A luxury holiday, a personal chef, designer clothes and beauty therapies – they could be on anyone’s wish list, but they’re actually things people would like to pamper their pets with if they had the money.
According to a report by credit card company Capital One, people spend an average of £264 a year on gifts for their pets, but Ewa Kasyan from Stevenage spends about £500 a month on her pampered pooches.
The 36-year-old indulges her six dogs with steak bought from a butcher every Friday, a roast dinner on a Sunday, and tailor-made clothes from around the world.
“They are my babies,” admits Ewa, who lives in Broadwater Crescent.
“I treat them just like you would a child.”
The dogs sleep in beds, eat their food sitting around a table, and go to dog school. They are pushed around in a buggy, have swimming lessons, pampering at a pet salon and a present every week.
Each dog – Mini, Maxi, Aida, Stan, Lulu and Nino – gets a birthday party, with hats and party bags for the pooches, a special doggie cake and games. Her dogs also get Easter eggs and Christmas presents.
Ewa once bought a pet palace for her dog Lulu – who has her own Facebook page and nearly 400 followers – as she felt she needed a special place to rest her head.
She said: “Lulu is amazingly dextrous for a little dog and loves to show off her latest dress or jacket to her loyal followers on Facebook. She’s a real trend setter.
“I’ve always had a thing for dogs. It’s a family thing - my mum and dad are the same. My friends think I’m crazy, but I don’t care.
“I have coats specially made for my dogs from all over the world. I’m always dressing them in fancy clothes and tiaras.
“They have regular outings to London, and we hire a field for them to run off their leads. It’s hard work, but I love it. It makes me sick to see dogs not treated well.”
Ewa has even entered competitions to have her pooches cloned, so she would never have to be without them.
It appears we are a nation of pet lovers, with people elsewhere in the country spending £3,500 on a doggie watch, £1,400 on a pet treadmill and £600 on a mink coat for their pet.
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