Pampered Pets

It's safe to say that some animals in the USA have it better than a lot of people around the world. It is estimated that Americans will spend $52 Billion on their pets this year. Which, by the way, is more than the gross domestic product of all but 64 countries in the world.

Think about this...

Our dogs never miss a meal. They drink all of the clean water that they want. They have better medical care than even a lot of people in USA have (just the fact that they have medical care puts them ahead of millions of people in the world). There are doggy spas, mobile dog grooming services, professional dog walkers, dog motels, dog massage therapists and even animal psychologists.

If that's not enough, there are even "Neuticles" which are testicular implants for dogs who have been neutered, so that they can "retain their natural look and self-esteem". They've sold over a quarter million pairs worldwide.

Um, wow!

Don't get me wrong, I love my dog. As a matter of fact, I have the best dog in the world (that has been verified by many people). But there is such thing as going overboard with any kind of non-essential spending.

If you happen to be one who gets your dog a pedicure, massage or an hour session with the psychologist, maybe you could give that up this month for the sake of people in the world who need clean water, mosquito nets or a safe house to escape from slavery. Your dog won't mind, I'm sure.

We're back in action!

Sorry for the unexpected time off. All is well here. I got too busy for my own good for about a month and I'm just getting a little order back in my life. First of all, I want to thank you all for your participation in the Luxury Fund. Between July 15th (our starting date) and December 31st, you gave $4454! That is incredible. Thanks for your part in that! Whether you gave money, added us as a friend on MySpace or Facebook, told your friends or whatever, your part was a big one, and I am grateful! I'm looking forward to a new year of giving. If you have any ideas about how you or I can turn our spending into giving, please post them here as a comment. It will be helpful to hear your ideas.

So, how about a staggering statistic of the week for ya?

Americans spend $33 billion in weight loss products and services each year.

Pretty crazy that we have to spend $33 Billion to lose weight when so many people go to bed hungry every night!

Let's be grateful for what we have and share with those who don't!

Thanks!!