5280 Angel

I have seen two separate deals in the past few weeks regarding our furry little friends, and they have reinforced my following belief: We love our pets. And we are begging for more ways to spoil and pamper them. No pun intended. Of course, whenever there is demand for something, some ambitious entrepreneur is going to tap it. Don’t you just love this country?

It is no big secret that the pet industry has been exploding in the past decade, but there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. If you don’t believe me, read this report.

• Total Pet Industry Size = $38.4 billion
• Pet Goods, Medicines = $9.3 billion
• Grooming, Photography, Dog Walking, Pet Sitting, Boarding = $2.7 billion
• Pet Insurance = $250 million
• Increase in high-end health care and diagnostics (MRIs, acupuncture, massage, behavior therapy…etc)
• Increase in pet-friendly environments (Hotels, restaurants, shopping centers allowing pets)
• Increase in pet-dedicated blogs and websites

And the list continues. Maybe it is time to dust off my “butt-sniffing aid” patent now that the market seems so ripe for pet products. “Help your aging, lethargic dog enjoy a healthy quality of life with…THE BUTT SNIFFER. Guaranteed he’ll sniff like he’s just a pup!” I digress.

Here are the two pet products I hate myself for not inventing, and they are both manufactured by the same company, Canine Hardware, out of Seattle, WA:

Chuckit! - Save your arm and never pick up a nasty, slimy tennis ball again to pay fetch with your dog. Man, just walk around Washington Park, City Park, or Cheesman Park, and you can count as many chuckits as people. A simple, excellent idea.

Flying Squirrel - Better than just a frisbee because it is soft, has raised edges for easy pick up, and it floats in the water. Another winner. My mom’s dog loves this thing.