Doggie day care, CBD oils, cremation services: How pandemic has changed pet care services

DETROIT — Six months before the pandemic, Sarah Ignash and her husband, David, were offered a business proposition: Would they like to buy a doggie day care in Roseville, Michigan?

"It's something I wanted to do forever," the 43-year-old former insurance agent said. "I knew the prior owners of this location, and I'd known them for a couple of years and they were looking to downsize and have only one location and approached me, and the timing was perfect."

Perfect, that is, until the state's stay-home order was put in place and the business had to temporarily close.

Since then, Ignash said, All American Pet Resorts Lakeshore has reopened and business is busier than ever. So many dogs were adopted during the pandemic that she expects their services, which include boarding in "suites" and grooming, to be in more demand than they otherwise would have.

Pet care businesses have been booming in the past decade, in part because people are increasingly treating their pets like children. The pandemic will likely give the industry an even bigger boost because so many isolated residents adopted fur babies. 

Entrepreneurs and investors are seeking to capitalize on pet trends that include day care services like Ignash's, as well as demand for CBD-infused supplements, pet insurance, and specialty services like cremation companies that offer home pickup and delivery.

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"Interestingly," said Steve King, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association, "the product trends we are seeing in the pet care community mirror those of consumers — a desire for a healthier lifestyle, increased focus on fitness, turning to supplements for improved well-being, and technology playing a larger role in everyday life." 

Last year, the pet industry hit an estimated sales high of $103.6 billion nationally, nearly doubling the sales in 2011, according to the association. Pet food and treats made up the largest share of the total with $42 billion. 

The association is projecting growth of nearly 6%, twice the historical average of 3% to 4%. 

Pets are 'the new kids'

Ignash — who has three dogs, Brandi, Carl and Bella, and no human children —  said businesses like hers are appealing to pet owners and entrepreneurs because, in many ways, pets and pet services are affordable indulgences in difficult times.

She explained it this way: During the Great Depression, she said, one product that sold well was lipstick.

Why?

Because it was a luxury that people could buy and make them feel good. 

During the Great Recession, she said, the new lipstick became pets — and things for your pet.

"Instead of buying yourself a sweater, you buy your dog a sweater," she said. "It doesn't cost as much, but you got the same sense of joy. Companies came out with higher quality foods for pets, and there was a shift toward taking better care of your animals."

She added that as people put off having children or decided not to have them, pets become "the new kids." 

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And, in the past decade, there's been a focus on the overall well-being of pets as creatures that have needs and deserve a higher quality of life that includes more mental and physical stimulation, socialization, and perhaps the same kind of care that you'd give to a person.

Moreover, with people working remotely at all hours, they also are seeking 24-hour pet day care services.

Pain relief products for pets

Another trend: CBD.

Yes, some pets are getting cannabidiol, the second-most prevalent of the active ingredients of marijuana, to treat joint pain and other aches and as a food supplement to help them just chill out, especially when feeling manic and anxious.

"We've got them in oils, and we've got them in treats," said Maddie Zyski, with The Pet Beastro in Madison Heights, Michigan. "They can be good for anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and stuff like that. We have people who regularly buy them."

Last year, a study published by the International Association for the Study of Pain found that hemp-derived CBD was safe for dogs and there was therapeutic potential for relieving arthritic pain, so much, in fact, that it concluded follow-up investigations in humans were warranted.

A 2018 study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found there was limited empirical research on the veterinary use of CBD. But in an anonymous, online survey of veterinarians, it was concluded CBD was most frequently discussed as a potential treatment for pain management, anxiety and seizures. 

Overall, research suggests CBD can improve a dog’s wellness without notable side effects. 

Still, some experts caution that much more study is required before declaring it a miracle cure.

Fur-baby insurance

Pet lovers also are increasingly investing in insurance. 

"Pet insurance has been around for more than 40 years now," said Kari Steere, an agent who specializes in pet insurance. "But I think with the pandemic and how everyone was adopting pets, it saw a big jump in traffic because" owners realized their dogs and cats are part of their family.

In 2018, well before the pandemic, the pet insurance market worldwide was valued at about $3.33 billion but was expected to grow as a result of increasing pet adoption and the prevalence of feline and dog-related diseases, according to Grand View Research, a market analysis and consulting firm.

In addition, more pet parents seek insurance to limit out-of-pocket expenses on medical costs.

Steere works for an online company, Pawlicy Advisor, which was started by two dog lovers, a risk consultant and a web applications developer, who had an idea for helping pet owners buy insurance. It helps pet lovers sift through various insurers and policies to determine which one is best for them.

It's a kind of a brokerage, Steere said, like "a Kayak or Priceline."

Steere added pet owners want their pets to get the best medical care they can. The insurance, which usually has a monthly premium ranging from $20 to hundreds of dollars, reimburses owners for vet visits and medical procedures which can run into thousands and tens of thousands of dollars.

Like Ignash, Steere said she has no children but has three dogs and four cats. All of them are insured.

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Onto the afterlife

So what about when pets die? 

Faithful Companion, a Royal Oak pet cremation company, offers to pick up remains of pets of various sizes — from a horse and llama to birds and hamsters — from the vet, hospital or your home, then return their ashes within 24 hours. 

The service has expanded its business to Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina. 

“We don’t ask human families to bring their deceased loved one to us," Tom Rood, the chief operating officer, said. "We approach the pet the same way. We consider these dogs and cats for the most part to be a part of that person’s family."

To have the pet picked up, cremated, and returned in an urn costs $305. 

“Most pet crematories charge by weight," Rood said. "We do not charge by weight just like human crematories don’t charge by weight. We don’t either for pets. Whether it’s a chihuahua or a bull mastiff, the price is the same."

The business offers two types of services: cremation for families who want to keep the pet’s ashes or communal cremation, where pets are cremated with other animals. The company also will bury the pet’s ashes in a pet cemetery in Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

Rood said that 80% of customers prefer to have their pets picked up and dropped off. 

"They are not put into garbage bags, which was typical in the industry before we came along," he added. "People really appreciate the fact that we acknowledge and understand that whether it’s a dog or a cat or a bird, that they’re treated like family members. We treat them with the same respect."

Follow Frank Witsil on Twitter: @fwitsil.