More pets dressed to chill for Halloween
— -- Looking to scare up Halloween sales, retailers have stocked up on what to some might be a scary idea: pet costumes.
More than 7.4 million households will dress up their pets this year, the National Retail Federation says. Most popular are devils, pumpkins and witches, the NRF says, but offbeat costumes, such as a peacock and a mini-Princess Leia from Star Wars, are also selling.
Stores "can't keep the costumes on the shelves this year," says Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
A survey last year by that trade group found that 7% of consumers bought a Halloween costume for their pet, up from 4% in 2004. Vetere expects demand to rise again this year as owners continue to "humanize" their pets. Already, nearly 90% of dog owners said they think of their pooches "like a child or family member," according to the American Kennel Club.
Eileen Choi, a 28-year-old from Alexandria, Va., is one of them. She says her Pomeranian, Coco, is "like my child." Coco is masquerading as a pirate Wednesday.
"There's no limit," says Vetere, who saw a costume for turtles at one store. "It had a fin that goes through the water so he looks like a shark."
Halloween costumes are just one example of how owners are making pet-pampering products and services a big business. To meet growing demand, retailers now offer goodies ranging from doggie facials, massages and paw-dicures (for polished nails) to high-end fashions, such as faux mink coats.
About 63% of U.S. households — 71.1 million homes — own a pet, according to the pet products trade group, and owners will spend $41 billion on their pets this year. The total is up 6% from last year and has risen steadily in the last decade.
Bloomingdale's, which carries trendy Juicy Couture doggie clothes, has added personal care products from spinoff brand Juicy Crittoure.
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