Have you bought your baby a Christmas gift? No, no....not the human kind of baby. I refer to the feline, canine and other pets we all seem to love and adore. In the U.S. pet presents are a big deal, with an estimated 50% of all pet owners expected to buy Christmas gifts for Fido and company. (I am not sure what one buys for his pet pig or monkey, but I hope I don't get that gift too.) The fact is the average owner will spend almost $100 this Christmas for their favored loved ones (not the husband, the dog!).
U.S. retail sales might be weak, energy prices way up and housing prices way down, but experts say pets largely defy those kinds of economic indicators. Caring owners are no more likely to stiff their beloved animals for the holidays than Santa is to leave rocks of coal in your stocking. Overall, Americans are expected to spend an estimated $48.7 billion on their pets in 2007, nearly twice the amount of a decade ago and growing at more than 7 percent a year, according to Packaged Facts, a consumer research company in Rockville, Md. Already, spending exceeds the gross domestic product of about 120 nations. Makes you either want to howl in protest at that priority of asset distribution, or just say , "Ahhhhh, that's sweet to love Fido so much.
Basically, whatever Fido wants, Fido gets — and then some, particularly in upscale areas. Those with the most money to spend go to the biggest extremes in pet gift giving. But buying something for the family pet is somewhat of a tradition here now. Buying the family pet a Christmas gift is now kind of recession-resistant. In fact, in recent years, such selections as stuffed menorahs, puffy gefilte fish and chewy holiday bones have become available for Hanukkah, which began this year at sundown Tuesday and runs through Dec. 15. Yep! Jewish pets get Hanukkah gifts too.
I think all of this represents the growing humanization of pets in the U.S. and in Europe. The idea is that the family pet is in fact a member of the family, that to slight it without a gift is hurtful for Fido and causes guilt for the human owner. The high end market of pet gifts are what is growing fastest at Christmas. Anything from organic pet cookies to doggie basketball jerseys (The Michael Jordan jersey is a slam dunk), to expensive pet treat jars and a $400 plus temperature-controlled pet carrier or $500 cashmere bed. But for the common dogs like us, the gifts are not so extravagant. Favorites last year included: Christmas themed treats like rawhides in the shape and look of candy canes or cat stockings, dog energy nutrition bars (even dogs want silly trendy foods), organic dog leashes (for the owner who wants to impress the human neighbors that he or she is environmentally in step with the latest fashion), biodegradable poop pickup bags, pet toy musical instruments ( Fido probably sounds better than most Rap artists), catnip cigars, dog elf outfits and vaious Christmas sweaters and......well, you get the idea.
The gifts reflect the human trends in society today, as in the enviromentalism craze that is seemingly non stop. I guess it is good to give love to all creaures, human and not, but why do I feel that Fido will get better gifts than me this year? Maybe if I bite more next year, I'll get more too..