By Casey Miner, KALW
Dogs are a big business in San Francisco. And let’s say right now: we don’t know how big.
We know that a Yelp search turns up more than 650 dog-related businesses; we know that dog walking can net you 80 grand a year. But there are actually no hard numbers on how big this economy is here. As far as we can tell, no one keeps track. What we do know, is that when those businesses open, they can grow. And investors are starting to take note.
Let’s say you wanted to take your dog out on Union Street one day after work. So first, you pick her up where you left her that morning. Moulin Pooch is a “dog boutique and villa.” It would be nice to stick around for “Yappy Hour,” but she’s been there all day, so how about a change of scenery?
At Pet Grooming Headquarters, a tiny shop a few blocks away, your dog can get a bath, a haircut, and a nail trim. Then, all fluffed up, it’s time for a treat. Le Marcel Dog Bakery, has 60 different treats for dogs and even birthday cakes.
This is just one street – one tiny slice of the dog services the Bay Area has to offer. There’s a dog-u-mentary photographer and an animal communicator. There are dog reiki practitioners and dog massage therapists. There’s a newspaper called Bay Woof, a pet taxi, and a raw pet food delivery service. There are at least 300 members of the San Francisco Professional Dog Walkers Association.
And while we don’t know the total size of San Francisco’s dog economy, we do know what prices these services can… fetch. Your dog’s day out, which really uses just a few of these services, would cost about $120. And many new business owners are finding that there’s seemingly endless demand.
Read the complete story at KALW.