Pet Heaven In Chicago
Most pet owners go to great lengths to keep their animal friends happy, but this week The Early Show's resident veterinarian Debbye Turner visits a place where the sky's the limit when it comes to pampering pets.
The largest pet product trade show in the world was held in Chicago and it was filled with sneak peeks of the latest food and toys for pets.
The American Pet Products Manufactures Association (www.appma.org ) estimates pet owners will shell out $29.5 billion in 2002, more than both the toy or the candy industry.
The American pet market is so lucrative, inventors from as far away as Italy come to peddle their products.
An Italian who demonstrated one of his products was Franca Leo of Ciuffogatto (www.ciuffogatto.it). For pet owners looking for stylish outerwear for dogs, there's Italtrend, the haute couture line of fur coats for dogs.
"These are French fabrics, designed and made in Italy," said a representative of Italtrend (Italtrendpellami.it ). "It's got fantastic detail."
For around $300, faux fur coats can be brought for pets to wear over their real fur coats.
Along with high fashion, high-tech was popular. One object played back a message for dogs and randomly dispensed treats. The idea was that dogs would never be alone.
Another electronic gadget is a door that would allow only particular dogs through its entrance. The dog wears a pet key on the back of the neck. The doors sees the sensor and allows entrance into the house for that dog.
With so many products to choose from, decisions could be overwhelming. But, Petco's vice president of merchandising, Therese Boll, said the selection process is simple (www.petco.com).
"I'm looking for uniquness, product quality," said Boll. "Something that is different, that will catch my eye."
The Petmate Fresh and Flow Water System caught Boll's attention this year. The system provided fresh, clean water on a continual basis.
For some pet owners, disposing of cat liter could be a tedious task. Another product flushes cat eliminations out of the home while washing, deodorizing and disinfecting the litter that stays in the box.
Cats are not the only ones who get top-rate toilet treatment. There's a litter for dogs and if the pooch can't wait — there are "puppy Pampers."
"If you have a little puppy that maybe gets a little excited and dribbles a little bit around the house and you want to have a way to protect your carpet or your furniture," Allen Irons of Bramton Company (www.bramton.com) said. "You can put on one of these simple-solution diaper garments."
Putting Products To Test
But the real judges are the pets. The top products were put to the test with the only expert that really matters. Sniffer, the English springer spaniel, took no time to living up to his name.
Sniffer found some tasty delights at one booth. "People have accused us of inventing doggie heroin," said Lowell Pickett of Woof Products. It was love at first bite for Sniffer.
After taste-testing, it was time to test some pet toys.
"I've got bubble buddy and it has bacon- scented bubbles and dogs love bubbles and it also comes with barbecue-chicken and peanut scented bubbles," said Neil Werde of Happy Dog Toys (www.happydogtoys.com.)
But Sniffer was not impressed. And unfortunately, the feline experts weren't big on the cat-nip scented bubbles, either.
While there is no scientific proof that pets actually need all the stuff presented at the pet product trade show in Chicago, pet owners are more than willing to spend.
All of the products sampled will be available in around a month.