American Pet Spending of $41 billion is Greater Than the GNP of All But 64 Countries

I recently asked an acquaintance how she was doing and she replied, "Okay, Ralphie is in chemo and it's been a really tough couple of weeks." I didn't realize her husband had cancer and when I questioned her further, she clarified, "Ralphie is my dog." I felt relieved that it was her dog, not her husband, but the conversation left me with a unsettled feeling. A dog in chemo?

That feeling blossomed this morning when I read an article in Business Week entitled The "Pet Economy." The article states that Americans spend $41 billion per year on their pets, more than the GNP of all but 64 countries. They pay for surgery to make their pets anatomically correct after neutering (it's called Neuticales, a patented testicular implant), they splurge on designer clothing, gourmet food, medicine and hire people to pick up their pet's poop. In many cases, pets are living better than many of the people I know. There are now special diet programs for pets who have gotten too fat on all of the designer food.

This is ridiculous and speaks to the moral and material confusion of the United States. I'm not a left-wing liberal but even I can see the irony of overfat, medically well-treated pets in a country where people are without adequate nutrition and health care coverage. Or what about the appalling lack of human living conditions in countries across the world? Is someone able to shut out the suffering of others so that Fluffy can have a gourmet meal and a luxury bath?

Here's what I would recommend we do. Tax all pet products. If you want to buy your dog a gold encased bath, or Polo clothing, or expensive medicine - fine. But it should all be heavily taxed and the funds used to help provide proper nutrition and medical care to people in the United States and across the world who are without.