DETROIT (CN) - In a niche complaint in the $38 billion pet industry, Crunchkins claims Chewed For Thoughts violates its patent on edible greeting cards for dogs.
Crunchkins is based in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Chewed For Thoughts in Milwaukee.
According to pet industry estimates, U.S. residents in the 69 million homes with pets will spend $38.4 billion on their animals this year. Of that amount, $2.7 billion will be spent on "pet services," including walking, grooming, and dog sitting.
(Cats do not need sitters. Cats generally think they do not need owners, either, though research on that has been delayed by cats' unwillingness to participate in the studies.)
Indiana University's business school reported that the U.S. pet industry employed 360,500 workers in 2002, who received $7.7 billion in payroll.
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