Henk bounces effortlessly as he chases his ball at the Dallas Road waterfront.
At 23 kilograms, the six-month-old Bouvier des Flandres puppy is playful and cute — at this stage looking more like a fluffy stuffed toy than an impressive breed of dog often used in police work.
“They are very smart. That can be a plus or a minus,” laughs Frances von Aesch, co-owner with Dieuwertje von Aesch. This is the von Aesch’s second Bouvier. “They are really good guard dogs,” Frances said. “Honestly, I just think the breed is beautiful.”
Pets — chiefly cats and dogs — are a booming business in Greater Victoria, where owners spend $144 million a year on food, veterinary costs and a rainbow of products and other services, according to expert estimates. Although the exact extent of the cat and dog population is hard to pin down, the region is widely considered one of Canada’s pet capitals. Visit any park — certainly the Dallas Road waterfront — and you can see a daily parade of dogs from morning to night.
Ian Fraser, who heads up Victoria Animal Control Services, has tried various formulas to find the local dog population, but calculating such figures is a “crap shoot,” he said.
In the capital region, about 33,200 dogs were licensed in 2015, according to local government offices.
As for local feline numbers, Fraser said there are “thousands and thousands of cats.”
The number of cats is not precise because they don’t require licenses, although the Capital Regional District gives out free cat ID tags — 1,300 in the past few years. Some are household pets, lavished with care, while others are feral and fend for themselves.
About 35 per cent of Canadian households owned a dog in 2011, Agriculture Canada said in a report on pet food trends. If that holds for the capital region, there are 59,278 dogs locally, and not all are licensed. If owners spent $1,370 every year on those dogs, the total reaches $81 million.
When it comes to cats, about 38.5 per cent of households own a cat, Agriculture Canada said. If 65,205 capital region homes have a cat, and owners spend $976 per year, then annual expenditures would reach $63.64 million. The calculation does not include feral cats.
Canada is home to an estimated 6.4 million dogs and seven million pet cats, according to a 2014 survey of 4,200 pet-owning households commissioned by the Canadian Animal Health Institute.
Henk is among thousands of beloved pets in the capital region where owners spend millions on them every year.
Nationally, pet spending is predicted to climb to about $8.3 billion annually by 2018, from $6.6 billion in 2014, said the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, based on a report from research group Packaged Facts.
Henk eats top-quality food, sees the veterinarian and has toys and harnesses.
He is also covered by pet insurance, costing $85 per month. It paid off when Henk went to the vet for an upper respiratory infection and a lump on his neck which could have been a spider bite. The bill, including x-rays and blood tests, totalled more than $2,000.
It’s worth it, said von Aesch. “I sleep better at night.”
The SPCA prepares potential pet owners for expenses. For example, when adopting a mid-size female dog, initial expenses can run from $290 to $540, including spaying. Annual expenses can be $1,370.
Initial cat costs are about $207 to $292, and annual expenses can run to $976.
Smaller pets, such as hamsters, gerbils and rats, carry an estimated initial cost of $143 for the animal, cage, care books and more, and an annual cost of $225.
Those numbers do not include emergency medical care, initial vaccinations, obedience classes, fencing if required, and a bed, the SPCA said.
Dog and cat owners are increasingly keen on premium pet foods, eco-friendly pet services and natural products, according to the Packaged Facts survey. And owners are increasingly sparing no expense.
Many owners view pets as family members, leading manufacturers and retailers to offer “everything from human-style food to couture pet accessories,” the survey said.
It’s obvious in the capital region by the sheer numbers and variety of pet-related retail stores and services.
These include dog day care, dog walking, pet sitting, veterinarian care, massage, acupuncture, medical rehabilitation, at-home teeth cleaning, nail trimming, portraits, obedience classes, grooming, aquarium maintenance, bird care, and of course, large and small retail outlets, including supermarkets and big box stores.
A comparison of pet-related businesses listed in the Yellow Pages between 1995 and 2015 show fairly similar numbers. Total vets and pet hospitals were 60-plus in each case. The number of groomers was at 33 this year, compared with 26 in 1995. However, it is likely total businesses have increased because some pet businesses are listed on the Internet only.
The capital region has 129 veterinarians, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association said.
Victoria’s Meghan Jaye considers Rooibos, her five-year-old Italian Mastiff-St. Bernard cross, “absolutely a member of my family.”
Weighing 48 kilograms, Rooibos has a gleaming brindle coat and lots of energy. Jaye said annual costs of $1,200 per year are “totally worth it because she is healthy.”
Then there are vet expenses, such as the $1,000 bill when Rooibos needed surgery after knocking out two front teeth.
Agriculture Canada valued the pet food market at just under $1.7 billion in 2011. Specialty pet store retailers, which may sell pricier products, are able to compete by carrying premium brands and offering tailored advice to consumers.
As well, small-scale producers of cat and dog food are increasing their market share, the federal report said. They are especially competitive in the natural, “homemade” and organic markets, the federal report said.
Benny, a black pug, gets marrow-filled dog bones from Glenwood Meats, on Parkdale Drive, as treats from Dennis Desjardins. Dennis and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins frequently take care of Benny for their son Max, the dog’s owner.
Mayor Desjardins knit Benny a red Christmas sweater and bought him a white satin bow-tie for formal occasions. She figures they spend between $200 and $300 per year on Benny.
This is not unusual. “Pet owners across the country enjoy indulging their furry pals,” Ipsos Public Affairs said in a 2013 survey.
Ipsos found that 64 of owners have bought presents for their pets.
About one-third of pet owners take their pets on holidays and, of those, 71 per cent said that choosing pet-friendly hotels and airlines is an important factor when they are making plans.
Local products come first
Like many retailers, Lisa Nitkin faces competition from big-box stores and the Internet, but the owner of Pets West fights back with personal service from long-time staff. Customers come in for advice and see the same faces, creating connections with the 16 employees. That is fostered by giving pet owners the chance to ask questions, which are answered on Facebook. They can also submit photos of their pets to a Pets West web page.
Nitkin chooses merchandise from local sources first and is pleased an increasing number of pet products, including dog food and dog treats, are being produced here.
After buying an existing pet store, Nitkin has settled into 4,500 square feet in the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre.
She does not sell dogs, but works with adoption organizations to find homes for cats.
Pet owners are increasingly aware and interested in how best to care for their animals, which they regard as members of their family, Nitkin said.
The store also sells fish and small pets.
“Dogs are a lot of work but [owners get] a lot of emotional reward,” said Nitkin.
Pets West: 220-777 Royal Oak Dr.
They are what they eat
Mhairi Nicolson started making raw dog food because she wanted to know exactly what Moose — her Bernese mountain dog — was eating. She became wary of the range of ingredients in some commercial dog foods.
That passion aligned with her partner’s own interest. After selling raw food treats at local markets, Nicolson and Dan Bennett opened their Raw Feeding Victoria store in November.
They did their business research in late October, sitting in the Fernwood Inn, Nicolson said. In the space of one hour, “we counted 40 dogs walking by.” The four-legged traffic convinced them there was a local market for their products.
Moose, and their other dog, Athena, a chihuahua they adopted, are thriving on raw food diets, Nicolson said.
The 300-square-foot store carries human-grade raw dog food that the couple prepares in a leased space on a North Saanich farm. Their meat comes from B.C. Nicolson and Bennett are at the farm once a week to prepare dog food, which is based on a combination of two popular raw food diets. Their recipe includes 10 per cent vegetables. They also sell single-ingredient dehydrated treats.
Raw Feeding Victoria: E2-1284 Gladstone Ave.,
Dogs need massage, too
Kristen Giglio’s passion for animal rehab was sparked by frustration. She was a teenager when her horse was injured and there were few therapy options. That got her started on the idea of pursuing rehabilitation therapy for animals as a career. She studied animal health, equine therapy and canine rehabilitation. Giglio now runs her own therapy business and also works with McKenzie Veterinary Services.
Business is equally divided between dogs and horses. Giglio provides a range of treatment options, including deep tissue massage, musculoskeletal adjustments, accupresssure and reiki-energy therapy. “Whatever they need.”
This includes rehab, strengthening and preventative treatment. The goal is to get the animal’s body into balance, and to offer treatment and maintenance if needed. Services include custom-made braces that are manufactured and fitted locally.
Depending on the situation, treatment sessions can run 45 to 90 minutes. Giglio likes to see animals at home to understand where they are living and develop a program suited to their environment.
Giglio believes dogs know that they are being helped. “It’s an energy or presence. Animals are really sensitive.”
Most therapy focuses on backs, hind ends and shoulders.
Advanced Connections Equine and Canine Therapy (ACE): http://acetherapy.ca
Cats disguise illnesses
Victoria’s Heritage Cat Clinic admits felines only. Veterinarian Dr. Christine Baer said that by serving cats alone, she can keep up with the latest treatments and care. A cat-only clinic also means patients will not be upset by being around dogs.
Baer, who has been a vet for 30 years, has noticed that about half the cats she sees these days have been adopted through the Internet, whereas in the past a greater proportion were from the SPCA, which provides vaccinations and spays or neuters pets before they go to their new homes.
She recommends annual examinations. A change in weight, for example, could indicate a problem. Cats are very good at disguising their illnesses, Baer said.
Some owners do not think that regular vaccinations are necessary, but it’s a good idea to check with a vet even if a cat lives indoors. If a cat goes outdoors, it requires annual shots, Baer said. An indoor cats may need vaccinations because most viruses are airborne. It depends on the individual circumstances, she said.
Heritage Cat Clinic: 955 North Park St.
Clip and a haircut ...
Sylvia Panziera has been grooming pets for more than a quarter century. It’s a job she loves as dogs and cats and other furry creatures are more than ever considered members of families.
“It was a dream of mine to work with animals,” said Panziera. “I have an extreme connection with them.”
Panziera said most pet owners forge “family connections,” and “business has been booming for that reason.”
Work starts at 9 a.m. at her grooming business, and the key each day is being gentle with animals, as they may be feeling stressed.
Panziera grooms dogs and clips cats, too. Lion cuts are popular for cats, mainly to take out mats or help reduce allergies. People also bring in their guinea pigs for nail trims. She even washed a pig one time.
“I don’t really say no to anybody,” said Panziera.
Customers drop off their pets and they are ready in one hour. A wash and clip is about $50 and up.
Panziera will start puppies out for no charge, making them tidy and trimming nails so they get used to coming in to a groomer.
Pawsitive Pet Grooming, 116-2244 Sooke Rd.