World News Tonight and our pets

[schatzie]

Just a bit ago my husband and I were watching ABC's World News Tonight. There was a segment on the billions that people are now spending on their loved pets.

They said that having pets over the years have not changed, but what has changed is the 35 billions of dollars that people are now spending on all the pamering that we do to our pets.

Through the segment they showed a lady with her little cute Yorkie checking into a hotel, was too cute.

Anyway, they said that the reasoning behind the massive amounts of spending over our pets is due to broken homes, empty nesters, or single adults finding having a pet takes away their being alone feeling. Also there are those who think of them as their kids.

What do you think your reasoning is? Is your "pamerping" new to you or have you always treated your pets with such passion?

I personally have had pets ALL MY LIFE, yet Half-Pint (RIP) little Yorkie and Schatzie are my first that I have ever gone nuts with spending money to pamper with such novelties. I also don't live with my children so who knows, maybe deep down this is due to my "empty nest" ????

My husband and I laughed when we watched this tonight and he says I am teetering on "going over the edge" with Schatzie and buying things for her plus he mentioned the arrival of our new Yorkie girl. Hmmm....Going over the edge huh? Is there such a thing, LOL

[FunkyMunkie]

I really don't know what the reasoning for me would be. I have realized that I do spend quite a lot on Luna. I think it's the fact that I've always wanted a dog my whole life and I had to wait till I was 20... well actually I should say, I was finally able to convince my mother. I do treat her like a daughter. I've always loved kids and want kids of my own in the future, perhaps she fills that "void" or that "want" for now. I'm way too young to have children, so for now Luna's my daughter.

Another reasoning would be that Luna is my first dog, so I really don't know the things I should buy so I buy everything I think is essential.

[lilbumbleybees]

I'll say I've always wanted the cutest collars and leashes and big beds for my dogs throughout my life (I've always had animals be it dogs, cats, hamsters, snakes, birds, etc.), but until Bounce I never really "pampered" them. I think through Bounce I found that my true love lies in animals. So much so that I'm trying to work up the guts to go to college to be a vet tech and maybe an actual veterinarian. But I buy $100 carriers, $50 collars, tons of clothing. I've even desgined my own furniture and closets for him that my dad and boyfriend are going to build. Even my new lab that I just adopted is being pampered! lol I think for some people it is a fix for being lonely, but for some people they just love their animals for no reason and every reason. My animals are my kids. I'm only 19, but if I gave birth a 4.5 lb Yorkie, 3 fat cats, a 26 lb. mutt, and a 50lb. lab would have popped out. lol I would go to hell and back for these "kids" b/c that's exactly what they are to me. People will call and be like, "what are you doing?" "Oh, I'm out shopping with my baby." It takes them a minute before they figure out, "OH, you're dog." lol What can I say? I LOVE THEM!!!

[aimee]

What a good question..

I think for me (someone with kids at home, airforce/housewife) I've always loved animals. When I was about 4 my Mom finally convinced me that I couldn't have an elephant for a pet and that pets had to be small. I must have really taken this to heart, because I have had a soft spot for small dogs ever since. When I had my first pet of my own, my husband and I were pretty broke and couldn't afford to spoil him like we would have wanted. Now with Sandy and Tia we are in a better place financially and are actually able to do more for them, so we do. That's the practical answer.

The emotional answer is that after I had my daughter I was told I couldn't have any more children. I had wanted a big family. After grieving for awhile I began to research dog breeds and now I have Sandy and Tia, my 3rd and 4th children. I really treat them as such, they are a huge part of our family and we make decisions based on them as well as everyone else. I spoil my children with toys and clothes, so why not the furbabies too?

So that's my long, drawn out reasons for why I spend way too much money on my doggies


Oh yeah, and I really love shopping too

[fasteddie]

For my family now, we're both BIG dog lovers, but we never had our own growing up. (For the record, my Mom still has a picture of me at 10 or so petting a dog on the steps of our State Capitol building.)

And, we, like many of you, consider Yoda to be our child. We've raised him since he was a month old, and he pretty much got us spoiling him silly soon after. I'm sure people that don't have pets think we're crazy (don't get me started on how often we tell Yoda he's cute), but we just want a healthy, happy life for our little guy, since he's always given us love and joy since entering our lives. Also, we do not have any human children right now, which probably makes us spoil Yoda rotten even more.

Oohh, just as I'm typing this, there's a cute little Yorkie on tonight's Nanny 911 episode on Fox. He/she was licking the air after climbing up onto the top of their couch.

[Meeko&MollyMom]

Pampering??? Tell me about it.... this month alone I have spent $ 250.00 in puppy apparel and accessories....

[fasteddie]

Here's the related article for those that missed it on the news...

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3049

[bld2751]

Well I never had pets growing up. My dad never had pets when he was younger, so he wasn't really into the idea of having them. When I got into my teens, I started to fall in love with yorkies. I would even bring up the fact that I wanted one to my parents. But of course my dad would not let me have one. So last September my boyfriend and I finally moved out together. Then in November Hercules came into our life. And just a week ago Athena joined! For us, it isn't to fill a void for children, because that's not even in our minds right now (we're around 24). But instead it's all about the love of these cute little things that give us such unconditional love all the time. And pampering just comes natural with something that makes you feel soo great!

[monyka415]

My Husband and myself started young when I had my son I was 16 and hubby was 18 a month after I had my son I turned 17. I have been with my son's dad and the love of my life for 7 years now we have been married for only a year in april but nothing has changed, except I love him more and more everyday. My son is now 6 I am a stay at home mommy and then he started kindergarden. I had gotten Tyler for a really early x-mas present from my parents b/c I have always loved yorkies, he was 2 months when I had gotten him, I feel in love on sight he did everything I taught him,R.I.P Tyler. I found YT and they help me get though my hard times, I wasn't really looking for another Yorkie so soon but I found Maggie on here and she only lived 15 min. from me. She had my Tommy, I feel in love with him just as quick,they are so different than one another, so I had never compared then to one another like I was scared I would do.Anyways My husband and myself do not want any more kids, so Tommy is my son also and someday I would like to have a daughter(LOL). Yes he is spoild rotten I have spent so much money and only have had him for 2 months..He goes everywhere with me.I would have a yorkie farm if I could...lol

[chachi]

I have always wanted a yorkie but never realized how much I was going to love one untill we got Chaci. He has sweaters in multiple colors, collars, toys, you name it hes got it. I've only had him a short time so I'd say I've went Yorkie GaGa!!! I'm in big trouble when the girl gets here!!!!

[mymason]

[QUOTE=schatzie]Just a bit ago my husband and I were watching ABC's World News Tonight.

I watched it too!! I personally think some of the services/products are ridiculous for pets (like celebrity dogs having their own chef!) but I definitely spoil Mason with every penny I have left from my paychecks

I am 28, single and never had a pet in my life - so raising Mason to me is like having a child. My friends don't get why I am so attached to him, they all say "he's just a dog!!" I really believe that people who don't have pets have NO idea the level of compassion, connection, and attachment you develop for "just a dog." Mason is the center of my life and I can't imagine how I ever lived without him

[kindness_001]

I LOVE SMALL DOGS and i love to spoil them. I think the things they have out for them are georgous. from poster beds to crowns to clothes, harnesses, leads. I use to have big dogs , NO i did not spoil them like that but bought them lots of treats, balls etc. then i got arthisis crippling and had to go to raising and breeding the smaller ones hubby was afraid they would jump on me and hurt me. (course i'm older also) I love thwe lap dogs and they love me. I treat each and everyone the same. Even new puppies. If a female is going to have babies she is at my side all the time, I am there for the birth of each and everyone. (and to help if needed) I can't say enough about small dogs. I can't just say Yorkies case i have others, the pug is one. I don't want to get so many i can't give each one my time and attention. i love petedge mag. and dr. foster and smith. also I love Ebay...also some others i can't think of but, http://www.FanasyYorkies.com has some cute things her mother makes check it out .

[Higgin's Mom]

I'm 66 years old and have owned MANY dogs in my life. All kinds, from mutts to show dogs (English Setters). But I have never been so involved and attached to a dog as I am to our little Higgins.

Don and I were both widowed and met on Match.com in 1998. Doodledog Pogo came with me to marry "The Dog Hater" and won him right over. ("Love me; love my dog!") Don definitely did NOT want another dog, but said that if I absolutely HAD to have a puppy, it had to be a Yorkie. Higgins is now The Dog Hater's "son" and I am Higgin's Mom. Higgy is our kid.

Yorkies are unique in "pushing" themselves right into your life and becoming the CENTER of all your activites. They are not very "laid back" like other breeds. Their intelligence and strong personalities, plus tons of CUTE! just pull you right into spoiling their little tushies off!

Gotta love 'em!

[frankiesmommy]

I think it's a combination of empty-nest syndrome for some people, and for others, it seems to have been encouraged by the celebrity-small-dog trend.

For me, I'm not quite ready to have kids yet. I've wanted a Yorkie ever since I was a kid, and now I'm finally ready to take care of a puppy (good practice for a baby when the time comes). He's brought so much love and warmth into our home. I can be having the worst day and just look at him and my spirits will be completely lifted.

[Chelsey]

In october 2003 we lost the last 1 of our 3 yorkies and i swore then.. i NEVER want another dog, the hurt and pain of loosing them was just too much for us, my husband agreed we would never have another dog... my son of 13 years old asked if we could have a bunny if we dont have another dog, both my husband and myself agreed to the bunny ... he missed Sanya ( the yorkie ) so much... the bunny is loved and runs around the house and is even potty trained, really cute.... then one day i woke up and all i could think of was a chocolate brown lab pup... kept putting it out of my mind coz we are NOT having another dog!... that afternoon i was talking to my friend but this lab pup kept rushing through my mind, it made me feel sad coz my mind told me NO but my heart was weak, i told my friend what was on my mind and she suggested i phone my husband... after doubting to cut the topic with him i decided to wait and speak to him when he gets home....
Very bravely i asked him what he thinks of a lab pup and his answer was too prescious... he said: if thats what u really want then we get one, ive been thinking about it too but was affraid to tell u....
that same day we called all the lab breeders in the area and found one about an hours drive away... we had an appointment with the breeder the next day, i was so nervous but husband stayed cool headed, when i saw Dounia i knew she was meant for us, but to crown it all... this breeders wife breeds yorkies and they had a litter of 2 weeks old... my heart was pounding and my husband looked at me and said: Maybe in time to come u will be ready again for a little baby... anyhow, we took Dounia home, she means the world to me and we love her dearly, but she was alone, allthough im at home all day i felt that she needed a playmate so i called "dogs in need" and they had a Cocker spaniel of 3 years old that was pining for her owners, i wanted to give that dog another chance + she would be a friend for Dounia, we needed to get the papers in order to get her schipped over from Spain, few days later the woman from "dogs in need" called me to tell me that the Spaniel had passed
That day my husband said: Maybe u dont want to hear this, but why dont we get a yorkiebaby they can grow up together ... told him i needed time to think it over, few days later i gave him the go ahead and we started to look for breeders, made an appointment to go and see the litter.. we had pick of the litter which made it VERY difficult, we took Dounia along to see the little ones and after a few cups of coffee at the breeder we decided on Chelsey...
i can tell u that they both have filled up such emptyness, allthough we tied down and cant go to all the places we used to go but they are a blessing, now i wouldnt have it any other way....
so yes... i think in my case its filled up empty holes of caring for something, my son is 13 years old and he doesnt want me to go coochy coochy over him anymore lol
My dogs are spoilt but they are worth every dime and more

sorry for this long boring post... but it feels good to type it off me