In the US some people call the Black-footed Ferret a polecat.
And more people consider it another name for a skunk.
I’m not surprised. We buy our dogs new Halloween costumes every year and attend a few pet costume events.
For ourselves, we end up doing last minute Day Of The Dead costumes with makeup.
I would like to believe this is not true. It is horrifying if it is. Possibly this is a popular notion outside the US but I tend to doubt it. There are less than 100 million pet cats and dogs in the US and I doubt even 10% of them get new costumes every year. Still, the actual figure will be astounding enough.
ETA: This website does claim US sales of $0.7 billion in pet costume sales although I think that is actually the ‘other’ category after children’s and adult’s costumes. Still horrifying to consider compared to $1.2 billion for children’s costumes.
Horrifying, why? Last year Kizzy took second place in VooDoo Brewery, New Kensington’s Halloween pet parade. Loki took “most realistic”. Leaning Cask Brewing didn’t have voting, but several people bought Kizzy Brew Biscuits.
Yes, I would also like know how this fact is “horrifying “. That’s about $4 per US resident.
Yeah, I’m not sure “horrifying” is the right descriptor. But if @Tripolar’s estimate is correct (1 in 10 pets gets a costume), then that’s $100 being spent on each pet costume. Which seems extravagant to my sensibilities, but hey, it’s their pet and their money. And it’s not like the money is getting burned in a fireplace: somebody has a job and is getting paid to make those costumes.
Chicago millionaire died with no immediate heirs and no will. Nearly six years later, authorities tracked down 119 cousins who have inherited his estate.
In the town of Churchill Manitoba, on the shore of Hudson Bay, residents are in the habit of leaving the doors to their homes and their vehicles unlocked, so that anyone fleeing a polar bear will have a place to duck into. It is a tradition, not any kind of law.
In China.
The wolverine is actually outdone by the African Honey Badger, which regularly faces down lions, hyenas and leopards. It eats giant African porcupines by simply not giving a damn how many quills it takes, and regards the most deadly venomous snakes on the continent as snacks.
Or a maker on Etsy.
But still, when you think of what that money could be doing to solve problems such as children’s nutrition or fund learning, it’s pretty sad.
I have and have had, many pets in my life and they get admired plenty without costumes. I consider it a waste.
Here’s something I just learned.
What’s this thing called?
Did you say, “A podium”?
Nope, it’s not a podium. These are podiums:
The first pic shows a lectern, not a podium.
If you stand at it, with your feet on the floor or ground, it is a lectern. If you stand on it, it’s a podium.
The first thing that came to my mind was lectern but I would have thought that podium was a synonym. I can’t wait for my first chance to be pedantic about that.
The Beatles recorded one cover of a song from a Broadway musical “Til There Was You” from Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man.
McCartney didn’t realize it was from the show until after it was released; he had only hear a cover version.
Years later Wilson’s widow said he got more in royalties from the Beatles version than he did from the original cast album.
It looks like some online dictionaries consider it O.K. to call a lectern a podium. But I think it’s more fun to be pedantic about it. 
In the Catholic church such reading stands are called ambos.
I can effortlessly think of far, far more wasteful activities than dressing up pets.
The reason I don’t care for pet costumes is that the pets themselves rarely think it’s amusing. They don’t get it. I prefer to do stuff with my animals that they themselves understand and enjoy. But that’s just me.
I disagree. Last year Kizzy trained in her lion costume for two weeks. She looked forward to each session. At the breweries she enjoyed all the attention.
And this dog really enjoyed St Patrick’s Day.
I said rarely, not never. And I question whether it is the costume they enjoy or the attention. And there’s such a thing as dignity. However, this is getting to be a hijack, so I’ll stop here.