San Francisco top city for spoiled pooches

SAN FRANCISCO, June 17 (UPI) -- San Francisco is one of the top U.S. cities when it comes to the trend of treating one's dog like royalty.

The City by the Bay is host to numerous dog hotels and salons, a pet cemetery, dog cocktail parties and even a plan by City Hall to turn dog droppings into alternative energy. San Francisco also boasts many dog parks, designer pet toy boutiques and restaurants where owners are allowed to bring their dogs.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported dogs actually outnumber children in the city. San Francisco's Animal Care and Control department estimates 120,000 dogs in the city and anywhere from 108,000 to 113,000 children, according to recent census figures.

San Francisco residents say the abundant population of dogs is in part because parents are finding it harder and harder to afford the high price of living in the city. Also, the city's high number of gay couples often opt for canines over kids.

Pet owners in the United States spent $38.5 billion on their animals in 2006, up from $21 billion in 1996, the Chronicle reported.