EL PASO - They have personal trainers, cooks, professional stylists, and they walk on four legs. People are paying top dollar for their pets in the Borderland, some sparing no expense.
While you're hard at work, some dogs in the Borderland are taking a dip in the pool and lounging in the Sun.
"She gets here and she goes swimming. She meets all her friends," pet owner Paul Jerome said. "She spends time with all the staff, which is very cordial and professional."
Jerome spares no expense making sure his dog Abbey is more than comfortable while he's working. He is one of dozens of pet owners who take their best friend to Doggie Daycare at the Southwest Animal Care Complex in Santa Teresa. Jerome spends no less than $200 a month spoiling his dog.
"They come in at noon-time, and they get a hamburger patty everyday," Southwest Animal Care Complex Owner Lyn McKee said. "We grill them here."
You would think that with people in the Borderland paying more for everything from gas to groceries, pet's might take a backseat to living the highlife, but spending for pet-care hasn't really slowed down. At least, not according to McKee.
"When the recession first hit, our boarding kennel numbers maybe went down a bit. People weren't traveling as much as they probably had been, but it's coming right back up again," she said.
It's not just the boarding kennels and Doggie Daycare, we're told dog training is another cost that hasn't been cut from pet owners' budgets.
"Most people that we have, their dogs are part of their family and by having the training it makes it easier to have them inside," Lyn McKee said. "They're well behaved."
Of course, if the dogs are trained, they have to be groomed.
"We do pamper him," Patricia Valdiviez said. "We do spoil him, and we think he looks beautiful every time we get him groomed."
She dishes out $35 for every grooming session for her dog Boy.
"It's just a good idea to keep your dog groomed," Valdiviez said. "It's like us, you know, we have to keep that up."
A trim here and there may be standard, but there's a growing trend in the Borderland for "high end" grooming.
"It was just a small Pomeranian dog, and we shaved it's body close, and then we painted on tiger stripes," Dogland Grooming Owner Sylvia Giron said.
Giron says more people are dying their dogs fur, but she assures us the dyes are safe, all natural and non-toxic. She also says some people pay upwards of $100 to make their pets beautiful. To top it off, another trend is on the way.
"'Pup-toos,' which basically they're like tattoos for dogs. They're like little stencils of hearts or stars, thunderbolts, and also sports teams," Giron said.
So, why do people continue to spend money for pet services that some may consider lavish?
"Because it is your best friend for 10 to15 years. By the time you go home, that dog is happy to see you," Jerome said. "The dog is unconditional love, and where do you receive that anymore? Not many places."
Pet owners say there are other valid reasons to pay for the expenses. They say Doggie Daycare helps pets stay active and healthy. Dog training prevents pets from running out of a home and onto a busy street. Regular grooming helps keep pets free of fleas, and the specialty dye jobs help boost pet confidence.
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