Luxury apartments are big business in urban areas, and apartment owners pull out all the stops to entice high-paying tenants — swimming pools, fitness centers, rooftop grills, the works. But these days, property owners have to cater to another kind of tenant, the kind that walks on four legs and barks.
In one San Diego high rise, canine tenants can sample treats and hydrate themselves at the lobby's "bark bar" while their owners scan the complimentary list of top-rated nearby dog walkers. After a muddy romp at the dog park, they can visit the on-site dog spa for a refreshing bath and blow-dry. A San Francisco building boasts a dog park on the roof, with staff to clean up after the resident pooches. And in New York, one developer built a doggy daycare for residents of its buildings, with activities that include art and baking.
Do dogs demand this level of luxury? Probably not. But demand (and spending) has risen all the same after the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a surge in pet ownership and more Americans spent all their waking hours with their new best friends. And not only did Americans start to spend more money on their pets — about 11 percent more since 2020, according to Morgan Stanley — they increasingly view it as essential spending and will trim budgets in other areas to accommodate it.
But don't feel bad if your dog doesn't live in the lap of luxury — after all, even a rich dog might eat a pair of dirty socks if left unsupervised.
