The Pet Industry  is on Track to Hit $50 Billion Dollars!

By Jamie M Downey
Publisher Of THE American Dog Magazine

The “pet industry” is still one of the fastest growing markets in the US, ranked as the 7th largest, with projected growth every year and many in this field say it is “recession-proof.” Pet industry insiders who track the numbers say that pet spending should top 50 billion in 2011, since spending reached 45.5 billion in 2009 and it’s estimated to hit 47.7 billion for 2010 (according to American Pet Products Assoc).

In addition, there’s an article in Pet Product News where they report “Packaged Facts, a market research group, forecasts that pet market spending is already over 50 billion and estimated to grow to 57 billion dollars for 2010.” Whichever report you want to look at, that’s a whole lot of the almighty dollar being spent on dogs and cats! And, nowadays, with dog parents working longer hours and pets climbing up in social status from the backyard to their own bedroom, people are spending more money than ever to make sure their dog has everything and wants for nothing!

Pets have become the new breed of kids; for empty nesters whose kids are out of the house, for young professionals delaying having the traditional family in favor of pursuing a career, for workaholics who chose a career over marriage and kids, for married people who decided against having kids and opted for a dog, for seniors who need and crave the companionship of a pet, and for parents with children—but still want to include the dog as a member of the family! There are no boundaries when it comes to spoiling and pampering our dogs and cats, and pet parents speak the language the pet industry understands loud and clear—by spending thousands of dollars every year on their canine kids with four legs!

Why do we spend so much of our time and income on a dog? Because dogs make great companions, because of their unconditional love, their devotion, their desire to please, and they are always in a fabulous mood when you walk through the door! Dogs truly fall in love with their family and enjoy being part of your pack. They want to protect you, it’s their job to guard the house, and bark when they hear or see anything out of place on your property. How can you not want to reciprocate that kind of love and give back that same adoration for your beloved dog?

Also, if you want to spend a mini-fortune on your dog there is an overabundance of pet services to choose from. Literally, there are well over a hundred dog food manufacturers making dog food that is natural, organic, dry, canned, moist, premium, grain-free, raw, fresh, frozen, vegan, home-made, freeze-dried, or gourmet! Then there are hundreds of companies making a variety of dog treats, chews, and bones. There are plenty of choices when it comes to dog vitamins, supplements, antioxidants, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. They have so many jewelry and dog-clothing manufacturers that there are two trade shows devoted to them—Pet Fashion Week and the Luxury Pet Pavillion. The list goes on with the many thousands of companies making a living in the pet industry and catering to the all-powerful influential family dog!

The pet industry is big business and it’s not too late to jump in and get your share of the bone. Make sure you read about the 99 fabulous job opportunities we featured in the pet industry when you turn the page. We hope you’ll get motivated if you have been on the fence thinking about starting a new career. Maybe you’ll be inspired to create a new profession or a new product for pets. Many entrepreneurs are newcomers to the industry because of the love they have for pets and the possibilities are endless. Be creative, use your imagination and good luck making your own treasure chest filled with ideas, a plan of action and a goal! The American Dog magazine wishes you much success on your entrepreneurial adventure!