It's a wonderful dog's life: PAMPERED pooches; Pet spa treats dogs to holiday meals like their masters'

DAILY MAIL STAFF

HERE'S another image for the only-in-America file: Dogs receivingholiday meals to rival those of their masters.

At the Brookview Pet Depot and Spa in St. Albans, dogs dropped offby their owners during Thanksgiving receive a plate of turkey, mashedpotatoes, green beans, a roll and doggie cookies.

During Christmas, Santa Claus serves pooches a meal of scrambledeggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy and a dog treat.

And, yes, in the spring, a brunch is served by the Easter Bunny.

It's a sign that people not only want their animals to receivegood care, they feel most comfortable when their pets are treated aswell as they are.

"We were going away to have Thanksgiving dinner and I thought thedogs ought to have a dinner too," said St. Albans resident GloriaKitts, who leaves her miniature schnauzers, Ilsa and Shadow, at thekennel when she goes out of town for holidays.

"I don't mind leaving them if I know they're getting a good meal."

Kennel owners Kim and Scott Oliver started the tradition almost 20years ago at their kennels, which are the kind of elaborate getawaywhere pets can relax in specialty rooms with NASCAR or Blue's Cluesdesigns, enjoy the expertise of a groomer recruited from Florida orsettle down for a frozen treat at "Yappy Hour."

Boarding a dog at the kennel, which advertises itself as thestate's premier grooming and boarding facilities, ranges from $9 to$22.50 a day, depending on the size of the dog and how deluxe youwant the accommodations to be.

The Olivers say their holiday meals are a fun way to help ease theguilt of people traveling without their pets.

Some pet owners are so impressed by the quality of the meal, theyhint around about tasting their own, Kim Oliver said.

"We've had people drop their pets off and say 'Is there any way Ican come up here and buy a meal?'"

Actually, the dinner that Kim Oliver prepared for her family thispast Thanksgiving was virtually identical to the one she served toabout 80 dogs - except she mixed the turkey, mashed potatoes andgreen beans together for the pups.

"We do have dogs pick out the green beans," she said, "but a lotof dogs will gobble it right up."

One recent afternoon, the Olivers demonstrated the ins and outs ofa holiday meal. With the help of Santa Claus - who bore a remarkableresemblance to Scott Oliver - they served plates of steamingscrambled eggs and yuletide rawhides to poodles Dolly and Tiffany.

Dolly initially sniffed the eggs and walked away while shy Tiffanypaid no attention at all to the feast. But within a few moments Dollychanged her mind, wolfed down her plate of eggs and then moved on todevour Tiffany's share.

Santa Claus, who observed the entire scenario, said he keeps atally of which dogs merit meals and which don't.

"They're all good for the most part," he said. "If they bite me,I'll bite 'em back."

Kitts, who intends to drop off her schnauzers at the kennel forChristmas, said the dogs look forward to being left there for thefine dining experience.

"They seem to like it," she said. "When we begin to slow the cardown, they start scratching."

Writer Brad McElhinny can be reached at 348-4872 or by e-mail atbradmc@dailymail.com.