In Chico alone there are more than 15 pet stores that cater to the demand for pet products. Specialty bakeries offer homemade pet treats in shapes and flavors similar to their human counterparts, as well as clothing lines with matching outfits for owners and pets.
Big chains like Petco, located at 2005 Whitman Ave., offer a wide selection of weird pet products from car seats to catnip-flavored bubbles to ponchos, said employee Kim Reynolds. The store even has sleeping bags for dogs as well as various clothing items.
"I'm just amazed at the insane amount of money people spend on animal clothing," Reynolds said.
But not everyone thinks dressing your pet is a good idea.
First-year student Mai Xiong said she doesn't always like the way people dress their pets. If owner and pets dress alike that's OK, but not if they try to make their pets wear crazy stuff, she said.
"I don't like it when they have flowers around their necks or stuff that makes them look crazy," Xiong said.
Pets can now be seen sporting faux suede coats, tuxedos, wedding dresses and even body cooler wraps for those long hot Chico days of summer.
Big-name companies like Harley-Davidson have even gotten in on the action with their own lines of pet clothing. Now the well-dressed pet can sport their own leather coat, helmet and goggles for bike rides through the park and then recline on their very own Harley dog bed or kitty chaise lounge.
Senior Sara Wiele said that although she's never bought anything special for the family pets, her mom bought their two dogs a large bed to sleep on.
"We call it their motel but it's really just a big, big padded thing," Wiele said.
For some pets, gourmet treats like kitty cabernet and mutt merlot will wet their whistles before dining on kitty sushi or organic Paul Newman dog chow. Also available are holistic entrees like duck with sweet potatoes and avocado so choosey owners can share their healthy menu choices with the furry members of the family.
Organic pet supplies and other treats can be found in Chico at smaller pet stores like Planet Paws, located at 1361 Longfellow Ave.
Employee Kim Smith said the store offers jewelry and gifts for other members of the pets' family, as well as toys for having fun.
And for just having fun, pets can be seen leaping about chasing peanut butter or catnip flavored bubbles and chasing their George Bush squeaky toys. Cat-a-pults that launch plastic toys for cats to chase and voodoo chew toys for dogs are just some of the wild and crazy accessories available.
Custom carrying bags, life jackets and healthy snacks are some of the items that can be found at Scraps Dog Bakery in the Skypark Plaza. The bakery offers homemade dog and cat goodies that can be ordered in fun shapes like bunnies and chicks that were available for Easter pet bowls.
Located at 2485 Notre Dame Blvd., the store is a fun place to visit for people and their pets, said owner Cindy Brasier. The two resident dogs, schnauzer Alexis and Yorkie Angel love to play and greet newcomers at the store.
Brasier said she does get some weird request for pet items now and then.
"I'm still looking for a doggy doorbell right now," she said. "So the dog can ring the bell every time he wants to go out."
Marty Sternberg can be reached at
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