Our Passion for Pets

By Susan Pearce Ditch, CEO Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa

For small business owners today, the need to monitor the pulse of the changing economy is vital, and the continued development and emphasis on pet and customer care is more important than ever. In the pet care industry, pet owners continue to seek out better and better pet care options for their beloved four legged family members. Despite what’s occurring on Wall Street and employment uncertainties across the nation, the need for premium pet care grows. Interesting trends when one considers what’s going on in the news and that despite it all, we are willing to seek out new and better pet care options for our pet’s health and well-being.

At Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa in Hollywood, Maryland, also fondly known as “Chessiepets,” staff frequently tune into and monitor the changing needs of customers to ensure a clean, safe, and stress-free environment for pet visitors. Focusing on getting to know customers and each of the pets’ individual needs and uniqueness, is only part of the story. Ensuring clean facilities, an attention to detail and loving what they do each day are essential. After almost ten years in business, they cherish the bonds they have formed with their customer families and value the trust in care customers rely on. By offering new and expanded services over the years, such as “deluxe lodging options,” “doggie daycare,” “grooming and spa services,” and “in-home midday walking services,” Chessiepets hopes to continue to grow and tweak pet care options in response to the ebb and flow of customers’ interests. Recent upgrades and inclusions at Chessiepets have focused on “Sunday socials,” where customers and visitors can tour the facilities and enjoy the Chessiepets dog play yard with “frosty paw ice cream” treats and pool time. Chessiepets also now offers professional dog training classes and gourmet dog bakery items.
In addition to basic pet care, ensuring pets are current on all vaccinations and proper veterinary care is also vital. Make sure your pet is up to date and visit your veterinarian regularly to ensure your pet is safe and healthy. Any reputable pet care facility for boarding or daycare will also require your pets be current for rabies, distemper, and bordetella vaccinations for canines, and rabies and distemper for felines. Pets should also be free of flea and ticks using measures recommended by your veterinarian.

It’s no mystery to most of us why we love our pets so much. Listed below are some lesser known facts from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) that demystify how pets actually benefit us:

• Pets help 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. (Dr. Karen Allen, State University of New York at Buffalo)

• Pets help 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. (Josephine M. Wills, Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, United Kingdom)

• Pets help 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. (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets)

• Pets help lower health care costs: people with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions. (National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets)

• Pets help fight depression: pets help fight depression and loneliness, which promotes an interest in life. When seniors face adversity or trauma, affection from pets takes on great meaning. Their bonding behavior can foster a sense of security. (Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship)

Following up on pet care spending trends, the APPA also indicates that currently 62% of American homes have pets, approximately 72.9 million homes, and this is up from 56% in 1988. Personal spending on pets is expected to top 50 billion dollars in 2011, having shown consistent increases each year during this recession and since 1994’s total of $17 million dollars. What this tells us is that we love our pets and we want and need them to be comfortable and happy, which brings us a greater level of comfort. Pet care spending in the United States ranks highest for veterinary care, followed in decreasing amounts with spending on pet food, pet boarding, vitamins, travel expenses, grooming, and pet toys. The APPA anticipates increased focus on the top pet product and service trends for 2011:

Reducing Your Pets Carbon PAW print
Around the world people are making conscious efforts to help our planet Earth, and the pet industry is no exception. From natural litters to toys, accessories and organic food options, earth-friendly pet products are sprouting up everywhere.

Going to the Dogs
Companies traditionally known for human products are going to the dogs, and cats, and reptiles. Big name companies including Paul Mitchell, Omaha Steaks, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy are now offering lines of pet products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire, and name-brand toys to special treats and food.

Pets Welcome
Many hotels across the country are adopting pet friendly policies. Several chains have announced new pet-friendly policies that include everything from oversized pet pillows, plush doggie robes, to check-in gift packages that include a pet toy, dog treat, ID tag, bone and turn down treat. Some even have a licensed dog masseuse on staff.

Pet Products Sold Here
Shopping for pet products is becoming easier than ever with an increasing variety of retail outlets now selling pet products. Right along side fertilizer and shovels, shoppers can now find pet products such as doggie doors and yellow lawn spot removers sold at many lawn and garden stores, nurseries, and major home improvement stores including Home Depot.

Ultra-Clean…
Pet-owners take grooming one step beyond a haircut, a quick bath and a nail trim. Mouthwash and an electric toothbrush for canines are routine steps in a beauty session for some pooches. Birds receive daily pedicures with special cage perches, while others enjoy manicures complete with nail polish. Pet-owning homes stay cleaner with automatic, self-flushing litter boxes, cleaning cloths for muddy paws that mimic traditional baby wipes, and scented gel air fresheners to keep rooms free of pet odors.

Dinner is Served
Today’s pet foods include complete and balanced diets that tantalize our pets’ taste buds and satisfy their tummies. Formulas for puppies and kittens, specialized meals for reptiles, birds and fish and diets for senior pets ensure a long and healthy life for our beloved companions.

State-of-the-Art
High-tech products including computerized identification tags, digital aquarium kits, automatic doors and feeders, enhanced reptile terrarium lighting systems and touch-activated toys help pet-owners take care of companion animals with ease and precision.

Loosen Up
As pet owners meditate in yoga class, cats relieve stress by frolicking in a toy gym or relaxing in a feline spa before enjoying herbal catnip packaged in a tea bag. Dogs sip fresh water from flowing fountains after a soothing rub with a doggie massager.

Help Yourself!
Products designed with convenience in mind lead this trend. Programmable feeding and drinking systems, automatic and battery-operated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats let pets virtually care for themselves.

Straight from the Catwalk
Faux mink coats, hipster lumberjack vests, designer plaid jackets, matching jeweled and leather collar and leash sets, Halloween costumes, and holiday outfits keep pets in fashion throughout the year. Upscale leather carriers complete with a cell phone and water bottle holder are the perfect accessories to keep the pet owner in style as well.

Keep on Truckin’
Whether it’s a quick trip to the supermarket or a long ride to the beach, companion animals are now traveling animals too. Buckled up in a harness, seat belt system or a portable carrier, these pets stay safe and secure while on the road. Food and water along with safety supplies are on hand in all-in-one kits, waste disposal systems make for easy clean-up on quick stops and motion sickness aids are available too.

Hello, My Name Is…
From monogrammed sweaters and personalized food and water bowls to digitized collar tags and hand-made treats, owners embrace their pets as true members of the American family celebrating their fluffy, finned and feathered companions with their very own belongings.

Now that we know why we love our pets, why they are beneficial to us, and what they want us to buy for them, we are well prepared to ensure the best care possible for our four legged family members. Be sure to ask your pet what they are looking for and their response may surprise you.
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Source: American Pet Products Association, www.americanpetproducts.org/press_industrytrends.asp

Source: Tony Malaspina, Supervisor, St. Mary’s County Animal Control, 301-475-8018

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About Susan Pearce Ditch, CEO Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa

Susan Pearce Ditch is the creator and original owner of Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa. A graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a B.S. in Biology, and the University of Maryland University College with an M.S. in Environmental Management, Susan is a PCSA Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician, Certified in Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR, and a PCDI Certified Pet Care Specialist. She lives in Hollywood, MD, with her husband, daughter and 6 pets. Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa is located at 26120 Jones Wharf Rd, Hollywood, MD. Visit their web site www.chessiepets.com for information about services and facilities.