Bow-wow ties and tails - Pampered pets enjoy the best

For many pet owners in Placer County, dogs are an integral part of the family unit, elevated from their historical station as a furred appendage to their human owners. In fact, many dogs hold equal status as their bipedal brethren, with all the attendant needs to make their lives better.
Looking at the booming pet industry, from clothes and accessories to creature comforts and health foods for dogs, it's a safe guess that this is a growing phenomenon as dog owners find more ways to refine Fido's care and feeding. These days, when it comes to sprucing up your dog's life, the shoe is on the other paw.
Lauri Laporga is one of those people helping augment the connection between dog and owner. She organizes events for pet owners at private homes where she sells accessories aplenty as an representative of Petlane, a company that specializes in pet items. Known as a pet "pawty" Laporga's offerings run the gamut and she's held them from Placer County to the Bay Area.
"What we do is home parties for pet lovers. It's similar to Tupperware or Pampered Chef," Laporga said. "We have treats, toys and - what makes us different - whatever the dogs issues are ... If it's an aggressive chewer, we have products for that. Animals have different personalities. They have different things they like and are stimulated by."
While toys are a long-beloved staple, other items include pet ramps that help them get in and out of vehicles, and even seatbelts to strap them in safely while riding with their owner.
Laporga said she spends about 10 hours a week organizing and working pet parties, at about four a month.
Some canine lovers have even opened businesses dedicated to dogs. That was the motivation for Sherrie and George Ammirato, who opened up The Doggie Bag in Granite Bay six months ago.
The store, located at 6881 Douglas Boulevard, includes standard dog items and exotic offerings, including specialized food for dogs with specific needs.
From totes and carriers to toys and better nutrition, you can find the things here that may not be available at larger chain stores, said Sherrie Ammirato.
"We carry six different lines of holistic food for dogs," she said. "We're very much into nutrition. And all of our foods have no filler or by-product. Dogs typically find them much more palatable. It can clean up allergies, skin problems, or bad breath."
Those filler-free foods also mean less cleanup in the yard, she added.
"We are a little bakery, and have doggie pastries, boutique outfits, little dresses and Hawaiian shirts for dogs," she said.
Paw-erful stuff, indeed.
Jason Probst can be reached at jasonp@goldcountrymedia.com