Toys account for a good percentage of pet goods sold.

flickr photo courtesy of TheGiantVermin

The face of sharing life with beings of the four-legged variety is ever changing, and as our relationships with them evolve, the need to find ways to better care for them is a priority.

Some folks make it clear that when it comes to pet lovers, they are out of their minds with the diligence they pay to finding the right balance of comfort and care, or just the right product or tool to help address an issue — not to mention the food choices that they can pick from.

It seems perfectly natural for people to enjoy caring for another living thing that has come to depend on the nurturing.

Undoubtedly, we have changed the course of the evolution of pets — namely dogs — just as they have changed ours. Having said that, which of those processes came first?

Chances are, it really doesn't matter. What matters is what is going on today.

The terms we use to identify the role that our pets have in our families have become more endearing, and some people refer to their pets as their 'kids'. With the kind of time and effort that a lot of humans spend on caring for these four-legged, winged and scaled critters, they very well might feel that way — who is to say that's not okay? That's their business.

Or, perhaps the folks looking in from the outside simply view that symbiotic relationship and phrase it the way they think they see it — "Oh, they treat their pets like they are their children." These people focus on the pet needing care, supervision and consideration, rather than it being a case of humans doing what they do best sometimes: nurturing another living thing.

One thing is certain. Pets are a part of the family.

For a number of established companies and private equity firms, that's a good thing. They are becoming increasingly involved in the industries that have seen gains in sales and stability where pets are concerned.

With pet products of all kinds becoming the norm rather than a frivolity, it's likely that they will have a very merry holiday season.

Click here to read more on the growth of the pet industry and where it might be headed in a piece on a Wall Street Journal blog post by Mohammed Aly Sergie.

Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com. Catch her daily dog walking and pet sitting adventures or email her directly.