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Dog days
Products to pamper the pooches (and kitties) in your life
BY CHRISTINE JUNGE

Many people pamper their pets as though the animals were children. Luckily for dog and cat owners, there are plenty of products available to spoil these species of "sons" and "daughters."

Though feeding your kitty out of a champagne glass, as seen on some cat-food commercials, may seem a bit much, Gadgets in Jamaica Plain offers up some interesting pet bowls ($5.50–$17) with matching placemats ($2.75–$3.50). The store has enough variety to satisfy even the most finicky feline or picky pooch, from ceramic dishes with scenes of frolicking animals to brightly colored plastic dishes and traditional stainless steel. For the dog who’s moving and shaking his tail all over town, Gadgets even offers collapsible bowls (two sizes, $15.50 and $16.50) that can be carried in a knapsack, then popped open and filled with water for thirsty pooches.

Gadgets also sells bone-shaped cookie cutters ($4–$8), so you can be sure your dog is getting only the best homemade treats. (Recipes are included.) If you’re not much of a culinary whiz, you can find gourmet canine goods at Fi-Dough. The store’s biscuits ($7.49/pound) are made with human-quality, all-natural ingredients, which Fi-Dough president Joe Thompson says "isn’t true of all the Milk-Bones of the world." It even stocks bone-shaped cakes ($21.95) for doggie-birthday parties, which Thompson says more and more owners are throwing each year.

Karen Pacino, owner of Brookline’s No Bones About It, can vouch for that. She says that with pet parties growing increasingly popular, owners are looking for space other than their own living rooms to entertain their "guests." No Bones offers a puppy-party place ($20/hour), where owners can invite 15 to 20 of their pooch’s friends to come play without putting a strain (or stain) on the owner’s carpet, furniture, or patience.

No Bones also sells dog clothing, which Pacino says some breeds need for the region’s harsh winters. It’s never too early to stock up on boots, sweaters, and fleece coats ($25–$65). If your stylish dogs give you dirty looks when you try to slip them into goofy winter wear, you can always appease them with a really cool collar. No Bones sells collars and leashes in leopard and other animal prints, bone patterns, and leather ($7.99–$15.99).

Where to find it:

• Fi-Dough, 103 Charles Street, Boston, (617) 723-3266.

• Gadgets, 763 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, (617) 524-6800.

• No Bones About It, 1786 Beacon Street, Brookline, (617) 277-2627.



Issue Date: August 8 - 15, 2002
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