[News] Las Vegas The Hotspot for Doggy Pampering

[fasteddie]

Wow, suites for $129 a night for your doggy! That place looks really neat, it's about 105 in Vegas right now, they better have 24/7 monitoring for that kinda money! Perhaps if Yoda's Mommy and Daddy hit Megabucks, Yoda will get to stay there for a little while (when Mommy and Daddy go play in Vegas). :P
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Georgey is quite the charmer. He has an almost professional way of fusing class, style and a dazzling personality. He walks with a slight bounce, usually spilling his chic hair into his eyes. He's usually the shortest one in the crowd, but also the most adorable.

Not to say Georgey isn't committed to his beauty. His personal beautician comes to his house every six weeks for a stylized haircut and full-body massage. He has regular physicals and dental cleanings. He watches his diet carefully, eating all-natural food. His outfits range from high-class Burberry London accessories to a T-shirt and jean jacket. But beyond all of the primping and pampering, Georgey's cuteness stems from his natural adorability as a nine-pound Yorkshire Terrier.

Georgey is part of an up-and-coming group in the United States -- the pampered pet. Shelley Mansholt, like many "parents" of pampered pets, doesn't have children of her own and so, bestows her motherly instincts on Georgey.

She cooks and cleans for him, buys him toys, often takes him with her when she's driving around and is very concerned about his health and safety. She carries him when he's tired, rides her bike with him strapped to her chest, always buckles him into a car seat and has a watercolor portrait of him hanging in her living room.

Mansholt admits she spoils her pet, but she feels she's just giving back all the love Georgey gives her.

"I'm going to give him the unconditional love he gives me," Mansholt says.

The pamper-your-animal craze has created a whole new market, with products such as the doggy treadmill and low-carb health supplements. Las Vegas has also capitalized on the fad doing what Vegas does best -- customizing the luxury hotel.

"Luxury hotels aren't just for people" is the slogan of the American Cat and Dog Hotel, located at 2900 E. Patrick Lane. Upon entering, you are surrounded by hand-painted furniture, mystical animal paintings and oriental rugs. The scent of mango and dog intermingle with the sounds of barking and the Gypsy Kings.

As the phone rings, the smiling woman behind the front desk answers brightly, "It's a wonderful day at American Dog and Cat Hotel. How can I help you?"

Behind her, oversized glass windows display 11,000-square-feet of playroom, complete with an indoor grass area and large TVs. Dogs of different sizes and breeds are sprawled about, larger dogs on the right and smaller ones on the left.

"It's like a dog park in the daytime and a slumber party at night," says Christopher Easley, owner of the hotel.

Hotel accommodations extend from the group area to personalized suites. Each suite has its own personal TV, water cooler, rug and a fan or air conditioning. The rooms vary from the size of a large closet to the size of a large bedroom, and the décor changes from Diego Riviera framed prints to a daybed, antique furniture, pottery and candlesticks. Cat suites consist of three floors, including bathroom, kitchen and den.

Although the suites might seem a little pricey -- ranging from $44 to $129 per night -- Easley says it's a question of how comfortable you want your dog to be.

"It's a different concept, but you get what you pay for," Easley says. "You can stay at the El Sombrero on Boulder Highway for $29 a night, or you can stay at the Hard Rock for two hundred dollars a night."

Most of his customers are local people who are leaving for vacation, renovating their home or having a party, but he does board quite a few dogs from out of state, and sometimes from out of the country. Easley says that in all cases, the owners just want their animals to be as comfortable as possible.

"Eighty percent of the people haven't left them any place else," Easley says. "A dog or a cat is part of the family, and they wouldn't put a son or a daughter in a cage."

Easley came up with the idea for the hotel partially because of his background in marketing. But he also did it because he understands people's desire to return the unconditional love their pets give.

"We are treating them no different in life than we are treating other beings," Easley says as he pulls a photo of himself and his Dalmatian Coco out of his wallet. "Be the person your dog thinks you are."

Although many pet novelty businesses are popping up because of the growing market, sometimes they form for a certain animal. That is the case with Missy and Me Gourmet Pet Treats, located at 10300 W. Charleston Blvd. It is a pet-inspired bakery opened three years ago by Anita and Jack Levy.

"This is Missy's store," Anita Levy says as she introduces a sleepy, white Chihuahua. "She's a thirteen-year-old holistic dog that has not been fed food that is not healthy, organic or natural. That's why she looks as good as she does."

And no one can dispute Missy's twinkling smile or glossy coat. She looks very much at home in the simple yet sophisticated bakery, decorated with Polaroids of animals and a giant glass mural of Missy in the back.

Peanut butter cups and yogurt-dipped cookies are daintily piled beneath a glass case lining counter. Bottles of enzymes, antioxidants and liquefied kelp are neatly arranged in the back. Silver racks holding natural dog foods and pre-packaged treats line the rest of the store.

The selection is elegant and tasty, even for humans. A few choices include low-fat turkey stars, low-fat, low-calorie diet carrot bars and low-fat carob peanut butter hearts. Levy uses all-natural ingredients and makes everything fresh.

Levy's knowledge of animal dieting comes from years of caring for show pets and her constant battles with bad reactions to commercial foods. After seeing the effects diet changes had on her pets, she converted her attitude towards animal health.

Levy treats every customer with full attention, often times recommending ways to enhance their health and in some cases, denying the sale of certain foods if she thinks it will harm the animal.

"I'd rather not have you as a customer than sell you something you think you want, but I know is not appropriate for your baby," Levy says.

She is also proud of her knack for figuring out the animals' tastes.

"I qualify them," Levy says. "I look at their age, their breed, their dietary needs, if the dog's on medication, what kind of commercial food they are on and if they are an only child. Some dogs love fish, other dogs can't stand it. Some like cheese, others don't. The owners can see it. They live with these babies, and they know."

As for Missy, she is Levy's favorite because she's the smallest and because Levy's had her for so long.

"This isn't an animal; this is just part of my life," Levy says looking into the cradled Missy in her arms.

But beyond treating their animals well, "parents" like showing them off. Pam and Sean Dunleavy are bringing Malachi, their amber boxer-pitbull mix, in for his first family portrait. Malachi is a little overstimulated in the photo studio, spastically running around, sniffing and investigating everything he sees.

Unfortunately the full family couldn't come. Malachi's sibling, a four-and-a-half-foot, 12-pound iguana, was left at home so he wouldn't attack the dog again.

Since Portrait Factory at 1860 Western Ave. opened a little over a month ago, more than 15 family photo shoots have included pets. Requests have been made for individual pet portraits, animal group shots and one request for a horse photo (although getting the animal through the front door was too much of a concern).

The studio's philosophy toward animals and kids is to have them wear themselves out as much as possible before the session. This way they'll be more relaxed during shooting. Andrea Perkins, one of the studio's photographers admits that the shoots can get a little hectic.

"We just had five dogs in here, and that was a little crazy," Perkins says. "But I've never seen a pet get really rowdy. We just let them play."

After Malachi tires of his sniffing frenzy, he lies down next to his mom and dad. After the shoot they might take him to get an ice cream treat or to pick out a new toy.

"He's really spoiled," Sean Dunleavy says.

Aren't they all.

American Cat and Dog Hotel

2900 E. Patrick Lane, Las Vegas Nevada 89119

Phone: (702) 795-3647

Web site: www.doghotel.net

Missy and Me Gourmet Pet Treats

10300 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Nevada 89135

(702) 228-3121

Web site: www.missyandmegourmetpettreats.com

Portrait Factory

1860 Western Ave., Las Vegas Nevada 89102

(702) 735-4700

Web site: www.portraitfactory.com

http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/artic...ews/news12.txt

[bettyeanne]

WOW!!! And we thought Toto was spoiled and pampered!? Don't ever want her to find out about this place!!! I feel so guilty!!!