We spend more on pets than on babies

It's official - we are nutty to the extreme about our pets according to a recent NY Times article (need subscription after a couple of weeks):

Pet supplies now fuel a $37 billion industry. Retail sales of pet supplies, not including food and services, amounted to $8.5 billion in the United States in 2004, more than the $6.2 billion spent on baby-care supplies, according to Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com. And pet supply sales are growing at 7 percent annually, as sales of baby supplies are decreasing.

The article goes on to cite a number of goods and services that just go to show what we spend our money on so I looked up some of the companies mentioned and the links for you:

• NJ Pets, a NJ pet retailer
• Pet Dreams, a small Manhattan company selling "cratewear", which are accessories for dog training crates
• Fideaux, a pet supply boutique in Healdsburg, Calif., 43 North Street @ Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA  95448 ph: 707-433-9935
• Up Country Inc., a Rumford, R.I., company that makes collars, toys, beds and other products
• Ruff Around the Edges, an Austin Texas pet sitting service