Yesterday, I was listening to a local talk show that talked about how pet owners have changed. With the rise of yuppie couples that wait till mid-thirties to have children, the number of pets in this country has increased to over 30 million. Expendable incomes burning a hole in their pockets, owners are going the extra mile for Fido and Fluffy. They report that pet owners are responsible for $19 billion worth of veterinary care and almost $31 billion on toys, treats, pet food and the like. While I draw the line just past a Coach collar for Friday, I have to confess that I’m one such owner. For god’s sake – I name a website after him, don’t I?

I am not as bad as some. We are not as bad as some. There are clear boundaries in our household that are maintained, and a hierarchy exists which greatly signifies that he is canine and we are much higher on the food chain than that. I am not his 'mommy' and Ryan is not his 'daddy', despite the fact that we occasionally wrestle and tumble on the floor and make up games like “Big Dog/Little Dog.”

He is every bit a part of this household as the two of us are and sometimes when we lose sight of that fact, he’ll remind us by leaving a shredded paper on the living room floor when we’ve been gone too long. And in my own little yuppie way, I contribute to the $31 billion by buying things like a Dog-E-Tag or subscribing to Bark Magazine.

posted by paula 8:41 PM