This year's sweetheart day has come and gone. Loved ones and family members received cards, gifts, and of course every type of chocolate and candy on the market. This year, 51 percent American adults participated in the celebration of gift-giving [actually the smallest share in 10 years]. However, the actual spending according to an USA Today report was projected at a record high of $20.7 billion – up 5.6 percent from 2018. And a good portion of that increase was due to an increased spending on our pet dogs.
According to the numbers . . .
Pet owners were forecasted to spend $886 million on their furry Valentines this year, according to the National Retail Federation, up from the $519 million that animal lovers were dropping in 2008.
The NRF noted that about one in five (20%) of all people will treat their pets to a Valentine’s Day offering of some sort. Rover.com noted that almost half (47%) of its pet parents have planned a full-on Valentine’s Day celebration for their canine companions this year. This included buying them new doggie outfits or baking them a special dessert. Approximately 33 percent said they had planned their entire weekend around spending time with their dogs, and another third asserted they regularly bring their dogs on dates with them, especially on Valentine's Day.
More than fifty-percent of U.S. households have a pet, and many people don’t realize just how much they actually spend on the is their four-legged friends. A separate 2018 Rover.com report noted that while people thought that owning a dog was running them $26 to $75 a month in actuality, they spend $153 a month on average — tallying around $1,836 a year.
In addition's to Valentine's Day . . .
Valentine's Day is not the only spending splurge we dedicate to our dogs. May is National Pet Month.
Every year, this is the month that brings together animal welfare charities, professional bodies, businesses, and schools to promote good pet ownership, raise funds for good causes. In addition to care and special services, it's also a great opportunity for pet owners to just have fun with their furry side-kicks.
So, did you "go to the dogs" this past Valentine's Day? If so, comment below and let us know your thoughts on "going all out" for man's best friend.
Primary Source: MarketWatch
