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A expanding admiration for pets has Americans acquiring increasingly creative pet merchandise, from self-washing, toilet bowl-shaped cat litter boxes and dog strollers to tennis ball-launching doggie golf-club drivers, treat launchers and high-tech clippers. These hot new merchandise and hundreds of other individuals were unveiled at Global Pet Expo, the pet industry's biggest annual trade show in the world. Figures from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) show spending on pets is at an all-time higher-an estimated $38.4 billion this year.

So just where are these billions going?

• $15.2 billion for food

• $9.3 billion for supplies and more than-the-counter drugs

• $9.four billion for veterinarian care

• $1.eight billion for reside animal purchases

• $2.7 billion for other solutions.

And it's not just the basics. APPMA's National Pet Owners Survey shows 27 percent of dog owners and 13 percent of cat owners acquire their pets birthday presents, and 55 percent of dog owners and 37 percent of cat owners get their pets holiday presents.

All this spending and pampering has prompted ingenuity ranging from low-maintenance aquariums, matching sunglasses for dogs and their owners and spa remedies for your pet, to laser cat toys and adjustable heating and massaging dog beds.

Business authorities point to a continued trend in the humanization of pet goods. "Each infant boomers and young pros who are delaying possessing households in favor of careers are turning to pets to fill the void at residence," stated APPMA President Bob Vetere. "With these families' greater-than-average disposable incomes, their pets are enjoying elaborate higher-end and high-tech goods as well as revolutionary devices made for comfort for the pet owner."

Pet owners report in APPMA's National Pet Owners Survey that they have a special bond with their pets and contemplate them a best buddy, a companion or like a kid or member of their household.

Vetere likens it to his experience with his golden Lab, Dakota. "I can sit and speak to him and tell him any issue I have and he just sits there with his tongue hanging out, smiling at me, just waiting for me to finish. It really is like, 'OK, you feel far better now? Let's go outdoors and play.'

"We've come a extended way in terms of how we view and treat our pets," concluded Vetere. "Thankfully, for pets and men and women, there is nevertheless a lot of opportunity for healthy growth." http://linkedin.com/in/simonarichards