APPA predicts pet owners will spend more in 2009, despite recession

NATIONAL REPORT — Pet owners will spend $2 billion more on their pets in 2009, despite the recession.

Projected 2009 expenditures of $45.4 billion topple last year's high of $43.2 billion spent, according to American Pet Products Association (APPA), a trade association.

And $1 billion of that will be going directly to veterinarians, the report says.

APPA's findings are in opposition to the Brakke Consulting survey released earlier this year, which showed pet owners would be spending less on their pets, particularly for services like grooming, boarding and dental care.

While pet owners may not purchase many new pets or spend a lot more on grooming, boarding or supplies and medicine, APPA still shows a slight increase in all of those areas over 2008.

But veterinary care and food sales will see the biggest growth, according to estimates.