Washington, March 12 – The US pet industry has reached a record $157 billion in spending. However, small business owners told senators that rising healthcare costs, regulatory hurdles, labor challenges, and financing constraints are making it difficult for many companies to keep pace with the sector's rapid growth.
During a hearing of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on Wednesday, lawmakers and business owners presented a picture of a booming consumer market that has become increasingly central to small businesses across the United States.
Senator Joni Ernst, the Republican chair of the committee, said that pets play an expanding role in American life and the economy. She noted that approximately 57% of American households own at least one pet. In rural America, this figure rises to 71%, with nearly half of households owning more than one animal.
As pet ownership has grown, businesses providing animal care services have also expanded. Local veterinarians, trainers, pet stores, and grooming services now form a vast network of small enterprises that support one of the country's fastest-growing consumer industries.
However, several witnesses told senators that running these businesses has become more complicated and expensive.
Josh Rogers, owner of Camp Bow Wow dog daycare and boarding services, said his company operates seven locations in Missouri, Colorado, and Florida, employing more than 140 people. He described how his franchise model allowed him to expand rapidly.
Another witness, Dr. Gary Brown, a veterinarian from West Virginia, said that veterinary practices remain essential for local economies, particularly in rural communities. He stated that there are approximately 34,000 veterinary practices in the United States, with each generating more than $1.5 million in annual revenue.
Robert Van Sickle, co-founder of the Boston-based pet treat company Polka Dog, described the challenges of operating a growing small business in a competitive industry. Polka Dog began in 2002 as a single shop in Boston's South End. Today, the company operates 11 retail locations and a 14,000-square-foot manufacturing kitchen that distributes products to retailers worldwide.
Despite the company's success, Van Sickle said that rising costs have forced difficult decisions about wages, investment, and expansion. He also noted that the company expects its employee health insurance premiums to rise again this year.
Lawmakers also heard about the regulatory obstacles facing businesses that sell products nationwide. Van Sickle said that companies like his must register products with agriculture departments in all 50 states, each with different forms and labeling rules.
The process, he said, is time-consuming and often confusing.
Democrats on the committee used the hearing to highlight the broader economic pressures facing small businesses and consumers. Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts said that rising prices for fuel, electricity, food, and healthcare are squeezing both pet owners and the businesses that serve them.
The hearing underscored how deeply pet ownership has become embedded in American culture. According to industry figures cited during the hearing, millions of households now treat pets as family members, driving spending on food, veterinary services, grooming, and boarding.
