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ack in the day, pets didn’t require much. As long as Bubba and Boopsy were regularly fed and watered, had a decent place to get out of the weather as most were outside pets, were played with and loved on a little, plus had an occasional vet visit if required, everybody was happy. Not so with today’s fur babies. They’ve apparently been watching way too much tv and are now making demands. What got me to thinking about this disturbing turn of events was when I saw a “camp” for canines during a recent trip to McKinney. Though I knew what the camp really is, my mind immediately went in a whole different direction. My first mental images were of groups of safari hat-wearing pooches canoeing on a lake, making macramé bracelets, roasting marshmallows around a campfire, playing baseball and other camp-related activities. That train of thought led to questions. How in the world can pups learn to paddle a canoe? Are they going to be allowed to use their teeth to help weave that macramé cord? What if they don’t know how to blow out a blazing marshmallow BEFORE trying to eat it? Can they be care-flighted to a hospital when they set their furry muzzles on fire? I won’t even go into the mass confusion on parents’ day. I then started thinking about how evolved our pets have become or, most likely, how far pet parents (We are no longer referred to as pet owners.) have gone off the deep end with our four-legged kids. After working at a pet supply store for a few years plus doing some quick research, there are justified reasons for my concern. Let’s start with food. It seems our pets’ stomachs, especially dogs and cats, have changed considerably. Table scraps, a bag of mystery ingredient food and chew sticks — the kind found in the yard — are no longer acceptable. The critters, via their “parents,” prefer “all-natural” foods with little or no weird, additional stuff. Real meat topped with things like blueberries, green peas, spinach, carrots and such are required in both the dry, canned and fresh, must be refrigerated varieties. Trust me folks, I’ve actually tried some of that canned food and, sad to say, there were a few that rivaled my mama’s cooking and she was a really good cook. Of course, there are now supposedly “vegan” dogs and cats which, I’m pretty sure, was the decision made by the pet parents and/or vet who were also vegans.
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On top of the food itself, there is now frozen yogurt for pets, healthy treats and dental stuff like toothpaste, brushes, mouth wash and even breath spray. Add to that a bevy of food supplements for everything from upset tummies to arthritis, bad hair, itchy skin, irritable bowels, anxiety and everything in between. Especially trending are the growing lines of hemp and CBD products for pets’ well-being. It just blows my feeble mind! Next comes the clothing and accessories. Shirts, pants, pajamas, dresses, tutus, tuxedoes, shoes, hats, bandanas, tiaras, necklaces, sunglasses, goggles, life vests, rain coats and the like are available to suit any season and occasion. There are folks out there whose fur babies have a more extensive and better wardrobe than they do. I know this for a fact because I dealt with many of them at the pet supply store. Even top-of-the-line human clothing designers like Gucci and Chanel have gotten into the pet clothing market. I won’t even discuss the Swarovski crystal line of pet accessories! And no self-respecting dog or cat will be caught without his or her own travel luggage, weekender bags, purses and other travel-related items. Digitally-speaking, electronics are starting to take the pet industry by storm. There are treat dispensers and video monitors you can control via your phone. Toss Fido a treat or see and talk to Fido and vice-versa while you’re miles away at work, on vacation or at the bank trying to take out a dog/cat food loan. There’s now a wi-fi-connected litter box that cleans itself and a dog bone with an “emotion-driven system” that can be programmed to move and react based on how your dog is reacting to it. I know there are many more, but I stopped researching because that $500, self-cleaning litter box sent me into a mental meltdown. What about housing for Bubba and Boopsy? I’ll put it this way. I’ve lived in less well-engineered structures than what today’s pet housing market offers. Choose from heated, cooled, insulated versions in all kinds of styles. Then there are such things as teepees, gazebos, tents Anna Living Magazine
and similar options for home and/or travel use. Speaking of our fur kids’ health, regular wellness visits to the vet have become the norm, along with emergency visits, just like humans. And, just like humans, pet insurance is as common as human insurance and just as costly. Even the company I work for offers pet insurance via the insurance provider it uses. Listen folks. I can’t even afford insurance for myself so how in the heck am I supposed to buy insurance for my three fur kids? Long story short. Based on what society is “requiring” for pets, it now costs more to care for one or two dogs or cats than a whole herd of human kiddos. But since pets are now being treated like human children, there should be some of the same options for assistance, right? I think I’ll check into a reduced meal program for our fur girls! LYNETTE GEORGE is the former editor and some times reporter for the Herald Democrat (Denison-Sherman, TX) for about 20 years. Her sometimes zany outlook on life gives her an enviable sense of humor like no other. She lives in Denison and her love of animals prevents her from ever passing an animal in need. She may be reached at nettiegeorge79@gmail.com.
