3 Things You Thought Only Rich Pet Owners Could Afford
Americans spend an absolutely staggering amount of money on our pets. In 2017 alone, we spent nearly $70 billion on our dogs, cats, and other animals. That’s a lot of snausages. We’ve all heard stories of pet owners with more money than sense buying custom-embroidered jean jackets for their dogs and contracting to have incredibly elaborate cat trees built. And it’s true: The amount of money each pet-owning household spends on necessities like veterinary care is actually going down, and expenditures on things like food and supplies are up. What are three “rich people” pet services that have become affordable for almost any pet owner?
1. In-Home Vet Care
Just a decade ago, mobile vet services were reserved for the ultra-rich (and the ultra-rural). Today, with access to an ever-growing team of experienced, friendly vets based out of the Los Angeles area, clients are realizing there’s really no reason to spend hours in a waiting room or to suffer the anxiety-inducing effects of a visit to the vet’s office. Thanks to the power of the Internet, most logistical and financial roadblocks to mobile vet care have all but been removed. Mobile vets provides affordable in-home veterinary services like vaccinations, examinations, and even testing at prices comparable to those of a traditional vet’s office…minus the hassle.
2. Pet Tech
Advanced technology isn’t something normally associated with animals, but a spate of cool new tools are making it simpler to be a pet owner (and a pet!) PetCube is a wi-fi enabled appliance that allows you to watch, communicate with, and even “treat” your pet while you’re at work. Whistle, a pet tracking device that uses GPS can help you keep tabs on your pet’s whereabouts and his daily activity levels. Technologists have even invented a smart “ball” that allows you to play with your dog from afar – like, really afar – to ensure he’s getting enough exercise and stimulation when you can’t be there to give it to him. It’s a brave new world out there and the next frontier is…electronics for pets?
3. Gourmet Pet Food
Our pets have always eaten well…no one can say we Americans don’t take our food seriously! But in recent years, pet food purveyors have taken it up a notch. Today’s pet owner can keep their pet on any kind of diet imaginable, from macronutrient to pescatarian to Whole-30. Custom pet food from companies like NomNomNow is comparable in price to high-end store bought food, and it can be delivered right to your doorstep. Pet owners are paying as much attention to the ingredients their pets are eating as what they’re feeding themselves. Forward-thinking technology brands have tackled both the logistics and the price-hurdles that have made services like these unaffordable until now. Having a pet isn’t cheap. Statistics say we spend close to $600/year on average on our pets, and there’s a serious curve. From haute couture to gene sequencing, almost nothing’s out of bounds for the pet owner of the new millennium.
