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Dogs part of the family |
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NICKY, Queenie, Jody and Wilma are the pride and joy for university researcher Wien Yu. Aged between six and 10, their food bill runs up to US$300 a month. “But that's okay. They give me unconditional love,” said Yu, referring to her four Belgian Malinois. That's the dog breed, known for their activeness, intelligence and devotion. “They are full of energy. Very lovable and sweet, too. They would hug and kiss you,” she said. Based in Miami, Florida, Yu is just among the 43 million Americans who keep dogs in their homes. According to a 2007 publication by the American Veterinary Medical Association, these 43 million households owned almost 72 million dogs. That's more than the population of Thailand, which has 64 million people. Pet owners spent almost US$25bil on veterinary care in 2006, according to statistics by the association. Yu was not surprised at all with these staggering statistics. “Many Americans treat dogs like their own family members,” she said. Dog accessories are never boring here. Sometimes, these precious pooches even wear tiny shoes when they go out for their walk. The New York Post reported earlier this month that there are now doggie seat belts which are priced from US$20 to US$200 for the leather-made ones. By the way, the Labrador Retriever has always been America's top dog. This is based on a list of breeds registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), which releases the annual Top 10 most popular dogs in the United States. Thinking of bringing home a cute little pup? According to Yu, puppies which came with all the proper AKC documentation cost about US$1,000, especially if the little one had a parent which had won dog competitions previously. Recently, a pet shop here offered discounts for its puppies. A Jack Russell Terrier, for instance, was priced at US$500. |
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City, held from Feb 11 to 12, was even broadcast live on one TV channel, where about 3.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the final day. This annual competition is huge for Americans. Dog owners throughout the country came to parade their precious pooches that have been groomed, preened and polished for the big day. About 2,600 dogs which came from 169 breeds took part. There was even a pet psychic on hand to help a dog in need. She was shown on TV, being interviewed by a broadcast journalist. When a three-year-old beagle named Uno was declared winner, his handler Aaron Wilkerson was quoted in the New York Post as saying: “Snoopy would be proud.” He was, of course, referring to the beagle of the Peanuts' fame. Uno became a star the moment he was crowned the champion at Madison Square Garden. Morning talk shows featured him, not to mention all those photographs in the newspapers. The dogs that took part in the competition were given hours of grooming. As noted by The New York Times, these competitions were almost like fashion shows. “In every corner were Jiffy Steamers, blow-dryers, rat combs, curlers, manicure scissors, cylinder brushes, hot combs and all the other weaponry of the beauty arsenal,” it said, in describing the behind-the-scenes. |
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