Economy for Pet Toys and Services Unaffected by Financial Downturn

From treats to daycare, people will spend money on their furry friends

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By Lauren Maxwell
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Story Created: Aug 31, 2012 at 8:15 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 2, 2012 at 9:15 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - When the economy slows down many businesses suffer. But one industry still seems to be going strong: it’s anything to do with pets.

Barbara Lee has two dogs that she considers family. She was cruising the Petco aisles in Anchorage recently, looking for treats. She said if anything, her canine kids come cheaper than her other children.

“Their wardrobes aren’t as expensive and we don’t have to pay for school pictures or anything like that,” she joked.

In an economy where many people are pinching pennies, pets don’t seem to suffer. Big stores like Petco are reporting steady or increasing sales as people load up on products for their “loved ones.”

And more people are taking advantage of other pet services, like “doggy daycare”.

At the “Happy Dog Day Camp,” owner April Stanley says business is so good they’ve opened a second location.

“It’s like, ‘let's take them to doggy daycare and drop them off for the day and pick them up,’” says Stanley. “The dogs are happy, they are wiggling their butts when they come in the door, then they go home and they pass out and the parents love that.”

It’s all about keeping pets happy, and for that owners seem willing to pay.

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