PAMPERED PETS ARE BIG BUSINESS

Living a dog's (or cat's) life may not be all bad.

Man's best friends may have a happy way of life, with weekly or monthly visits to groomers and animal medical centers, three squares a day, clean living quarters, nice toys and great clothing.

Today's "pampered pets" mean big business.

Count it up.

The Veterinarians Medical Journal says canine medical care costs range from $100 to $200 a year, with feline care a few bucks less. For a happy medium, use the figure of $125 a year for animal examinations, inoculations and illnesses that may occur throughout the year.

Depending on the brand and type of food, feeding a dog can cost another $400 a year. Again, it's less expensive for cats.

"Food costs can vary," noted a spokesperson from Skyview Animal Clinic, which offers medical attention and pet health care products. "Some people feed their pets special formula foods."

Put that all together, and pet owners are looking at $400 to $600 a year for the bare essentials of maintaining their favorite cat or pooch.

Consider the fact that more than 105 million cats and dogs are kept as pets in the U.S., and that figures up to a staggering sum.

This multi-billion dollar total doesn't include some amenities, like visits to the groomer, overnight stays at a kennel, and some of those designer-type clothes purchased for the pampered pet crowd.

"People take care of their pets," says Bill Brinkopf of Sunny Hill Pet Center. "They purchase them extra-special food, toys and clothes, which can add some additional big bucks to the upkeep."

The pets have resulted in many new businesses over the years -- pet stores, grooming centers, pet medical centers, boarding kennels, training centers, and pet cemeteries. Special pet supply departments have been added to many businesses, including department stores and large supermarkets.

"Dogs and cats have their own special `designer' and `fashion' lines of clothing," said Brinkopf. "During the winter our sales of pet sweaters, jogging suits, mittens, parkas and even rain slickers are great."

Pet owners don't hesitate to dole out $10, $15, $30 and more for the special sweaters and jogging suits.

Also high on the sales list of pet supplies is houses and bedding for creature comfort.

Animal experts say dogs and cats should have warm, dry places for their beds. For pets that don't sleep under -- or on -- their masters' beds, most pet supply businesses have special baskets, boxes or beds to keep pets off the floor, at prices ranging from $25 to $50.

Dog houses for outside pets feature insulated walls, top ventilation, with plastic and/or wood houses ranging from $50 to well past the $100 mark.

"Outside dog houses should fit the dog," said Brinkopf. "They should be just large enough for the animal to stand up and turn around. A dog house that is too large will be cold."

Cat houses are also available, including wall-to-wall carpet with special carpet-covered scratching posts to amuse kitty and protect the couch.

"Pets make interesting and playful companions," said Brinkopf. "Although cats and dogs head the list of pets, many people turn to birds and fish."

Cats are now the favorite pet of people around the world. About 58 million cats are kept as pets in the U.S., and another four million pet cats live in Canada.

Dogs, which were previously the number one pet in the U.S., still total more than 50 million in the U.S., and three million in Canada.

In recent years, rabbits have become popular as house pets, said Brinkopf.

"Actually, rabbits are easy going pets. They require less maintenance, and need less room than cats and dogs," he said. "They're easily house-trained, and will use a litter box just like a cat."

Some people favor the unusual in pets, such as skunks, alligators, and even the meat-eating piranha.

"We have a few of the piranhas here," said Brinkopf. "They are outlawed in some states because they are meat-eaters, but we're permitted to sell them in Missouri."

Pets can also enjoy the same safety benefits as their owners while riding in vehicles.

New "pet restraints" have been designed to hook into the regular car seat belts. A harness can be placed around a dog's neck and its chest under the front legs. It is then attached to the seat belt in the vehicle.

The belt has been fully tested at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Angel Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. Prices for the new animal "seat belt" ranges from $12 to $18 depending on the size of the pet.

Most pets enjoy good health with proper food, housing, grooming and medical care.

"Medical care is as important to animals as for people," said Ann Seabaugh, a veterinarian at Cape Small Animal Clinic, one of several pet medical facilities in the area.

"Any time a family acquires a new pet, they should take it to a veterinarian for a thorough checkup and inoculations," added Seabaugh. "The veterinarian will then start and maintain a medical chart for your pet."

Pet hospitals and veterinarians today offer a number of services for pet owners, including general medical care, surgery, skin care and boarding. Also available is animal insurance.

Veterinarian Cynthia Sprigg of Cross Point Animal Hospital said that pet insurance is popular in many areas throughout the nation, especially metropolitan areas, but has not yet caught on in smaller and rural communities.

One of the popular insurance programs, offered by Veterinarians Pet Insurance Co., offers accident and major medical plans with $20 and/or $40 deductible, which pay up to $1,000 per accident and maximum $5,000 per policy term (12 months).

Many of these policies will pay 80 percent of the first $180, and 100 percent in excess of $180 for each incident. Insurance pays for office calls, injections, prescriptions, lab fees, surgery and hospitalization.

VPI is the largest pet health insurer in the U.S., and is licensed in 34 states. More than a half million VPI policies have been sold and more than $9 million have been paid in benefits since the company was founded in 1980. Cost of plans start at $59 for puppies and kittens and range to $89 for the top plan.