Hairstyles, heel heights, skirt lengths. . . things change a lot in five years if you’re a human. But for decades, our animals’ lives stayed pretty much status quo. About five years ago, however, the tide turned. The burgeoning wellness movement for people sparked a similar trend for our furred and feathered friends. Humans everywhere “came out of the closet” to admit they loved their animals as much as their children, their siblings, their best friends and, in some cases, even their spouses! Our confessions and concerns created thousands of new products and services aimed squarely at improving our animal companions’ lives. And over the last five years, Animal Wellness Magazine has been there every step of the way.

Top Trend: TRAVEL
Bon voyage!
Five years ago, “No pets” signs were the norm at most hotels and motels across North America. These days, well-behaved animals are not only welcome – they get their own Welcome basket! Chains such as Westin and Fairmont recognized that people would travel more if they could bring their four-legged friends. You may have to pay a bit of a premium, but the convenience is worth it. On the airline front, some companies are making a concerted effort to develop more animal-friendly transportation guidelines so you don’t have to worry. Carriers such as Continental have established special safety protocols for handling animals, while newcomer Companion Air lets your animal travel right inside the cabin (you can come along, too!).

Top Trend: ENTERTAINMENT
Pass the remote!
Remember how you used to get bored on rainy days ’cuz you had to stay inside? Now, those days are few and far between for our animal companions. Instead, they can pass the time watching DVDs or listening to music! A number of companies have created fun family viewing directed right at the four-legged audience. There are bird DVDs for cats and exciting dog parties and adventures aimed at canines. If your companion gets nervous or lonely, you can try out one of the specially composed CDs or tapes designed to soothe anxiety and give your animal a sense of peace. Hmmm – not a bad idea. Maybe we all need one of these in our collection!

Top Trend: DIET
Food, glorious food!
Five years ago, there was only a handful of what we would call “good quality” pet foods on the market. Today, however, you can choose from a wide variety of packaged foods that contain whole meat sources, veggies, quality grains and fruits. Words like hormone-free, antibiotic-free and pesticide-free are starting to grace package labels. And we’re even beginning to see organic foods hit the shelves.

Top Trend: GENTLE TRAINING
Saying “Ciao” to choke chains
No matter what you call it -- dog whispering, horse whispering, behavioral modification – obedience training has taken a turn for the better. Many organizations and individuals now advocate a more gentle approach to teaching our animal companions how to act appropriately. Dangerous choke chains are being replaced by gentle head halters, and enlightened experts teach the benefits of socialization at an early age so aggressive altercations can be avoided later. In general, gentle training at best involves praise, treats, and hugs, and at worst, a cold shoulder or time-out. With these more humane services available, guardians can easily avoid organizations that use corporal punishment or aggressive tactics.

Top Trend: NO-KILL SHELTERS
Just say “No”
While there’s still a long way to go, the “no-kill” shelter revolution has slowly been gathering speed over the last few years. Thanks in part to Maddie’s Fund, a $240 million foundation established in 1999 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield, no-kill shelters are springing up across the U.S. The Fund provides grants to organizations that wish to end the practice of euthanizing dogs and cats because of overcrowding in shelters. According to the Fund, “the term no-kill clearly and powerfully protests the status quo, that being the killing of millions of savable animals in animal shelters every year. At the same time, it describes a new approach to animal sheltering and a new commitment to saving lives within animal welfare organizations.” In general, no-kill shelters do not euthanize healthy or treatable dogs and cats, but only those they deem non-rehabilitable. This is a huge departure from previous practice. Of note, the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City, a partnership that involves more than 60 non-profit animal care groups, is the most recent to announce its plans to make New York a “no-kill” city.