Kelley Yates has been out of work for some time. And while the Brunswick resident and her husband do well on one income, they’ve still had to tighten their household budget.

But there’s one area of spending that Yates is not willing to cut. She continues to dote on her beloved dogs, all four of them.

“They are like my substitute children and deserve the best,” she said. “I think everyone should be a responsible pet owner and give them what they need to have a happy, fulfilled life.”

From clothes to food to toys, Yates’ pups are living the good life.

“There are toys for mental stimulation, dog chews for their teeth, which helps save money on vet fees and which keeps your pet from being bored,” she said.

“Then there’s the clothes. They have a better wardrobe than I do. I love to dress mine up when I take them out somewhere nice, but not when it’s hot.”

Yates isn’t the only pet lover who is still spending on furry friends.

Despite the recession, consumers are willing to spend money on their pets.

In fact, the American Pet Products Association estimates that the pet industry will rake in $45.5 billion this year.

Big stores like PetSmart in Glynn Isles Market off Altama Avenue can attest to that.

Jessica White, a spokesperson for the national chain, says the business continues to thrive.

“Overall, the pet industry is doing well,” she said. “Pets are family to most people and just because times are tough, you’re still going to continue to take care of your pets.”

And there are plenty of pet owners. According to the 2009 to 2010 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the pet products association, 62 percent of U.S. households own a pet.

That equates to 71.4 million homes and a lot of loving pet owners.

“Pet parents are always concerned that their pets are happy and healthy,”

White said. “So the industry is holding strong because most people consider their pets’ well-being a necessity.”
Not every business associated with pets can make such a boast. While sales continue to thrive, some pet services are seeing slight downturns.

Sissy Putney, owner of Hound and Hearth Pet Sitting Service, in Glynn County, is experiencing a dip in business simply because people are traveling less.

“It’s not really good right now,” Putney said. “I hope it turns around.”

The health and boarding front are showing mixed results.

Teresa Jarrels, business manager at Southeast Georgia Veterinary Clinic at 573 Palisade Drive, Brunswick, has seen both increases and decreases.

One area of increase has been in pet boarding.

In addition to traditional boarding, the clinic offers a pet hotel where dogs and cats can have rooms with flat screen televisions and Web cams.

“We’ve had people who have moved to the area and are referred to us,” she said. “I think it has a lot had to do with the pet hotel. These people are with FLETC and have to do a lot of traveling, so they need a place for their pets to stay.”

Among the declines is owners who are putting off visits to a veterinarian.

“We have had a very slight decrease in people bringing pets in for their yearly, but most of them are keeping up with their flea and tick medications,” she said.

She said the clinic is offering new payment options to help owners.

Jan Rossiter, a veterinarians at Island Animal Hospital, 2603 Demere Road, St. Simons Island, has also seen a dip in pet visits.

“We’ve seen some change, but it’s not horrible compared to other areas,” he said. “There still may be a few situations where clients aren’t willing to do certain services. But that doesn’t happen that often.

“We’re lucky in our environment here. People really love their pets and they’ll do a lot for them.”

Pet Spending
For 2009, American Pet Products Association estimates $45.4 billion will be spent on pets. Here’s where those dollars go:
• Food, $17.4 billion
• Supplies/over-the-counter medication, $10.2 billion
• Veterinarian care, $12.2 billion
• Live animal purchases, $2.2 billion
• Pet services – grooming and boarding, $3.4 billion