Life’s a Beach for Petted Pooches of California

A dog’s life isn’t all that bad these days, at least not for California’s pampered pooches.

That’s because this trend-setting state is experiencing a boom of sorts in the area of specialty shops that cater to those people determined to provide nothing but the best for their beloved canines and other pets.

“People are definitely pampering their pets more. I find many of the people are more concerned with their animals’ nutrition than their own,” said Jan Edminster, owner of the Pet Stop in Pleasant Hill.

East Bay pet owners can find everything from gourmet foods to handmade toys to European furniture in the new shops that seem to be multiplying faster than rabbits, according to a story in the Contra Costa Times.

At Companion Pet Supply in Concord, owner Joseph Hale offers customers such items as $60 fur-lined dog beds and $40 fake diamond-studded leashes and collars.

“It’s people like me in stores like this who want to spoil their babies,” said Hale, the proud owner of more than 200 birds. He said he’s unmarried and never wants children.

Jerry Machado, president of San Jose-based Wel Pet Inc., a pet-supply business with 71 stores in the West, said grocery stores sell 80% to 90% of all cat foods basically because people don’t know there is other food available.

No Junk Food

That’s changing, said Edminster: “People are starting to realize that grocery store food is junk food, and they don’t want their pets to have it.”

Specialty pet stores may be occupying more and more retail space, but far fewer operate outside California, said John M. McMillin, a food industry analyst with Prudential-Bache Securities in New York.

“Only Californians would put their dogs on a diet,” he said. “But I’m seeing more and more interest in people getting into this business.”

Barry Akins, owner of Frank’s Feed and Pet Supply in Concord, said the trend may be partly due to regional differences.

“In Northern California, people are really concerned about preservatives and natural foods in general. That’s extending to their pets,” he said.

Residents of other areas may be just as concerned about their pets’ appearance.

Tennessee-based AniMail Pet Care Products has a 31-page booklet featuring such high fashions as a $25 collegiate sweater and $35 pre-washed denim jackets for dogs, and $39 electronic flea collars.

The company may think pets prefer junk foods to nutritionally balanced meals--it sells 10 pounds of chocolate chip cookies for dogs for $45.

Last year, pet owners bought $2.8 billion worth of dog food and $2.1 billion worth of cat food at supermarkets nationwide. That doesn’t include the $26 million spent on cat food snacks or $375 million spent on dog food snacks.