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宠物当宝贝 纽约猫狗享受奢华生活
http://www.sina.com.cn 2004/12/14 10:59  国际在线

  Bones and squeaky toys? No thanks. New York's pampered pooches want cashmere and baby alpaca sweaters for Christmas this year.

  Spending on dogs has surged in New York -- a city famous for its eccentrics -- with doggie outfits, spa treatments and edible Christmas cards in hot demand this holiday.

  New Yorker Howie Binder, a pet salon owner who has two dogs, said a "Rex in the City" craze in the last five years made New York the world's dog capital -- although there are no official figures to prove this -- and was big business.

  New York dog owners love to spend, with cashmere sweaters at $100 each and alpaca sweaters from $55 proving to be the big sellers this season.

  "My dogs have bigger wardrobes than most people," said Binder, owner of the Doggie Do and Pussycats, Too! store that offers grooming, day-care for dogs and upscale pet products.

  His dogs, Jessica and Trevor, are among an estimated 3 million living among 8 million people in the city.

  Take a walk in any of the more ritzy areas of New York and every other person has a dog -- on a leash, being carried in a bag or even being pushed along in a stroller.

  "New Yorkers love to pamper their dogs, which are like babies that never grow up," said Binder, recalling one client who insisted Italian opera was played for her dog during grooming while another would bathe her dog only in Evian.

  Figures from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) show U.S. owners are expected to spend about $34.3 billion on their pets this year, up 6 percent on last year.

  This holiday season, 54 percent of dog owners and 41 percent of cat owners are expected to buy their pet a gift.

  Bill Sims, retail analyst at Smith Barney, said dogs have become increasingly popular in New York with people in their 20s or 30s who are not ready or don't want children, and with the 45-64 "empty nester" group whose children have left.

  "People are replacing kids with dogs," Sims said. Dog clothing has become a big seller, with some owners dressing their pets in outfits to match their own. The Disney Store on upscale Fifth Avenue sells princess and Buzz Lightyear dress-up outfits for dogs.

  Ralph Lauren's dog line this season ranges from coats to cashmere sweaters, while Burberry of London (BRBY.L) offers made-to-order trench coats for the dapper dog.

  The church has been inundated with inquiries since blessing part of the churchyard in October for the final resting place for pets, selling about 750 plots for $500 each.

宠物当宝贝 纽约猫狗享受奢华生活

  一年一度的圣诞节来临,纽约还有人为自己的宠物准备骨头和咯吱作响的玩具作礼物吗?没有了!今年的纽约人为爱犬们准备的是羊绒衫、公主裙,或者再来上一件Burberry的名牌“风衣”!

  据路透社12月12日报道,纽约素来以古怪离奇著称于世。这个城市的人养狗的花销不断增加,宠物服务连锁店随处可见,从养狗用具、爱犬温泉疗养服务,以及可食用的圣诞贺卡等等应有尽有。

  纽约人豪伊·宾德是一家宠物沙龙的老板,他自己也养了两只狗。他说,过去5年里掀起的“城里的雷克斯猫(Rex in the city)”热,使得纽约成为全世界的爱犬天堂,到底纽约有多少只狗猫之类的宠物还没有具体统计数据,但这已经成为一个大产业了。

  纽约人对自己的爱犬非常慷慨--100美元的羊绒衫和55美元的驼绒衫很受欢迎。宾德说:"我的爱犬衣橱很大,比许多人的衣服都多。"他自己的宠物店销售高档宠物用品,还提供爱犬梳理和照看服务。

  据统计,纽约800万的人口至少养了300万只宠物犬。漫步在纽约的豪华社区就会发现,每两个人中就有一人在遛狗,甚至有人把狗装在手提袋里,或是用手推车推着自己的爱犬。宾德介绍说,人们对宠物的宠爱也是无奇不有。他的一个女顾客坚持在为自己的爱犬梳理时播放意大利歌剧;还有一个顾客只用“依云(Evian)”矿泉水为自己的爱犬沐浴。“纽约人很宠爱他们的爱犬,对它们就像对未长大的婴儿一般疼爱。”

  据美国宠物用品生产商联合会的统计显示,美国人今年在宠物身上的开销高达343亿美元,比去年增加了6%。今年节日期间,大约54%的狗主人和41%的猫主人准备为他们的宠物购买一份礼物。

  宠物销售分析师比尔·希姆说,纽约许多二三十岁的年轻人不要孩子,饲养宠物犬就成为首选,还有45%到64%的"空巢"家庭也是如此。“人们用宠物犬替代孩子”,他说,过去5年来的宠物热改变了这个行业的特点,过去宠物食品利润较低,而现在宠物服装、温泉治疗和宠物梳理等越来越受欢迎,利润也很高。

  此外,纽约人还喜欢为他们的爱犬花大价钱购买豪华床单、犬齿增白用品,甚至聘请临床医生帮助爱犬解除焦虑和愤怒情绪等问题。还有许多像哈利·戴维逊(Harley Davidson)这样的大牌公司也加入为宠物服务的行列,提供洗涤用品、服装、玩具和美食等。纽约还有超市甚至为狗提供冰淇淋,第5大道的迪斯尼专卖店就为狗提供公主装。而拉夫·劳伦斯(Ralph Lawrence)为狗制作大衣和羊绒衫等,而伦敦著名品牌Burberry则为爱犬提供量体裁衣的服务。

  不仅如此,纽约人甚至在斯达汀岛(Staten Island)著名的圣安德鲁教堂还专门为宠物犬开辟了一块墓地。许多关心爱犬的主人纷纷打电话咨询此项服务,今年10月以来每个售价500美元的穴位已经售出750个。(程庆华)


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