No 
matter how rough times get economically, we still love to pamper our pets.
Americans spent more than $61.4 billion on their pets in 2011 (the most recent figures available), according to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor. The average household spent more than $500 (beyond the typical amount for alcohol and men’s clothing). And tech companies are looking to get a slice of that pie.
Chris Morris: Journalist 