Celebrating 20 years of Pet Month

As their human owners saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, Kylie and Jason dominated the pop charts and white dog poo was in abundance on the streets, pets everywhere enjoyed a relatively simple existence compared to their modern day contemporaries.

The changes acknowledge a booming industry benefiting from the inclusion of our pets as family members. 20 years ago bad coats, poor teeth, poor digestion, rickets and shortened life spans were all commonplace conditions as a result of inadequate nutrition.

Scientific advancements mean that manufacturers are now not only meeting the nutritional needs of pets, but health and wellbeing can be enhanced too through particular ingredients. Antioxidants provide immune support and glucosamine helps maintain joint health. The pet food market alone is worth just under 2 billion as owners invest in giving their pets the foundations for a long and healthy life.

Animal health care has also seen a marked improvement in the last twenty years with a variety of new treatments and medicines available. Clubs to improve the wellbeing and socialisation of pets such as pet puppy parties and pet fit groups are all part of the modern veterinary practice and available from many pet care specialists in 2009.

Alongside traditional care, pets are now offered a vast array of complementary therapies unheard of in 1989. 750,000 UK dog owners opt for therapies such as reiki, acupuncture, reflexology, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy to enhance the health of their hound. After all, healthy pets make happy pets!

As well as improvements in health care, more pet owners are now taking out pet insurance to cover medical bills and ensure the best care is available should their pet require it. 25% of cats and dogs now having their own medical insurance – that's more than double the number of humans with private health cover (12.2%).

Responsible pet ownership combined with improved nutrition and healthcare is at the heart of the long healthy lives our pets now lead. Cats and dogs and even rabbits now commonly live over 20. In fact, today's cats are now more likely to be killed by a car than illnesses that were common in 1989.

Vast numbers of animals now play an increasingly important role as assistant animals. Guide Dogs for the Blind were well known in 1989, providing help and companionship to their blind and partially sighted owners, but there are now many organisations that train dogs to provide care to humans. Canine Partners and Dogs for the Disabled have trained 490 dogs since they were founded in 1988 aiding people with disabilities people to achieve greater independence.

The benefits of being around animals are well documented as being therapeutic and de-stressing. Pets As Therapy has tapped into this knowledge and currently has 4,400 dogs and 108 cats that benefit over 126,000 people every week.

Phil Sketchley Chairman of National Pet Month said; "Clearly the last two decades have seen dramatic improvements in animal care. The most significant improvement in recent years has been the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 which helps reinforce our responsible pet ownership philosophy.

“The 2009 National Pet Month theme of 'Healthy Pets Make Happy Pets' couldn't be more pertinent as the owners today are investing more time and money into the wellbeing of their animals. Sadly there are still many animals that need our help, and this year's National Pet Month will once again promote fundraising for thousands of pet charities across the UK."

Eleven million UK homes now house 70 million pets of all types and breeds. While the 16 million cats and dogs remain relatively similar to figures in 1989, the ranks of the wider pet population has grown. Notably, sales of exotic pets such as reptiles and spiders have increased dramatically.