From Swarovski collars and faux mink coats to doggie day cares and spas, pets have generated billions of dollars in sales and inspired countless entrepreneurs.
The number of pet owners in America is increasing, driving pet sales up 7 percent annually and creating more than 100 new pet businesses each year.
Joan Jillmour was one entrepreneur to open a store this year called Posh Pet Boutique & SPAw in Scottsdale.
Jillmour amounts the booming pet business to a changing society and an increase in animal popularity.
"The family structure has changed," Jillmour said. "People are having children later and some not at all. They just have pets.
"Pets today are considered an essential part of the family now, rather than just a working pet or an outside pet."
This year, 63 percent of U.S. households owned a pet, with 43.5 million households owning dogs and 37.7 owning cats, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
Pet owners will spend an estimated $35.9 billion on pets this year, up from the $17 billion spent 10 years ago, according to APPMA.
This amount surpassed $6.2 billion spent on baby-care supplies in 2004, according to a recent article in The New York Times.
Name brands like Paul Mitchell, Old Navy, Harley Davidson, Origins and Omaha Steaks have entered the pet market, and large companies like Target and Wal-Mart have filled their stores with pet products.
But Jillmour said she doesn't worry about small businesses and specialty boutiques losing their footing in the industry.
"The whole business model is very different," Jillmour said. "I think there's a market for both. The minute you try to fill a warehouse full of a certain product, it becomes not as special."
According to APPMA, there is plenty of business to go around with the pet business being the seventh-largest retail segment in America.
APPMA also said 54 percent of dog owners and 41 percent of cat owners will buy gifts for their pets during the holiday season.
Meredith Paul, an early childhood education freshman, said her family spoils their two cats, especially on special occasions.
"We celebrate our cats' birthdays," Paul said. "We give them vanilla ice cream.
"I buy them toys and they have their own cat place mats. They're really spoiled."
Emily Curry, a social work freshman, doesn't share the same notion about spending a lot of money on pets.
"I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum," Curry said. "We like our dogs, but we just give them a collar, food and a plastic dish, and that's it.
"I think it's a little ridiculous buying your dogs outfits. They would be just as happy with a toy or something."
Paul and Curry, who are roommates, both admit they would join the trend of indulging small dogs.
"If I were to buy myself a little dog, I would probably spoil it," Curry said.
Paul said, "If I had a toy poodle I would want a Louis Vuitton bag to carry it around in."
Reach the reporter at beth.cochran@asu.edu.
