Recession might be cutting a hole in the average Americans’ pockets and they may be forced to stay away from big spending, but it is definitely not deterring for them to splurge on their pets. If a new survey is anything to go by, then spending on pets have gone up significantly in spite of the lean phase the American economy is going through. 

The report presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) says that with 72.9 million households owning a pet, pet ownership is at an all time high in the country. With the rising pet ownership, has risen the spending behind pets. According to the report, annual pet spending, which was at $45.53 billion in 2009, has risen by 6.2% over the last year. It further estimates that $14 billion are to be spent in veterinary care alone in 2011.

The estimate does not come as a surprise given the concern for pet owners for their pets as was evident from the responses they gave during the survey. According to APPA, when asked about the priority of their pet’s health, 13% of cat owners and 16% of dog owners replied that the pet’s treatment would have a greater priority than their own.

Also up from 2009 is spending on treats and toys for pets and pet accessories. Reportedly a 30% hike was recorded in such spending. Compared to $56 million spent in 2009, $73 million was spent last year. APPA president Bob Vetere said that the survey did indicate that the American pet owners were ready to spend more on their pets “despite a downturn in the economy.”

However, many believe that the survey does not represent the true picture. According to experts it is not rational to conclude that each and every pet owner is spending more on their pets. In fact, the survey itself points out that spending on pets has increased for only 2-5% of pet owners. Further, there is no information available about the financial condition of these pet owners and it can very well be the case that these owners have been less affected by the downturn.

Also significant is the fact that the number of pets has also increased over the last year. The report shows that the total number of pets has witnessed a 2.1 % increase. America now boasts of 78 million pet dogs and 86.4 million pet cats. Add to the fact that buying a pet has also become an expensive affair. For example, a purebred puppy that used to cost $121 in 2009 now costs $364. Similarly, treats, accessories, toys as well as healthcare have all become expensive over the past year. Quite naturally, all these factors also contribute to the increasing expenses on pets. Hence, it will be foolish to ignore the complex scenario and claim that most Americans are spending more on their pets, experts believe.