Disney World for Pets - Best Friends Pet Care Resort

The pet economy appears to be one of those segments that remains largely unscathed during a recession. A new luxury Disney World resort for pets, Best Friends Pet Care Resort is betting that continues. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is opening an enclosed luxury resort for pets. This is at a time when people are suffering financial pain from the global financial crisis and the European economic contagion. There is also the continuing anxiety over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s fragile economy is particularly vulnerable to the doom scenario for the Gulf Coast economy.

The luxury Disney resort for pets has air-conditioned suites for your pet dogs and cats. Our furry friends get their own water park and playground to run around in. The Horizon Deepwater Spill has threatened the Florida tourist industry. The initial reaction is that the Luxury Disney World Resort for Pets, Best Friends Pet Care Resort will be a success story this summer. While we penny pinch and worry about own holidays many of us still spend lavishly on our pets. This isn't a story about economic and environmental doom it is about how much joy pets bring to our private worlds. It is a story of how we reward our pets in the modern material world.

The new luxury Disney Resort for Pets, Best Friends Pet Care Resort has more than 50,000 square feet resort fun for the little critters. There are indoor and outdoor runs and playgrounds. Best Friends Pet Care Inc was founded in 1991. The company operates five boarding kennels at Walt Disney World Resort. These boarding kennels will be phased out, runs more than 40 pet care centers in 18 U.S. states as well as which will be phased out now the Luxury Disney Resort for Pets, Best Friends Pet Care Resort is opened it’s doors. 

• "All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy It." - Samuel Butler

Dennis Dolan, the President and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care says the goal is all about your pet having a blast. 

'Our goal is to ensure that pets staying with us have a fun, action-packed vacation -- just like their families vacationing at Walt Disney World,' Dolan said in a statement.

The accommodation caters for the overnight stay of 270 dogs and 30 cats. The resort also has special lodgings for other pets including ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. One assumes the ferrets and rabbits are kept separate. 

For those dogs and cats that are more attuned to the lives of the rich and famous there are VIP suites available. With out the champagne and dancers of course. There are four scrumptious VIP suites with adjoining private outdoor yards. Just so Fido doesn’t mix with the riffraff. That is if he can bring himself to get off his raised bed But for animals who enjoy their creature comforts it also offers four watching TV.

• "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." –   Immanuel Kant

Other luxury features include a 1,300 square-foot  'canines only' water park and a pet-grooming salon. If your dog is struggling then special orthopedic bedding is available. While there isn’t the champagne and caviar, how about ice cream?

If you look at the Pet industry, as it’s own economy it has done remarkably well in the face of the global financial crisis and European Debt Crisis. The American Pet Products Association (APPA) said the pet industry grew by more than 5 percent from $43.2 billion in 2008 to $45.5 billion in 2009. The APPA forecasts another 4.9 percent growth to reach $47.74 billion for 2010. 

The Pet economy includes pet food, breeding programs, grooming and boarding such as the Disney Best Friends Pet Care Resort. Veterinary care is a huge component. This component has exploded as many people now are said to treat pets better than themselves. Pets are getting extensive dental work including root canals. Pets are getting put on anti-depressants like Prozac and Zoloft. Indeed as bad a year 2009 was most of us pets veterinary care increased by 8.5 percent in 2009. 

In times of doom and gloom people historically turn to their pets for solace. Many race home from a dispirited work environment to the unquestioned loyalty and devotion from their pets.  They truly do become a member of the family. There err many stories of people giving of the basics and keeping their pets in luxury. I have even read of the elderly eating dog food to ensure they have enough money to keep their pet in good stead. 

Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Assn. (APPMA) puts it this way "People are no longer satisfied to reward their pet in pet terms, they want to reward their pet in human terms” 

To put the $45.5 billion spent on pets in a year in perspective compare these other segments.

• Americans spend $10.6 billion annually buying music
• Americans spend $10.8 billion annually at the movies
• Americans spend $11.6 billion annually playing video games 

It is estimated that over 63% of U.S. households now own at least one pet. This means there is at least one pet in over 71 million American homes. This has jumped from 64 million homes in just five years. Now here we are in 2010 and we have a luxury Disney Resort for Pets, Best Friends Pet Care Resort opening up. I don’t know about you but this holiday sounds mighty fine for me. Not sure if I can justify my dogs going on this holiday, I am not quite ready for me and the family to eat Chum while our dogs do laps of a heated spa. How about you? Is the world becoming a little out of whack or  am I just out of touch?