Spending on pets rose in 2007 to US$40 billion, compared with US$28.5 billion in 2001, including US$17 billion spent on food, US$11 billion on veterinary care, US$10 billion dollars on medicines and US$3.9 billion on pet toys, clothing and “dog-sitters.”
On its Web site, the association says doctors claim that “pets help to lower blood pressure, to reduce stress, to prevent heart disease, to lower healthcare costs, to fight depression and loneliness.”



