personally informed the beasts of Jackson's passing.

"I went up and sat with them for a while and let them know that Michael was gone," Hedren told AFP. "You don't know what mental telepathy exists from the human to the animal. But I hope they understood."

Oooohkay.

And I joked to some friends on Facebook that I wasn't going to watch any coverage of the passing of Jackson "until Bubbles had his presser."

Well, click the TV on.

From CNN.com:

Bubbles was born in Texas in 1983, and it's thought he was born in a biomedical facility before being sold. When he lived with a supercelebrity such as Jackson, Bubbles could be seen in videos, posing for fan pictures, attending a news conference, his likeness appearing in a Michael Jackson video game.

Those days of appearing before the camera were long gone, until today. Bubbles still likes making faces for the camera, faces that Jackson might have recognized, had he visited the sanctuary. Bubbles might have recognized Jackson, too.

And then totally not pet-related but Jackson-related and funny, comes this story from the Iowa State Fair.

Officials announced they will have a statue of Jackson at the fair made out of butter.

I can think of no better tribute. (I resisted writing "no butter" tribute.)

Safety first

With the long (for some people) holiday weekend approaching, it's time to review some travel tips if you plan on taking Fido along for the ride. There will also be a reminder about the Fourth of July madness that is fireworks.

An article in the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star discusses keeping your dog safe and comfortable on a trip and provides suggestions from the American Kennel Club.

• Practice for long trips by taking your dog on short ones.

• Collar + cell phone number = Smart thing. Also take a picture of your dog with you.

• Secure your dog in a crate, carrier or harness that attaches to the seat belt. .

• Do not let your dog stick his head out the car window. Eye and ear injuries are possible.

• Stop regularly to allow your dog to relieve himself and take a drink.

• Do not ever leave your pet unattended in the car on hot days.

The article also has some tips on flying with your pet, also from the AKC.

• • • • •

Fireworks in Dutchess County start Friday, so consider that a heads up if your dog, or any pet, is frightened by loud, sudden noises that gradually grow louder then stop for a moment and then all hell breaks loose in an ear-shattering, bone shaking cacophony of diabolical sounds. Then the eerie quiet. There's got to be more. More! So I can't relax. Must pant. And pace.

You think I'm making that up? Kate dictated that paragraph.

So again here are some tips for keeping your pet safe during fireworks from the Humane Society of the United States. For the complete list, click the link.

• Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area.

• Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain.

• Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly.

Feds investigating flea, tick products

There are probably few of us who haven't used topical flea and tick control medications on our dogs and cats.

Well, according to KDFW-TV in Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking into pesticides used in those products after receiving reports about dangerous side effects.

According to the agencies Web site, the investigation mainly includes spot-on pesticide products, which are generally sold in tubes or vials and are usually applied between a pet’s shoulders.

While the EPA said these products can be useful for treating and protecting people and their pets from fleas and ticks that can transmit disease, the agency now recommends precaution. People should watch their pets closely for any adverse reactions.

Here's the entire article from the Fox television station's Web site.

The list of more than 200 brands of pesticides the EPA has been investigating include Hartz Advanced Care Brand Flea & Tick Drops for Dogs & Puppies, Hartz Ultraguard Plus Drops for Cats, Bio Spot Spot On Flea & Tick Control for Dogs and Advantage and Frontline products.

The EPA said pet owners reported side effects including skin irritation, seizures and death. The agency expects to complete its investigation in October.

The New York Times said the majority of the topical products are for dogs only. But more than 25 are labeled for cats and at least two can be used on cats and ferrets.

Cats are particularly sensitive to an insecticide called permethrin, the active ingredient in some spot-on flea and tick treatments. According to a study published online in The Veterinary Journal, cats overdosed with permethrin insecticides can suffer tremors, seizures, excess salivation, vomiting, loss of appetite and death. Steven R. Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, said there have been cases in which a cat has been poisoned by grooming a dog that had been treated with a permethrin pesticide, but such events, he said, are "extremely rare."

Here is a pdf document of the pesticides included in the investigation. The EPA said it will post the results of the study on its Web site.