pet

Spa Paws Hotel to Open in Fort Worth, TX

Filed under: Pets

Spa Paws Hotel is opening this month in Fort Worth, TX and is set to replace the Pooch Hotel in Sunnyvale, CA as the most expensive and luxurious pet hotel in the nation. The $4.4 million 'resort' boasts pets-only rooms (no human guests allowed) with no cages or kennels, custom upholstered beds, and chenille and satin blankets complete with nightly turn-down service. It also has a state-of-the-art Wellness Center, a spa, and a shopping boutique. The Wellness Center provides both preventative and prescription treatments, depending on your pets needs, and specializes in Eastern medicine including acupressure and massage. The spa offers all the usual grooming services plus treats like aromatherapy, reflexology, and doggie facials, and (if you or your pet are in the mood to do a little shopping) you can find couture dog and cat fashions, collars, and accessories at the boutique.

Other features include a driving service for pick-up/drop-off, breed-specific areas for improved care and animal welfare, and an atrium with natural lighting and robotic squirrels for entertainment. Sounds so idyllic, even from a human perspective, that your pet might not want to go home with you when you come back from your vacation. Let the good times roll for $65 - $200 per night.

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Tags: pet, pet hotels, pets, spa paws hotel

Lazy Bonezz - Exclusive Interview with the Makers of Luxe Pet Furnishings

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Pets

When I heard the brand name "Lazy Bonezz," I wasn't sure what kind of company it was. Curiosity got the better of me, and I was pleased to discover luxury pet furnishings made with an eye toward sleek, modern interior fashion as well as smart functionality. The attractive, unobtrusive items for dogs and cats include an adjustable-height food/water dish, a scratching pad for cats that's not an eyesore and an impressive set of pet bunk beds. Finally, pet products that don't insult the integrity of your home design (see The Modern, $399, above, available in small or large).

Intrigued, I inquired about an interview with Lazy Bonezz designer Lorraine Shamie. My wish was granted and what follows is a surprising conversation about this unusual, mother-daughter company.

Luxist: So, are you a cat person or a dog person?

Lorraine Shamie: I love both cats and dogs. When we [Lorraine and her mother] started designing products we designed for both.

L: How did you get the idea for Lazy Bonezz?

LS: About two years ago, my mom and I were shopping for a gift for a close relative. She had a new baby Yorkie and just moved into a beautiful apartment in Manhattan. We wanted to buy her a stylish and comfortable pet-bed, but could not find anything that we felt she would want in her new apartment. We realized that there was a need for this type of product, and with our style and my father's manufacturing capabilities -- he runs Simmons Juvenile, a leader in the baby furniture world for 87 years -- we could solve this problem.

Gallery: Attractive Pet Products from Lazy Bonezz

Tags: cats, dogs, home, lazy bonezz, pet, pets

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"Million Dollar Listing's" Starla (the Chihuahua) is Sitting High

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Pets, Video

After all those years of discouraging my dogs from hovering near the table come meal time, a new product sold by Hammacher-Schlemmer pulls up a chair for them.

The Pet High Chair fastens to the edge of the table and allows dogs up to 10 pounds to sit comfortably suspended while you pass the kibble their way. Retailing for about $50, the chair is constructed of 600-denier nylon fabric and securely clips to tables up to two-inches thick. Its height can be adjusted without tools. The frame is powder-coated 5/8" steel tubing and the arms are rubber-coated so they won't mar table surfaces. Retailing at about $50 from the famed Hammacher Schlemmer -- "America's longest-running catalog offering the best, the only and unexpected for 162 years" -- the chair permits your dog or cat to accompany you at the dinner table at near eye level. I am resisting the urge to ask why this is a good thing and will accept on face value that for many, it apparently is.

From the catalog: "By providing an alternative to sitting on your lap, running disruptively underfoot, or outright banishment, the chair assuages a pet (and its owner's) frustration, and promotes more refined behavior."

The Pet High Chair folds easily for storage and travel and is machine washable. It has adjustable tethers for pet safety and to ensure there will be no leaving the table until excused, not to mention any breaches of table etiquette. It weighs about four pounds and is 12" long, 9.5" wide and 10" high.

Pet Gear Inc., which manufacturers the product, is a division of Vermont Juvenile Furniture -- a company that has been making baby care products since 1936. Pet Gear Inc. also makes pet playpens, bike baskets, ramps, strollers and car seats.

Since my 90-pound Golden Retriever couldn't diet his way down to fit in the chair, we invited Starla, the chihuahua who stars with Chad Rogers on Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing" show to try the product out for us. Starla, all four pounds of her, needed a seat pillow to perch up high enough to reach the table but once settled in, promptly fell asleep. Perhaps there is a dual marketing opportunity here: Suspended pet bed, anyone?

Video by Sophie Johnson

Tags: chad rogers, chihuahua, Chihuahua dogs, chihuahuas, dog high chair, pet, pet high chair, starla

Woman Builds $20,000 Dog House for 3 Pampered Pets

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

What does a $20,000 dog house look like? A lot like a regular house, only smaller and with furniture lower to the ground. 42 year old Tammy Kassis lives with her husband outside of Los Angeles and when an owl almost carried one of her 3 dogs away she decided to give them, Chelsea, Coco Puff, and Darla, a home of their own. She commissioned Alan Mowrer of La Petite Maison in Denver for the job and the result is an 11ft replica of the family home with luxury features like hardwood floors, heat, A/C, screened doors and windows, mini-blinds, handmade curtains, and landscaping complete with a white picket fence. She's even planning to install a plasma TV so the dogs can all watch Animal Planet together, their favorite show.

Mrs. Kassis was quoted as saying "My dogs are my life," but I can't help but wonder how much time are the dogs spending in this $20,000 doghouse instead of in the regular house with the family? Regardless, it's quite the accomplishment. See more shot, including the interior, in the gallery below.

Gallery: Tammy Kassis' $20,000 Dog House

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Tags: dog, doghouse, dogs, pet, pets

Charles Dickens' Dog's Collar Sold for $11,590

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Pets

A dog collar that once belonged to Charles Dickens was sold at Bonhams New York's 28th dog art sale last month and went for well above its pre-auction estimates of $4,000-$6,000. The collar, made of leather and brass and inscribed with Dickens' name (and address?), sold for $11,590. Although the final price was more than twice what was expected it's not completely without precedent: last year an ivory and gold toothpick that once belonged to Dickens went for $9,150. Dickens was known for being fond of dogs and this collar certainly looks well-worn.

Via Luxurylaunches

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Tags: auctions, bonhams, charles dickens, CharlesDickens, collar, dickens, dog collar, DogCollar, pet, pets

Molly & June Designer Dog Fashions

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

Molly & June is a boutique for small dogs founded on the idea that not only does your dog appreciate quality craftsmanship because it fits better and is more comfortable to wear, but that dogs can pick up on the benefits of fine fashion as well because they get more positive attention and their owners are happier. Named after the owner and designer France Simard's two best friends, the designs have a mixture of vintage and contemporary elements and are all handmade in Toronto, Canada using luxe materials like wool, cashmere, and organic cotton. $45-$180

Gallery: Molly & June Designer Dog Fashions

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Tags: dog, dogs, molly and june, MollyAndJune, pet, pet fashion, PetFashion, pets

HAPPY Act Would Allow Pet Owners up to $3,500 Tax Deduction

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

Even if you don't have pets, you've likely noticed how much more people are spending on their companion animals, and I don't just mean the vet, food, leashes, and litter. I'm talking about all the extras, such as carry bags, clothing, parties, day spas, etc. We've even mentioned on this site a number of expensive items you can purchase to indulge yourself, I mean, your pets. In fact, The American Pet Products Association reports that 2009 spending on pets hovers around $45.4 billion.

That said, no one is twisting pet owners' arms to buy all this stuff. But pet owners will be happy to know that they may get some relief from their day-to-day pet expenses in the form of the HAPPY [Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years] Act, a bill before Congress that would allow pet owners a tax deduction of up to $3,500 per person for pet care, including veterinary expenses. The bill, introduced by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), defines a pet as "a legally owned, domesticated, live animal," which covers dogs, cats and an assortment of other creatures.

When I mentioned the act to my family, I said, "I guess I'll need to prove I have pets, such as bringing a vet bill to the accountant." And they pointed out to me that years ago, no one had to prove they had children, and my parents even told me about some people they heard about who claimed to have children just for the deduction. (Now newborns leave the hospital as tax-paying citizens, complete with a Social Security number.)

USA Today has a good article on the HAPPY Act.

Tags: Congress, deduction, deductions, HAPPY Act, HappyAct, pet, pets, tax, taxes

House of Dog Cruelty-Free Pet Products

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

Love your dog but are distressed over all the leather products made for him or her? Then take a gander at House of Dog, which offers only 100% cruelty-free pet products made from fine faux materials. Products from all the main dog categories are available: collars, leashes, apparel, beds, carriers, toys, bowls, and even wedding sets, which I presume are special items so your dog can participate in a wedding (while collar, white leash, white carrier). House of Dog's signature creations feature a Luxist favorite -- handset Czech crystals. Click on each category to see the offerings, and take a look at the gallery for a selection of some of the products and the price ranges. The Signature Paw Bag shown, for example, is $320, and comes in seven colors. (Celebs love House of Dog; go here to see.)

Gallery: House of Dog Cruelty-Free Pet Products

Tags: cruelty free, cruelty-free, CrueltyFree, dog, dogs, faux, faux leather, FauxLeather, House of Dog, HouseOfDog, pet, pets

Should Dogs Wear Fur?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

There just seems to be something wrong about a fur coat for a dog, an animal that nature has already provided with a coat of its own. But for small dog without a thick winter coat of its own there is the chinchilla fur coat from Tails and Company. There are plenty of fake fur dog coats on the market but this coat is real chinchilla with a price tag that might be higher than what it cost to buy your purebred pup, $1,700. As the description on the website says, "or the person who has it all, we are sure that you don't have this." But is there something fundamentally hypocritical about draping an animal in another animal?

[Thanks, Angie!]

Should Dogs Wear Fur?
That's disgusting.	257 (72.0%)
That's adorable.	100 (28.0%)

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Tags: chinchilla fur, ChinchillaFur, coat, dog, pet

The Weizhi Pet Collection

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

Your dog is an integral part of the family, there's no doubt about that, so it's no wonder people are always looking for new and fun ways to treat their pets to some luxury and show off their little personalities. The Weizhi Pet Collection features collars and leads for dogs of exotic skins like snake, ostrich, and crocodile along with accents of pure silver and jeweled hardware. Weizhi was founded by designer Zhoucheng Shi and is based in Japan, with offices in Los Angeles. $3000

Gallery: Weizhi Pet Collection

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Tags: dog, dog collar, DogCollar, dogs, pet, pets, weizhi

Attractive, High-End, Cardboard Cat Scratchers? Yes!

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets, Green

I'm always on the lookout for interesting, functional products that (I hope) my cats will like and that won't make my home look junky. I recently found these cool corrugated cardboard cat scratchers at Design Public. Created primarily with recycled materials and with water-based glue, the scratchers/loungers are non-toxic and 100% recyclable. Several are from Elizabeth Paige Smith, others are from Marmalade Pet Care. See the gallery for the different styles and prices (from $35 - $320).

Gallery: Attractive, High-End Cardboard Cat Scratchers

Marmalade Pet Care Cheeky Chaise Cat Bed

Marmalade Pet Care Wall Flower Scratcher

Elizabeth Paige Smith Prrrounge Chaise lounge

Tags: cat, cat bed, cat beds, cat scratcher, cat scratchers, CatBed, CatBeds, cats, CatScratcher, CatScratchers, Design Public, DesignPublic, Elizabeth Paige Smith, ElizabethPaigeSmith, Marmalade Pet Care, MarmaladePetCare, pet, pets

Purrplex Cat Condo

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

Here's a classy and simple cat condo by Purrplex that looks nice and should keep your cat happy too. It's like a 1-BR home for your feline friend -- bathroom, bedroom, dining room and pantry, all in one. Constructed of high-density plastic laminate on high-density 3/4" particle board, Purrplex's surface is countertop grade laminate that withstands moisture. Cats enter through two ports in the left side. The lower leads to the sleeping area, the upper to the litter box area and then another jump up to the dining area. The pantry has one adjustable shelf. Comes in Wilsonart Antique White, Black or Wild Cherry. Dimensions: 30.75" W x 22" D x 34.5" H. $314.95; also available -- different cushions ($19.95). Free shipping!

[Thanks, Raeann]

Gallery: Purrplex Cat Condo

Tags: cat, cat condo, cat furniture, CatCondo, CatFurniture, cats, decor, pet, pet furniture, PetFurniture, pets, Purrplex

Mija Dog Beds by Wowbow

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Pets

Mija Dog Beds, manufactured by Wowbow and offered through the Swedish online store PID.se, offer a clean-lined, more modern look than many traditional pet beds. Crafted from 10mm thick acrylic and furnished with luxury faux suede cushions filled with shredded memory foam, the line is from London-based designer and dog owner Kim Bull, who got tired of dog beds emblazoned in plaids or paw prints. The bed comes in small (8,332 SEK = $911, in today's exchange rate), medium (9,723 SEK = $1,062), and large (12,505 SEK = $1,366) and in different colors.

Gallery: Mija Dog Beds by Wowbow

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Tags: Dog, Dogs, Mija, pet, pet bed, pet beds, pet furniture, PetBed, PetBeds, PetFurniture, pets, Wowbow

Enormous, Expensive Victorian Dog House

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

The title of this post does a good job at explaining exactly what this product is: it's a very large, very pricey house for your dog. I would argue that it's really more of a kennel because it has both a 6' x 8' fence-enclosed play area with a separate sleeping nook that's actually the dog house. The exterior is Victorian-themed with gables, gingerbread trim, and darling little shutters on the windows. Be careful if you have kids -- they'll probably want to take it over as a playhouse! $4,300

Via Bornrich

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Tags: dog, dog house, DogHouse, dogs, pet, pets

Ceramic and Platinum Travel Suitcase for Dogs

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Pets

A pet carrier for people who don't want to necessarily look like they're carrying a pet, this Ceramic Travel Doghouse looks more like a suitcase than a carrier. I like its crisp contemporary design, but can't help but wonder about two things: I don't see any openings other than the door, is there really enough airflow? And being made of ceramic and platinum, how much does the darn thing weigh?

I have to admit that as pet carriers go this one does have style appeal. Designed by Marco Morosini for Bosa, €670.

Via Bornrich

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Tags: dog, dog house, DogHouse, dogs, pet, pets, suitcase, travel