Pampered Pets

What? You didn’t get Fido a gift for Valentine’s Day? C’mon, you had plenty of choices. A festive party time tutu would have been nice. Or maybe a pink crystal bow hairpin.

Never mind. A doggie tux and some cool mirror shades can come in handy any time. And Halloween is just around the corner.

Costumes for Fluffy? This is not a joke. In fact, if you’re one of the more than 43 million households that own a dog or cat and lavish it with unconditional love, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

From brand-name toys and shampoos to faux mink coats for cold weather outings and personal chaise lounges for afternoon snoozing, there’s no shortage of ways to spend the family paycheck on your four-legged friends.

REIGNING CATS AND DOGS

Pet pampering is big business these days with products for animal companions now extending far beyond the traditional necessities. It’s easy to see why. More than 60 percent of all households own a pet. And while cats and dogs are still the most common pets, millions of fish, reptiles and other exotic animals have found their way into American homes.

Can’t leave home without them? Buy a backpack, stroller or lookout car seat so that Rover can get a bird’s eye view of the traffic. Harried from a 60-hour work week? Self-cleaning litter boxes, automatic feeders and self-warming pet mats are just the ticket. Dreaming of fame and fortune? Impress your friends with a teeny-weeny teacup pooch you can schlep around in a $1,000 designer purse, the de rigueur fashion accessory for celebrities like Paris Hilton.

And let’s not forget that all-important dinner party. Spot can have his nails polished, Tabby her claws cleaned, and both sprayed with botanical colognes available in scents such as woodsy woof or feline floral. A bad hair day for your beloved pet?

Visit a nearby groomer and have his hair “FURminated.” And while you’re feasting on smoked salmon and watercress, your pets can also enjoy their own low-carb specialized meals and gourmet bakery treats. Scraps from the table are so passé.

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ (AND GLITZ)

You can find many unusual items for pooch or kitty on the Internet. Just recently, Glitzy Pet Jewelry, a chi chi boutique whose products were introduced in celebrity gift bags at this year’s Night of 100 Oscar Stars Gala, launched a website advertising haute pet jewelry—crystals that mimic semiprecious stones and couture dog collars featuring whimsical ornaments and glitzy sequins—“all for the most discriminating dog and cat.” As if they know?

Even hotels are adopting pet-friendly policies that include everything from plush robes to a licensed masseuse on staff for your jet-lagged pooch. And when Bowser is not on the road, he can relax at the local pet hotel or day spa for a well-deserved beauty treatment. What more could an upwardly mobile dog possibly ask for, except maybe a portrait by a specialty photographer while he paws the cake at his “barkmitzvah” or “muttrimony”?

CANINE COUNSELORS,“CAT” SCANS AND MARMADUKE MEMORIALS

Pets are bona fide family members, so many folks feel they should have the best lives possible. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, nearly $36 billion was spent on the American pet in 2005, more than double that of a decade ago.

Pet owners are also spending more at the vet, the number one expenditure for dogs and cats. It seems like almost any type of treatment and procedure available to a human is now available for your animal—from cataract surgery and radiation therapy to laparoscopy and genetic testing. Many animal hospitals provide the services of psychologists, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons and cardiologists, while others offer alternatives to traditional veterinary care such as holistic healing, Chinese herb medicine and acupuncture. Some even have areas for supervised play groups to aid recovery. The sky’s the limit.

And when the end finally comes, you can bury your beloved pet in the backyard or memorialize him along with his friends at a pet cemetery or columbarium, like the one at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Somers, a peaceful little garden spot which opened several years ago, thanks to a generous donation from a parishioner.

Of course, it’s also possible that your pet may outlive you. Take Karl, a woodcarver from Seattle who owns a stunning blue and gold macaw named Beau. Karl has made arrangements in his will to have some friends find him a loving home. Per”pet”ual care is becoming a common practice.

Ok. So maybe you’re not quite ready to buy a squishy cow toy for Spot or spend your hard-earned cash on a red polka dot can-can dress. But if you give your pets lots of love, keep them on healthy diets, and take them to the vet at least once a year, your animal friends should enjoy healthy, happy lives and give you lots of pleasure.

PET POST SCRIPT:

Wendy DeGiglio still misses her beloved Scotty, a miniature collie mix who lived a long and healthy life on Mead Street in Yorktown. She gave him the best veterinary care possible, but never would have been caught dead taking him for a walk in a lumberjack vest—with or without rhinestones.

by Wendy DeGiglio