It's not that long ago that the public's attitude to and knowledge of the husbandry and welfare of pet animals was pretty primitive. It has been gratifying to see the steady and now explosive growth in interest in all things to do with animals.
The evidence of this explosion is all around us, with large pet-shop chains rapidly moving in on the smaller family-style businesses, the more than doubling of the number of veterinarians and the abundance of pet-related articles and segments in all forms of the media and the internet. There are whole sections in print devoted to pets that didn't exist only a few years ago.
All this has had many positive influences on the pet industry. There has been steady growth in support for animal rights and welfare, which has resulted in tougher penalties for animal cruelty and maltreatment.
Lots of factors are responsible for the growth in the number of people owning pets. Some are a better standard of living and more media attention and advertising which has drawn people to keeping pets. Some people are less inclined to have children and choose pets instead. A new social awareness about the positive aspects of owning a pet has also encouraged more people to become pet owners.
This, in turn, has stimulated the whole industry of pet care. With the increase in demand and improved attitudes to animal rights, veterinarians are able to practise their skills more fully. In the past, many clients were not interested in the more complex and costly therapies. But now they just want what is best for their pets.
It is a good time to be a vet. Gone are the days where I had to beg clients to be allowed to perform the simplest measures. And there is now more time in consultations for other important issues.
However, with the good comes the bad. As interest in animals grows, more people are tempted to make a quick dollar at the expense of our furry friends. There are now many more confusing 'medicines' in pet shops that promise to make your dog stronger, healthier, prettier and happier. It is increasingly difficult to find what is useful among all the useless options. There is also an increase in the numbers of animals being kept in pet shops, and quicker turnaround, to offset high rents. This puts greater stress on the animals.