Will pet lovers let hard times dampen their pet pampering ways?
Will pet lovers let hard times dampen their pet pampering ways? I don’t think so.
I was at our local supermarket today and stopped to talk with a buddy of mine who manages their freezer section. He and I were laughing about an exclusive line of very high-ticket “natural, organic” pet supplies a distributor convinced one of the other section managers to carry. It has been an absolute bomb for the story and all the section managers raze that pet supply guy about it.
That started the two of us speculating on how these recessionary times are impacting pets and pet lovers. Although their specific efforts at pampered pet foods (all organic pet foods?? ‘Cmon!) failed, there’s plenty of evidence both of us could cite that the truly most fanatically pet lovers out there might complain of their personal and family hard times — but would continue such silliness as “Pupperware Parties” for pampered pets anyway.
Whether you’re talking about dog supplies, cat supplies, or ferret kibble, calling anything you do for pets “pampering” is a very dangerous, slippery slope, I know. Nothing angers pet owners quite so much as ridiculing the pet carry bags, pet strollers, pet clothing, etc., which they buy for little FooFoo.
At the same time, there are ongoing reports from various animal shelters that foreclosures and rising unemployment are sending a ton of pets to their shelters because owners can no longer keep them. So I don’t mean to make light of the impact economic hard times have on pets and pet lovers. For those folks and their pets, I offer my sympathy and concern.
But for the “organic, all-natural” fanatics and those who sponsor Pupperware Parties — really, get a life. Let your pet have a real life, too.