When it comes to taking care of your pet, PoorLittleRichGirls understand that you want the best care possible. However, between grooming, walking and overnight stays it can be costly to care for your furry friends. Here are the PLRG Preferred (Pet) Picks to help you out:

PLRG Preferred Groomer

The Barking Lot
www.thebarkinglotinc.com
Chicago
2442 W. Irving Park Road
Phone: 773-583-0065
Fax: 773-583-2203

The cost here is competitive - a small to medium sized dog will run you $45, but the service includes a bath, condition, hair cut, nail clipping, ear cleaning and anal gland expression. While you’re there you can find all-natural foods and treats for your pet.

PLRG Preferred Dog Walking Service

Windy City Dog Walkers
www.windycitydogwalkers.com
910 W. Van Buren St. #401
Chicago, IL 60607
773-744-0745

For $12, your pooch will be walked (by him or herself) for 25 minutes. PLRG found other walking services for the same price, but Windy City guarantees you will have the same walker every time, and plus they use 100% biodegradable and compostable bags for waste and even write their daily updates on reusable message board to reduce waste!

PLRG Preferred Pet Boarding

Bark Chicago, Inc.
www.barkchicago.com
1804 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60612
312-850-2275

It’s hard enough to leave your pet for more the day, let alone overnight. Visit Bark Chicago and you’ll feel more the comfortable leaving Fido in their care. For $40/night, your pooch will stay in a luxury boarding suite constructed of marble floors and walls with atrium style glass enclosures. $40 includes all-day playtime, late night kong filled treats and plenty of attention.

(Noelle Provencial)

Oh Fido, how I adore thee…

Pets are the most loyal companions we could ask for. They unconditionally love us. They don’t talk back (unlike some of our sassy friends!) And in some cases they can even bring us our slippers. The least we can do to thank them & show our appreciation is to gather up their buddies and celebrate their nine lives by hosting a personalized birthday extravaganza.

We’ve got the goods you’ll need to throw the puuuuuuuuuurrrrfect pet birthday party. Remember- It’s BYOB (bring your own bone).

For the feline/canine guest of honor

To distinguish the birthday gal/guy try this birthday tshirt (www.just4pooches.com, $20.99)

Invitations

Invite all of your best dog park buddies along with their owners by sending these adorable invites (www.barktalk.com, $15.95 for a set of

Decorations

Try copying your pets pout onto banners to string around your party venue. You can even copy the pic onto some paper plates and napkins for an extra special personalized touch.

Snacks

Try these yummy pet cookies in the shape of bones. You can use carob, which is a chocolate substitute that won’t affect your pet. Regular or sugar free sprinkles are also safe for pet consumption.

OR try these cute cat themed cupcakes using small candies as eyes and mouth, licorice as whiskers, M&M’s as eyes and cookies as ears. (For human consumption only)

Cake

Take your pet’s cutest pic to the bakery department of Costco, Jewel or Dominicks and have them design a personal cake to honor your pet.

OR if you are feeling domestic try this cake recipe from bellaonline.com that is safe for all of the pet guests. 

Games

• Have a dog/cat biscuit scavenger hunt
• Water bowl relay races with real dog bowls
• Tug of War
• Puppy challenge obstacle course
• Pin the tail on the puppy

Party favors

You can find animal themed cellophane baggies at dollar stores or your local pet stores. Then fill them with small, plush puppies or kittens; stickers; notepads; or coloring books. You can also put an assortment of pet treats: bones, biscuits and cookies in small baggies for a surprise treat. There many small goodies to fit most budgets.

(Kristin Hamzik)

“Hey Sal - My Neighbor never picks up his dog’s business (I ruined my good shoes because of it). How do I broach this subject?”
- Mary, Chicago, IL

Mary,

You are not alone in your quest for clean common ground. If you take a walk down Lake Shore you’ll come across fences, signs, even the occasional over zealous doorman - all combining efforts to make sure there’s nothing left behind on Rover’s walks. But still, some people continue to be caught without a bag. So what do you do?

My first idea is to simply make a sign and post it in the common area of your building. Something along the lines of, “Your friendly neighbors remind you to please pick up after your pet!” There are plenty of online resources to help you with the wording - try epa.com for a scientific spin, or thedogsbestfriend.com to appeal to his animal loving nature. (Please note, if you live in a condo building with a board, this is exactly the sort of thing you should feel comfortable bringing to their attention - don’t mention any names though, or you could find yourself in a even stickier (ew) situation).

The other option? Just talk to your neighbor. I’m hesitant to recommend this because I’ve had plenty a crazy neighbor and you never know if this rudeness is negligence, or a “devil-may-care, I pay taxes so I can do what I want,” type crazyman. You’re just going to have to feel it out - but not literally. Please not literally.

(This advice column is brought to you by the ever graceful, polished and in-the-know, Sally Jackson. Sally is happy to offer her tips and guidance on everything from relationships to fashion to saving money. If you have a question for Sally, go ahead and email her at Sally@PoorLittleRichGirls.com)

Picture this: You’re shoulder to shoulder with all the other corporate America drones, stuck in traffic on the CTA bus on a beautiful fall day. As you stare longingly out the window thinking up creative ways to accidentally stab your boss with a pencil, you see a girl trekking down the sidewalk with a couple of dogs in tow. Then you think, “I should just give up my office job and become a dog walker.”

Well, we’ve had those days too, so we decided to catch up with Amanda from Supreme Pet Care in Lakeview and see what its really like.

Last March, Amanda and her partner Chris decided to open up Supreme Pet Care and the two now spend their days walking dogs, playing with cats, and generally having an animal lovers dream job. With doggie day care prices through the roof, hiring a dog walker has become a very popular and cost efficient alternative.

What’s the best part about being a dog walker? According to Amanda, “Every day is fulfilling.” Not to mention the full body workout. She can pretty much eat whatever she wants now. She told us she’s actually lost somewhere around 15 pounds since she started the business.

Inevitably, a little bit of bad always comes with the good. Facing “attack cats” and walking in bad weather can sometimes weigh negatively on the profession. But hey, when given the choice between TPS reports or quitting your expensive gym membership because you just don’t need it anymore, we think we’d rather follow Amanda and Chris’s lead.

Have your own Fido or Tiger already? Drop by www.supremepetcare.com and see what Amanda and Chris can do for you. They offer cat visits, doggie walks, pet-sitting and transportation. Your pets, and your wallet, will love them.

(Lindsey Duda)

We at PLRG cannot imagine eating the same dry, minimal flavored food every day. Especially with all of the options we have. Unfortunately, our pets usually don’t have this luxury. We tend to forget our cuddly companions when we are drinking our fave wines and noshing on all the amazing food that Chicago has to offer.

So thanks to www.bullwrinkle.com we now have some easy homemade recipes that were created to spice up our pets’ diets and to let them know just how much we care (links to some good one below). Trust us, your little angel will be incredibly thankful!

• Healthy Doggie Cookies
• Banana Biscotti
• Thanksgiving Treat
• Everyday Biscuits

I propose to abolish the use of the phrase “men are dogs.” This saying has long been used to describe cheating boyfriends, lying husbands and all around bad guys. But, I say, that this expression is offensive to our four legged friends. When have you ever caught your dog in bed with another owner? Has your pooch ever ignored your calls? Went out to the store, never to return? Of course not and that’s why we love them.

Our pets are loyal, cuddly and offer us unconditional love (unlike some of these so-called “men” we like to compare them with). A recent study even suggests that they are capable of reading our facial expressions and in turn can sense our emotions and act accordingly. That’s amazing! Especially considering the last time you were upset, arms crossed and brow furrowed, your Bf asked if you were alright and then took your word for it when you replied ”No, I’m fine.” So, it’s no wonder PoorLittleRichGirls have a special place in their hearts for these loyal companions.

For as long as animals have been domesticated (about 15,000 years), from Queen Victoria to Drew Barrymore to Martha Stewart, pets have been an important part of womens’ lives. Here at PLRG we too have a pet who holds a special place in our hearts. She is a Shih Tzu named Pepsi and she is the “unofficial mascot” of PoorLittleRichGirls. Pepsi is often present at our meetings, greeting us at the door as we arrive, keeping us entertained and maybe just a little distracted. She is technically Noelle’s baby, but we are all smitten with her and treat her as our own whenever we have the chance.

We know you all have Pepsi’s of your own out there, so this week we wanted to pay homage to our favorite domesticated friends. We’ve got the inside track on gourmet pet food, great dog walkers and even accessories for your goldfish. So, pull out your laptop, snuggle up with your pup and forget about that guy from last weekend who hasn’t called you back. He could never be as smart and easy to train as Fido anyway!

Lacey Brenly

Editor in Chief

With the emergence of luxury items like Louis Vuitton’s Monogram Canvas Sac Chien ($1890) and gold metallic Juicy Couture collar and leash sets ($95), pampering your pet can be a costly process when taken to the extreme.

But on Saturday, November 8, hundreds of dog owners in Oak Park paid just $5 for their pooches to celebrate the ultimate canine commitment in what they hoped would be the world’s largest dog wedding. The ultimate goal of the ceremony, dubbed I Do, Doggone It!, was to break the Guinness World Record held by the town of Littleton, Colo., in which 178 canine couples were “wed.”

Many pets in the Oak Park ceremony belonged to owners who had known each other for years, but for canines going solo, a speed-dating service was provided to form last-minute connections.

With a total of 87 canine couples walking down the aisle, the Oak Park ceremony did not break the Guinness record, but more than $6,000 was raised for The Animal Care League in Oak Park in the process.

Participating in a dog wedding may not have the same glamorous effect that designer collars do, but donating $5 to charity for the chance for you and your pooch to break a world record? That’s spending we can feel good about.

(Taryn Tawoda)

Who said dogs were a man’s best friend? Us girls at PLRG cherish our beloved pooches. In 2005 Dogfriendly.com voted Chicago the most dog friendly city in the country. So, there’s no excuse to keep Fido home while you’re out and about in Chi-town! Below are some fun Chicagoland activities for you and your pup.

PLAY SOME CHESS
Of Mutt and Men (2149 W. Belmont) is an indoor alternative to dog parks in Roscoe village. You can avoid the harsh winter wind while playing chess and pool, drinking free coffee and watching TV. It costs $3 per dog for a day pass and a monthly pass is $40. There’s even a special area for obedience training. It’s a great place for your doggie to roam leash-free and meet new friends. And who knows? Maybe you will too!

TRAVEL LIKE ROYALTY
Allow your pooch to rest his paws while you sit back, relax and take in the gorgeous Chicago skyline. Antique Coach and Carriage Company, Chicago Horse and Carriage Rides and Step in Time Carriages welcome dogs to join you on scenic rides through Chicago. Just make sure your doggie is well behaved and on a leash.

SHOP WITH FIDO
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed at the North Michigan Avenue Neiman Marcus. Who knew?

BECOME A TOURIST
Go ahead and revisit Navy Pier, the always classic Chicago landmark. Fido can join you while walking outside and chill with you at the outdoor Food Court seats. But, you’ll have to leave ‘em outside while buying trinkets in the indoor shops. And of course, your four legged friend isn’t allowed on the Ferris wheel.

CATCH SOME RAYS
Have your dog help you pick up some hot shirtless guys next time you hit the beach! At Montrose Harbor Dog Beach dogs can run leash-free on part of the beach. Belmont Harbor Dog Beach allows leashed dogs in a small fenced in area.

WATCH A GAME
Your mutt would love a Major League Baseball game! Every spring the White Sox host a “Dog Day” at U.S. Cellular Field. Fans get to enjoy the game in the left field bleachers. You gotta act fast: This event normally sells out.

ABSORB THE SCENERY
Leashed doggies are allowed in downtown Grant Park, also known as Chicago’s front lawn. In addition, Chicago’s 20 mile Lake Front Trail is a great place for your pooch to work off some built up stress.

WALK ON ABOARD
Seadog Cruises at Navy Pier let you and your furry friend enjoy the waterfront skyline architecture together. Make sure your dog is leashed and under control. Also, Mercury Canine Cruises let’s you bring your pooch along every Sunday morning from June to September.

GRAB SOME GRUB
Take girl’s best friend to dinner with you! During the summer many Chi-town restaurants allow your pooch to join you on the outdoor dining area. Want seafood? Try Oceanique in Evanston. Craving pizza? Dine at Crust on W. Division Street. Need Caffeine? Gallery Café on W. North Ave offers doggie biscotti.

BUY A DRINK
Some bars in the Chicagoland area allow canine friends as long as it’s not too busy or crowed. Hit up Lincoln Park’s River Shannon on Armitage and Harrigan’s Pub on Halsted. It’s always safest though to call ahead and make sure the bar is definitely dog friendly. What’s the best part? Your doggie will always walk you home and treat you with respect - unlike some of those other animals us girls encounter at bars!

(Cassandra Kapp)