The mutt's day out - at a salon!

Diamonds, make-overs, designer collars...a myriad ways of indulging your pet pooch.

Is there anything better than diamonds? Chinky doesn't think so, especially as she wears her diamonds proudly around her neck. This, of course, after her oil massage, that is followed by a quick shampoo, complete with a smart haircut by a professional who has come home for it.

Then there's nutritious food that helps Chinky keep in shape and designer jackets that don't just look good, but also keep her warm these cold winter days. Her immediate plans, if all goes well, include becoming a member of a club where she could make a new set of friends.

Chinky, by the way, is no beauty queen but a pomeranian, and a pampered one at that, and is addressed by her mistress as her "daughter".

The good news is that Chinky isn't alone in her status as a pampered pet. A lot of speciality pet stores, clinics and clubs are springing up to cater to in the city to is the need of pet owners who want to purchase everything that money can buy and more for their pets.

Chinky's diamond-encrusted, pink-coloured collar may have come from Australia, but step into pet stores and you'll find fancy collars up for grabs. Why, designer labels like Swarovski and Louis Vuitton are happily designing collars for pets!

Chinky's club, which she might join, is actually the Bow-Wow Club, an exclusive place for pets in the NCR where they can play, roll, jump, bark in approval and eat special food prepared by chefs for pets.

Run by Mamta Sharma, a pet lover herself, Bow-Wow Club offers Chinese, Indian as well as fast-food, all prepared with pet-friendly ingredients.

Pets can opt for Puppy's Pasanda, a cottage cheese preparation with almond and cashew garnishing, Paw-Widge (or porridge) cooked in brown stock, or Subz-Slurpz Shorba, a soup made from vegetables and garnished with dog food croutons.

There's even a low-cal menu. In Mumbai, Wasiff Khan has been supplying special dog food in "dabbas". The food has passed all nutrition tests and Wasiff prepares dog cakes (complete with meat and chicken) for birthday parties owners have for their mutts.

Pets can also opt for pedicure sessions. If owners are desperate for a makeover for their mutt, there's Nail Pawlish, a special brand of pet nail colour, for their use. For more information, a good idea will be to pick up Woof!, a pet magazine published from Mumbai by Shirin Merchant.

Speaking of beauty and grooming sessions, Windsor, one of the most popular pet shops in Delhi, keeps special special hair colour and colognes for dogs. Gentle oil massages, treatments and even tick baths are on offer.

Besides massages and baths, pets can get their coats blow-dried and brushed with special conditioners. To sport a designer look, they can tie fancy bandanas and spray special dog colognes too.

Kolkata-based Jetex launched its pet transport service in 2002, where special fibreglass cages safely transfer pets from one destination to another. The service is priced on actuals like airfreight and surcharge. Owners also have to pay for cage rentals and to handler and vet.

No wonder Chinky is wagging her tail in approval.

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PET STYLING SERVICES

Top Dog: 45 Hoosein Manor, Bomanji Petit Road, Mumbai. Dial: 98200 70992/32414605

Tailwaggers: 16th Road, Khar, Mumbai

Pet Behaviourist: Shirin Merchant; Charges: Rs 1,000 per session
Dial: 9821054690

The Bagel Shop: Ground Floor, Anand Villa, Off Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Paws n Furs: Shop No 3, Kailash, 156 Waterfield Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai
Dial: 56990858

KPS, My pet shop: Shop No 5, Shivanjali Co-op Housing Society, Dr Ambedkar Road, Khar (W), Mumbai Dial: 65913333 Chembur,
Dial: 65914444

Shake hands: Ground Floor, Daulat Shirin Building, Next to Colaba Post Office, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba, Mumbai
Dial: 22162869 Ebrahim & Sons: Kwality House, 1, Hughes Road, Kemps Corner, Mumbai
Dial: 23805513

Sanam Rabadi:
Dial: 9892133104

Home-Care Dog Food service BY WASIfF KHAN:
Dial: 9820803330