WESTERN NEW YORK – America’s obsession with its pets is reaching historic levels.
According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) sales in 2018 topped $72-billion.
That amounts to a three-percent increase since 2017.
The majority of those dollars are going to food for Fido.
Higher-priced premium dog food with designer ingredients made up the most popular food purchased.
The second highest source of spending is vet care, at more than $18-billion.
That number is followed by supplies and over-the-counter medication.
So why are pet owners dishing out more money? The APPA said people treat their pets like family and putting an increased focus on feeding them natural and organic foods.
In response to that demand late last year Petco announced it would stop selling dog and cat food and treats with artificial colors and preservatives.
Another reason is that more people own pets than ever before and apparently treating them more like their own children.
The APPA estimates sales within the U.S. Market will rise to more than $75-billion this year.
Leave a Reply