Billions Spent On America's Pampered Pets

Feb. 14 - KGO (KGO) -- On this Valentine's Day, millions of people will spend a small fortune on the loves of their lives. But increasingly, the recipients of those gifts will be of the four-legged variety.

One look around the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show and you'll see that people love their dogs.

Woman: "They eat with me, sleep with me, I even share my ice cream with them."

And there is no shortage of supplies to pamper these canine companions, or yours.

According to MarketResearch.com, sales of pet products other than food reached $8.5 billion last year. That's more than the $6.2 billion spent on babycare products.

Bob Vetere, Amer. Pet Products Manufacturers Assoc.: "In fact, if you see a trend in a human product you can almost guarantee that there will be the similar trend for pet products."

Bob Vetere is with the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. He says Americans spend more on dogs than any other kind of pet. Designers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Coach now have pet lines, and big stores like Target and Wal-Mart are expanding their offerings.

Bob Vetere: "The growth has been phenomenal. A lot of it has been small start-up type companies and it's a very easy to enter market place."

Bobby Wise, George: "When we started the business in '91 it was sort of uncharted territory."

Bobby Wise has seen that growth first hand. He started "George." named for his pet fox-terrier. They sell high-end dog beds, jackets, sweaters, leashes and collars, and of course, toys and gourmet treats for every canine's palate. George now has stores in San Francisco, Berkeley and Tokyo, Japan.

Bobby Wise: "There's an emotional component. People want to treat their animals in a respectful way much like other members of their family."

It's that family-like connection that has other businesses becoming more pet friendly.

San Francisco based boutique Hotelier, The Kimpton Group, operates hotels around the country -- every one of them is pet friendly. They are one of a number of chains now permitting pets.

Allison Goldstein, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: "We'd figured that we'd make it easy for our guest to travel with their pets."

For an additional charge, your pooch can live it up at the swanky hotel Palomar. The "bow-wow-wow package" puts your pup in the lap of luxury.

Allison Goldstein: "If you have a dog with a sophisticated taste, you get a bottle of water for your dog, you also get these treats for your dog and you get a fabulous chewy bone that you can actually take home with you."

While some people may not be willing to shell out big money for their pet, plenty are. Sales of pet supplies are growing about seven percent a year.

And who's spending all this money? Industry insiders say young professionals without kids are one part of the market. Others say baby boomers suffering from empty nests are driving sales.

Woman: "I have seven children and eleven grandchildren and they're all gone and raised, and these are my children now and they deserve the best."

Written and produced by Ken Miguel.

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