Lots of chatter out on the net, in the news and in the blogosphere, on how well we Americans treat our pets. I didn't used to think much of it...I mean, my dog was my life. As a teenager, I had a shepard-collie mix and I never went anywhere without her. Except school, of course. She was a part of me. When I was away at college, my parents had to have her put down because of a serious infection in a lick granuloma... that the vet could not fix. Today, I would have had the means to rescue her.
But, anyway...I found a few great articles online that talk about how good we are to our pets. Like this one at the Denver Post: Do some pet notice they're not animals? It talks about dogs being treated "like Hollywood starlets." Not Britney, please! The article includes references to "massage therapy, dog 
acupuncturists, cat psychics" and more. I just love it!
Over at the Los Angeles Times, in Business News, "Pampering your little Sweet Pea to the tune of $41 billion" just makes my eyes pop! Where do they come up with these numbers? This quote might help explain it, "There's an extraordinary, revolutionary shift in the relationships between people and companion animals," said Jon Katz, an author of six books about dogs. "People in extraordinary numbers are turning to companion animals, especially cats and dogs, to fill the holes in their lives."
Further down, the article mentions wigs for dogs. Um...that's going a bit far, I think.
In winding up, the only article that really hits home and makes me glad is this one on Consumer Affairs.com, "Pet Industry Agrees on Need for Toxicity Standards." It's about the safety of our animals' chew toys. Much the same way we need to be careful with the toys we buy for our children - young children who love to put everything in their mouths - don't we need to remember that our pets put everything in their mouths, also? I mean, it's their nature.
That article is a must read. Before you go shopping for a new toy for your dog or cat, look at the results of the studies reported on in that article. How much lead do you think is in that toy you just bought? And, if there is lead... who should be held accountable?
It pays to be aware. That's all.
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