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It’s a Dog’s Life
Latest products to make life finer for Fido, Fluffy and Flipper.
By Melissa AdamsPublished: June 09, 2005
Early in their romantic relationship, Richard Milo arrived at Joanne Laufer’s home with a bit of shaved turkey on his shoe. Rather than a leftover from lunch, the treat was a calculated offering for four-year-old Ginger.
“Ginger ate the turkey, then flew into Richard’s arms,” recalls Joanne. Now married to the man who passed her critical courting assessment with flying colors, the Corona del Mar yoga instructor still considers her apricot toy poodle her only child and calls her eight-pound companion “my furry soul mate.”
The mindset reflects a growing trend across the U.S. to view pets as children, and to pamper and protect them with the best the market has to offer. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), pet spending has more than doubled over the past decade, from $17 billion in 1994 to a projected $35.9 billion for 2005.
“The strong growth in the industry demonstrates what an important role pets are playing in the lives of Americans,” says Bob Vetere, APPMA chief operating officer and managing director. “They have become a part of the family.”
In Colorado, Rhode Island and California, even the legal system reflects the trend to view non-human companions as members of the clan, with laws that effectively change pet ownership from property rights to legal guardianship. “Fido is not a watchdog, but a child,” reports Research and Markets in its Pet Industry 2005 Strategic Outlook.
High-tech products lead the pack
If you’re among The OC’s pampering pet owners, you probably already know that modern technology can enhance your best friend’s life and style. For visually challenged four-legged pals, prescription lenses for dogs are the newest addition to Doggles line of protective eyewear. With a veterinary ophthalmologist’s prescription, the corrective lenses can be ordered at www.doggles.com. Other sporty Doggles goggles that reduce glare and relieve light sensitivity while protecting Fido’s eyes from damaging UV rays are available at Orange County retail outlets.
Doggles also offers a wearable ionizer for pets that reduces airborne allergens and viruses, helps eliminate bad odors, and fights germs and bacteria, making the world a nicer place for pets and their people. The ionizer attaches to a collar and can be personalized with built-in scent cartridges that calm and sooth your pet.
At Dogma in Newport Beach, manager Josh Lee is not wildly enthusiastic about GoJoBananas Club’s ThirstAlert!, a battery-powered water bowl with red lights that flash when it’s time for a refill. “It’s pretty easy to look at your pet’s bowl and see that it’s empty,” says Lee. Yet at just $14.99, the flashing trough can be a whimsical addition to Fluffy’s feeding station. Even more cutting edge is a deluxe version due out next year that can be programmed to send an e-mail or text message to pet parents who want to ensure their furry ones always have fresh, cool water.
Keeping your pet well hydrated is one of the best ways to promote good health. An easy way to do that is with the Drinkwell Pet Fountain, now available for big dogs, as well as for smaller canines and felines, at www.petfountain.com. By using a five-inch falling stream of water, the Pet Fountain continually aerates your pet’s water with healthful oxygen. A charcoal filter removes bad tastes and odors, for a positive thirst-quenching experience.
To help you reward your dog for good behavior, The Sharper Image offers a Treat & Train Professional Dog Training System. With its remote-controlled kibble dispensing system and lively DVD featuring five simple training games, teach Fido to sit quietly when visitors come to your door and help him learn other desirable behaviors. Work on your own conduct with “How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves” by Dr. Sophia Yin, whose approach to dog training is the foundation of the Treat & Train system.
Some of today’s most ingenious pet products can be ordered from Ventura-based High-Tech Pet, Inc., at www.hitecpet.com. Among them is a fully automatic electronic pet door that allows Fido or Fluffy to come and go at will, while preventing unwanted animals from entering your home. Powered by a signal emitted from an electronic collar, the door opens only when your pet is on a direct approach, not when it is just wandering by or lounging by the door.
The same collar can be used to control High Tech Pet’s Sound Barrier, an indoor electronic fence designed to keep dogs and cats away from restricted furniture or areas, using audible sound rather than shock. The Sound Barrier’s Receiver unit can be placed on tables, furniture or anywhere that is “off limits.”
For pets with fins or feathers
If your pets have fins, they’ll feel oh-so-fresh in the BiOrb Smart Aquarium, offered by Reef One at www.reef-one.com. The stylish sphere has a built-in microprocessor for controlled heat and light, and can be equipped with an electronic heating system, smart filtration system and programmable lights with sunrise, sunset and moonlight modes. Also completely automated is the AquaVista 500 wall-mounted aquarium, available at www.aquavistainc.com, in which your fish will become living works of art when they’re displayed in a framed picture that’s hung on a wall.
Parrots, parakeets and canaries can get into the act with CDs and DVDs that teach them to talk in eight languages. At www.featheredphonics.com, find audio and video products that will help Tweety learn to sing, shake hands, ring a bell and even play dead. If you think cooking is for the birds, pick up a copy of “The Healthy Bird Cookbook” by Robin Deutsch, featuring 150 recipes for your avian companion. For après-dinner entertainment, fire up the DVD player for “The Kitty Movie and the Birdy Show,” available at www.petqwerks.com.
Pets are people, too
As pets are increasingly regarded as family members, they’re enjoying services and products once reserved for people. Just as we strap in our little ones to ensure their safety on the road, we can now restrain canine relatives, too, thanks to a new line of pet car seats launched by Global Pet Products. At www.rescuepetstore.com, choose from three styles that can hold dogs up to 25 pounds. Options include a Stow-Away car seat that doubles as a suitcase and The Pet Wheel-Away that converts from a car seat to a backpack or bed.
If your pet has bad breath, it might be time to offer up a Cat or Ferret Chew Treat or Pearly Whites N-Bone to clean and whiten teeth while removing tartar. Check out these and other products that look like bones yet are formulated with natural ingredients that contribute to healthy skin, a shiny coat and improved immunity to disease at www.n-bone.com.
When it’s time for a treat, Dogmatic Products will soon offer single servings of NaChews, a cheese-flavored tortilla-style snack for dogs. The pork-based chip comes in a low-fat, zesty cheese flavor and is made with no preservatives or additives. Also available at www.dogmaticproducts.com is Woofy-Pop microwave popcorn for dogs, in bacon and chicken flavors. For dessert, any pup is sure to appreciate a freshly baked cookie made from Bowie Wowie’s All Natural Oven Ready Refrigerated Cookie Dough, available at www.divadoggie.com.
Like human family members, our pets can’t be with us forever. To help owners deal with the loss of a beloved companion, Comfort Baskets, Inc. offers condolence gift baskets filled with such thoughtful trinkets as a pet picture frame, memory box and paw print tissues. When you don’t know what to say after Fido’s gone or Fluffy’s lived the last of her nine lives, head for www.comfortbaskets.com to express compassion to a grieving master. OCM
Melissa Adams is a Newport Beach-based freelance writer.
Pets are Good for People
Pets Help to Lower
Blood Pressure
A recent study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own a pet.
Pets Help to Reduce Stress
Walking with a pet helps to sooth nerves and offers instant relaxation. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet.
Pets Help to Prevent Heart Disease
Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows they may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus a measure of protection from heart disease.
Pets Help to Lower Health Care Costs
People with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions, revealed a National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment Workshop.
Pets Help to Fight Depression
The unqualified love and steady companionship provided by pets makes life more meaningful and pleasant.
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“Ginger ate the turkey, then flew into Richard’s arms,” recalls Joanne. Now married to the man who passed her critical courting assessment with flying colors, the Corona del Mar yoga instructor still considers her apricot toy poodle her only child and calls her eight-pound companion “my furry soul mate.” The mindset reflects a growing trend across the U.S. to view pets as children, and to pamper and protect them with the best the market has to offer. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), pet spending has more than doubled over the past decade, from $17 billion in 1994 to a projected $35.9 billion for 2005. “The strong growth in the industry demonstrates what an important role pets are playing in the lives of Americans,” says Bob Vetere, APPMA chief operating officer and managing director. “They have become a part of the family.” In Colorado, Rhode Island and California, even the legal system reflects the trend to view non-human companions as members of the clan, with laws that effectively change pet ownership from property rights to legal guardianship. “Fido is not a watchdog, but a child,” reports Research and Markets in its Pet Industry 2005 Strategic Outlook. High-tech products lead the pack If you’re among The OC’s pampering pet owners, you probably already know that modern technology can enhance your best friend’s life and style. For visually challenged four-legged pals, prescription lenses for dogs are the newest addition to Doggles line of protective eyewear. With a veterinary ophthalmologist’s prescription, the corrective lenses can be ordered at www.doggles.com. Other sporty Doggles goggles that reduce glare and relieve light sensitivity while protecting Fido’s eyes from damaging UV rays are available at Orange County retail outlets. Doggles also offers a wearable ionizer for pets that reduces airborne allergens and viruses, helps eliminate bad odors, and fights germs and bacteria, making the world a nicer place for pets and their people. The ionizer attaches to a collar and can be personalized with built-in scent cartridges that calm and sooth your pet. At Dogma in Newport Beach, manager Josh Lee is not wildly enthusiastic about GoJoBananas Club’s ThirstAlert!, a battery-powered water bowl with red lights that flash when it’s time for a refill. “It’s pretty easy to look at your pet’s bowl and see that it’s empty,” says Lee. Yet at just $14.99, the flashing trough can be a whimsical addition to Fluffy’s feeding station. Even more cutting edge is a deluxe version due out next year that can be programmed to send an e-mail or text message to pet parents who want to ensure their furry ones always have fresh, cool water. Keeping your pet well hydrated is one of the best ways to promote good health. An easy way to do that is with the Drinkwell Pet Fountain, now available for big dogs, as well as for smaller canines and felines, at www.petfountain.com. By using a five-inch falling stream of water, the Pet Fountain continually aerates your pet’s water with healthful oxygen. A charcoal filter removes bad tastes and odors, for a positive thirst-quenching experience. To help you reward your dog for good behavior, The Sharper Image offers a Treat & Train Professional Dog Training System. With its remote-controlled kibble dispensing system and lively DVD featuring five simple training games, teach Fido to sit quietly when visitors come to your door and help him learn other desirable behaviors. Work on your own conduct with “How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves” by Dr. Sophia Yin, whose approach to dog training is the foundation of the Treat & Train system. Some of today’s most ingenious pet products can be ordered from Ventura-based High-Tech Pet, Inc., at www.hitecpet.com. Among them is a fully automatic electronic pet door that allows Fido or Fluffy to come and go at will, while preventing unwanted animals from entering your home. Powered by a signal emitted from an electronic collar, the door opens only when your pet is on a direct approach, not when it is just wandering by or lounging by the door. The same collar can be used to control High Tech Pet’s Sound Barrier, an indoor electronic fence designed to keep dogs and cats away from restricted furniture or areas, using audible sound rather than shock. The Sound Barrier’s Receiver unit can be placed on tables, furniture or anywhere that is “off limits.” For pets with fins or feathers If your pets have fins, they’ll feel oh-so-fresh in the BiOrb Smart Aquarium, offered by Reef One at www.reef-one.com. The stylish sphere has a built-in microprocessor for controlled heat and light, and can be equipped with an electronic heating system, smart filtration system and programmable lights with sunrise, sunset and moonlight modes. Also completely automated is the AquaVista 500 wall-mounted aquarium, available at www.aquavistainc.com, in which your fish will become living works of art when they’re displayed in a framed picture that’s hung on a wall. Parrots, parakeets and canaries can get into the act with CDs and DVDs that teach them to talk in eight languages. At www.featheredphonics.com, find audio and video products that will help Tweety learn to sing, shake hands, ring a bell and even play dead. If you think cooking is for the birds, pick up a copy of “The Healthy Bird Cookbook” by Robin Deutsch, featuring 150 recipes for your avian companion. For après-dinner entertainment, fire up the DVD player for “The Kitty Movie and the Birdy Show,” available at www.petqwerks.com. Pets are people, too As pets are increasingly regarded as family members, they’re enjoying services and products once reserved for people. Just as we strap in our little ones to ensure their safety on the road, we can now restrain canine relatives, too, thanks to a new line of pet car seats launched by Global Pet Products. At www.rescuepetstore.com, choose from three styles that can hold dogs up to 25 pounds. Options include a Stow-Away car seat that doubles as a suitcase and The Pet Wheel-Away that converts from a car seat to a backpack or bed. If your pet has bad breath, it might be time to offer up a Cat or Ferret Chew Treat or Pearly Whites N-Bone to clean and whiten teeth while removing tartar. Check out these and other products that look like bones yet are formulated with natural ingredients that contribute to healthy skin, a shiny coat and improved immunity to disease at www.n-bone.com. When it’s time for a treat, Dogmatic Products will soon offer single servings of NaChews, a cheese-flavored tortilla-style snack for dogs. The pork-based chip comes in a low-fat, zesty cheese flavor and is made with no preservatives or additives. Also available at www.dogmaticproducts.com is Woofy-Pop microwave popcorn for dogs, in bacon and chicken flavors. For dessert, any pup is sure to appreciate a freshly baked cookie made from Bowie Wowie’s All Natural Oven Ready Refrigerated Cookie Dough, available at www.divadoggie.com. Like human family members, our pets can’t be with us forever. To help owners deal with the loss of a beloved companion, Comfort Baskets, Inc. offers condolence gift baskets filled with such thoughtful trinkets as a pet picture frame, memory box and paw print tissues. When you don’t know what to say after Fido’s gone or Fluffy’s lived the last of her nine lives, head for www.comfortbaskets.com to express compassion to a grieving master. OCM Melissa Adams is a Newport Beach-based freelance writer. Pets are Good for People Pets Help to Lower Blood Pressure A recent study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own a pet. Pets Help to Reduce Stress Walking with a pet helps to sooth nerves and offers instant relaxation. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet. Pets Help to Prevent Heart Disease Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows they may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus a measure of protection from heart disease. Pets Help to Lower Health Care Costs People with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions, revealed a National Institutes of Health Technology Assessment Workshop. Pets Help to Fight Depression The unqualified love and steady companionship provided by pets makes life more meaningful and pleasant. |
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