
In an economy where many businesses are struggling to stay afloat, pet products and services have continued to take off like a hare in a turtle race. In fact, the American Pets Product Association has estimated that in 2009, Americans will spend approximately $45.4 billion on their pets — a $2.2 billion increase from what pet owners shelled out in 2008. That’s one spoiled Siamese.
A couple of my favorite new petrepreneurial businesses include Pet Airways, a first-class pet-only airline that travels between five cities (Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Chicago and Denver) with fares starting at $149 each way and features main-cabin accomodations and service from airline stewards (no joke, people). The other is D Pet Hotel (a playful takeoff on the “W” Hotels, I assume), a 24/7 boarding and spa destination for pets in the Hollywood area.
You see, I’m a pet owner (see unbelievably cute photo of my doodles Dino and Murphy who hate posing for photos above). So after reading the amenities available at the D Pet Hotel, like luxury suites with king- and queen-sized beds and flat screen TVs, a chauffeured car service, and a photo set with professional “furtographers,” I had to chuckle.
I honestly don’t think my dogs would enjoy a night at the D Pet Hotel. Granted, my dogs reside in a nondescript Twin Cities suburb so their personalities can’t compare to fufu LA Fidos, but seriously, a spa? A photographer where they have to stand still? TV? Ahhh, that would be a big N-O. If my dogs were going to spend an evening away and enjoy it, they’d want bunnies to chase (sorry PETA), raw meat to gnaw on (sorry again), a shallow but swimmable pond followed by a car ride with all the windows rolled down to lightly dry off and something stinky to roll around in at the end of the night.
Wait a second, maybe I’m onto something…








There is much speculation in garages – and much salivating in sports marketing and sponsorship departments around the country — now that IndyCar driver Danica Patrick’s contract is coming to an end later this year. Will Patrick make the leap from IndyCars to stock cars? All tongue wagging aside, the thought brings up a number of interesting considerations to ponder about the future of this one-time IndyCar winner. If she does head over, it will certainly introduce a whole new dynamic to NASCAR. (Apologies in advance: I’m not including any sexy photos or links to racy GoDaddy commercials, nor am I referencing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in any way. You can find plenty of those things by doing your own Google search.)
The trademark lawyers at Winthrop & Weinstine in Minneapolis run one of the liveliest, most accessible legal blogs I’ve run across. They call it 


