Mon, Dec 01 2008
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Published May 19, 2008 10:14 pm - It’s a dog’s life, even in tough times By Cathy Spaulding Phoenix Staff Writer High gas costs and talk of recession apparently isn’t hurting a local pet store. In fact, the pet industry may stand to benefit, said Ernie Turnham at the Muskogee pet store, A Feathered Affair. “When people can’t afford travel, they spend more on their pets,” said Turnham, whose wife owns the store. “They can’t go on vacation, can’t go see Granny, but they can play with their pets at home.” Pet care and pet pampering remains a big business nationwide. The American Pet Products Manufacturing Association estimated that people will spend $43.4 million on their animal companions this year, up from $41.2 million in 2007. Dog owners are more likely than cat fanciers to pamper their pet and treat it like a child or family member, the association said. A recent survey from the association said roughly 80 percent of dog owners and 63 percent of cat owners buy gifts for their pet. A Feathered Affair owner Susan Turnham said her customers “will still buy toys and stuff, but nothing extravagant.” More people also buy togs for their dogs. Turnham said she sells more pet clothes now than she did several years ago. “Studded, diamond collars, dog clothes, bird toys,” she said. “I had someone ask for cat clothes. I have a cat, and my cat wouldn’t be caught dead in anything. But I used to have a cat growing up that I used to dress up.” Jessica Richardson, manager on duty at Muskogee’s Petco store, said more customers buy clothes for their dogs than for their cats. Cat owners pamper their pets in other ways such as purchasing climbing trees and ornate scratching pads, she said. Marilyn Doss, owner of Dandy Dog Grooming in Fort Gibson, said her business remains busy. “I have not gone up in my prices because a lot of my clients are older people on fixed incomes,” she said. “A lot of my clients cannot afford to do $40 for a haircut.” Doss said she does mostly small dogs such as poodles, Shih Tzus and schnauzers, but she also does larger dogs such as spaniels and golden retrievers. “I don’t do chows at all because they have no qualms about biting,” she said. “I don’t do cats because they have weapons (claws, bites).” She said that while her customers do come, they are coming less often. “It was every four weeks, now many are coming every six weeks,” Doss said. “They come because they get good care. People should care for their animals because they bring joy and happiness.” 
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