How Pet Bloggers are A Voice of Pets (and Money)

by: Carol Bryant, BlogPaws PR Manager

You write a pet blog? You must be one of
those crazy pet moms who thinks their dog is a child and you reach a certain
contingency of readers that feel the same way, right?

<insert scream here>

If you’ve ever received similar commentary by
a reader of your blog, a family member, someone at a non-pet blogger
conference, or a co-worker, you are not alone.

I am a dog mom. I love it when folks call me a dog mom; I never
grimace, furrow a brow, or correct them. In fact, a sense of pride swells in
me. 

I buy cotton swabs, I use baby wipes on my dog after a muddied
walk or rainy day, and I could probably circumnavigate the globe twice with the
amount of paper towels I’ve used in a lifetime of what some would call dog
ownership. I like to call it pet parenting.

Statistically, the numbers are also behind “us,” the pet
blogger, and the anticipated growth skyrocketing of the pet industry, of
which we are the voice. Cases in point:

• The Wall Street Journal  revealed that “PetSmart
  Thrives Treating Owners Like Pet Parents” – PetSmart has been a sponsor of
  BlogPaws conferences and their mantra of treating pet parents like the moms and
  dads they are has proven profitable.
• Carol Frank writes in her paper, Anthropomorphism
  is not the Only Driver of Pet Industry Growth,  “It has become common knowledge that anthropomorphism is the driving
  force behind the pet sector’s faithful 6.7% growth nearly year after year. This
  begs the question: is anthropomorphism the cause or the result of the industry
  boom? Has there been a deeper cultural shift beneath the pet industry that can
  help guide pet product producers to the promised land?”
• In a recent report, FranchiseHelp.com
  shared, “Pet pampering is becoming the norm, as pet
  owner spending has moved far beyond simple food and grooming expenses to
  include innovative and specialized premium products.” People view pets as the
  members of the family they are and they are willing to spend money even during
  economic struggles.
• Fox Business is reporting that the U.S. economy has gone to the
  dogs. According to the APPA's 2011-2012
  National Pet Owners Survey, dog owners spent an average of $407 a year on
  surgical visits, $248 on routine checkups, $274 on kennel boarding and $254 on
  food. And that is before other costs like vitamins ($95), travel expenses ($78)
  and toys ($43).

I could spend an entire afternoon reciting  statistics that bark in favor of the pet
industry and the power and responsibility of the pet blogger.

With the American Pet Products
Association reporting an estimated $52 billion projected to be spent in the pet
industry in 2012, I realize I am not alone. Hello, brands: It’s me, the dog
mom.

How do you handle people who simply don’t
“get” the influence and voice that you, the pet blogger, have?