LOS ANGELES (AP) – Americans spent just over $60 billion on their pets last year, a record fueled by a big jump in what owners shelled out for services like grooming, boarding and training.
Two age groups drove the increase: millennials, because of their lifestyle, and baby boomers, because of their age, said Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association.
Those groups in particular often look to others to keep their pets exercised and looking and feeling good. They also tend to hire pet-sitters and use boarding services.
Americans spent $5.4 billion on such pet services last year, up nearly 12 percent from 2014, according to the association’s annual report released Thursday at the Global Pet Expo trade show in Florida. Here are some of its other findings:
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