In the 2011 article, “‘For the Dogs’ Has a Whole New
Meaning,” journalist Andrew Martin offers a firsthand account of his visit to
the Global Pet Expo in Orlando Florida.
As he wanders the various products displayed throughout the expo, he
gains unique insight on an array of luxury pet products now available to
consumers. He chats with pet owners and
product developers alike, and ultimately leaves readers wondering just how much
of these “luxury” items are necessary for the modern pet.
As a pet owner myself, I’ve often wondered if I need to
shell out twice as much for the “natural” or “organic” dog foods that now lines
the pet store shelves. Is the benefit
worth the cost? Martin cites veterinarian
Tony Buffington who admits that studies have been unable to “distinguish an
outcome” between the natural vs. less-than-natural versions. What might that lead us to believe about these luxury products more generally? Are they all bark and no bite (insert eye roll here...)?
Throughout your reading, were you persuaded of the value of
pet luxury items? Why or why not? Additionally, what do you make of Petco CEO
Jim Myers’ claim that pet products are a “pretty emotional category?” Do we spend vast amounts of money on our pets
as a way to show our love? How does
Martin lead us to one conclusion or the other based on his use of detail,
facts, personal interactions, and organization?
No comments:
Post a Comment