Penny pinching
Depression-era children were accustomed to wearing homemade clothes.
So will our dogs be known for their homemade toys in this downward economy?
The petlvr blog has some tips on how to make your own pet toys as you watch your 401k
balance plummet. Just think, you and your dog can cozy up in the evenings by the fireplace, a blanket over your shoulders for extra warmth, as you sew up his little homemade fleece toys.
The blogger writes:
Pets don't need cutesy toys with googly eyes and little doll clothes. They need toys that are fun, safe and durable. Skip the loofah dogs and the squeaky hedgehogs and swing by the craft store to pick up a couple of yards of alpine fleece. On sale approximately every other week, fleece can be had for as little as $2.99 per yard, and a yard or two of the fabric can provide hours of fun for cats, dogs, ferrets, parrots or rats.
Rats?
He also suggests buying toys from Craigslist or at swap meets. I'm told the 99-cent store carries some inexpensive pet toys as well.
And here's another site I discovered with suggestions on items to keep your dog entertained while saving money.
It strikes me that the pet industry in our country emerged and flourished because we're such an affluent society.
I've heard of pet owners establishing co-ops or exchanges in some places, sharing goods like toys or items such as veterinary cones, as well as services (dog walks, dog sitting).
Do you forsee the rocky economy possibly affecting your pets? Or pet ownership trends in general?
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.
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