For most couples, one of the biggest decisions when planning the wedding is choosing who will be in the wedding party.

Whether it’s just one person or an entire squad, it’s usually comprised of loved ones. For some, that includes a pet.

In fact, the American Kennel Club says that nearly twenty percent of couples today include a pet in their wedding. For one En Jay pet care and training center this growing trend was the perfect way to get into the wedding business.

Purr ‘n’ Pooch (www.purrnpooch.com), with locations in Tinton Falls and Wall Township, knows the importance of including your “best friend” in your wedding. Owners Dick and Mary Palazzo were personally inspired to incorporate a wedding day package into their available services which include boarding, grooming and training for dogs and cats.

“We have always thought about the idea but it wasn’t until our own daughter Koren got married in 2002 that we realized what a necessity it is to have your dog be a part of the day’s festivities, “ said Palazzo.

The Purr ‘n’ Pooch wedding packages give Fido his own honeymoon, with suite accommodations, Direct TV, leather, memory foam couches, classical music, daily daycare, pool time and massage.

In addition to their special wedding packages, the Palazzo’s offer training for the four-legged ring bearer, groomspup or flowerpup to teach them how to walk down the isle or be on best behavior.

“Pets have been an important part of weddings over the past few years,” commented New Jersey Bride Editor Molly Tully. “Those who prioritize pets in their lives will prioritize pets in their weddings.”

Tully also added that for many brides and grooms, the pet is the most important member of the wedding party. Just as couples may offer a special gift of thanks to their maid-of-honor or best man, the best pooch won’t be left out with the amenities included in the Palazzo’s wedding packages.

For couples getting married through September 2010, book a wedding package in April and receive a special 10% discount.

Before you take the plunge, make sure your best pet has a front row seat for the nuptials, and a great place to hang out, while his mistress and master are away celebrating their new union.

NJ My Way’s Managing Editor Hilary Morris (www.mrsmosnj.com) authored this column.

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We were the first to tell you about Doggy Deuce (www.doggydeucerml.com) the unique Bergen County based business that helps you keep your yard free of pet poop.

Now comes the real scoop about winterizing your best friend, from Chris Rago, owner of Doggie Deuce and Pet’s Best Friend NJ. Rago, a dog fitness expert, is full of advice on the do’s and don’ts of dog care in these frigid temperatures.

“While people want the best for their dogs, they don’t always do what’s best for them,” said Rago.

“Keeping a dog inside in freezing temperatures is not always the healthiest approach. A good brisk 30 minute leashed walk with you as the pack leader will do more for your dog’s demeanor, health and sense of himself in your family than keeping him indoors all winter long with backyard breaks to relieve himself.”

This Wednesday Rago will provide more simple, fun tips for people who are willing to venture outdoors with their dogs in freezing temperatures– and for those who want to stay indoors and create a fitness program that’s healthy for themselves and their dog.

You can join Rago’s free talk this Wednesday, January 20th at the Haworth Library (haworth.bccls.org) from 7-8pm. (info: 201-784-1818). He’ll also provide health, nutrition and grooming during the winter, cold weather apparel –like the right coats and booties– for your pup, and much more. A therapy dog will be on hand to help Chris demonstrate.

Here’s a link to our original article: www.njmyway.com/index.php?option=com_wordpress&p=537&Itemid=53n

Getting out on these cold days might just be the perfect therapy for you and your pooch.

In South Jersey later this month, dozens of dogs and their people will gather for fun, companionship, and ultimately, nuptials. The pooches are pairing up, not their owners.

The canine equivalent of speed dating will take place during Fido’s Festival USA (www.fidosfestivalusa.com) on August 29th at the Salem County Fairgrounds in Woodstown.

The festival features three days of demonstrations, fun contests, and a “tropical pooch paradise.” Dogs will whiz after Frisbees and sail through obstacle courses and then participate in what organizers hope will be a world-record-setting group Dog Wedding.

No mate for your pet? No worries.

The dogs will have a chance to mingle—and get to know each other in the big scratch and sniff—and then pair off. Dressed in tux and tails (not mandatory) and fluffed to perfection they’ll stroll down the aisle and join paws in marital bliss, at least for the next few minutes.

Just participating in the “wedding” will give dog owners a chance to win a real honeymoon package at a Catskill resort, or two nights in a Harrah’s casino in Atlantic City. Plus a customized dog wedding photography package.

If your best buddy is yearning for a mate, join the fun at Fido’s Festival. We think it will be a howl!

You took the plunge and bought that designer dog, and now the question is—what is he or she going to wear for your stroll into town?

Trendy dog owners know pet accessories can make a fashion statement, and a collar or bandana that proudly proclaims the pooch is a product of deliberately mixed genes is a must!

No worries.

A visit to www.happyhybridhounds.com will yield all that you need to walk proudly among the ranks of cockapoo, puggle and labradoodle owners. Your best friend will be tagged correctly—no more guessing games from doting sidewalk sleuths (“Is he a poodle—what happened to the clip?”)

The website is the brainchild of Chatham’s Juliette Bresnahan, and her husband, former New York City high end fashion merchandisers, and owners of a handsome Labradoodle named Buster.

The Bresnahans soon discovered it was difficult to find “hip, high quality gear and accessories that let Buster (and us) show off our breed pride and fashion sense. Out of our fashion frustration, Happy Hybrid Hounds was born.”

From muddy paw towels, to doggie dishes, the site offers an assortment of stuff with breed moniker prominently displayed. There is also a line of Mutt Wear, for pooches whose ancestry is less certain.

No longer unbranded—your hybrid (or mutt) will happily display his heritage. Not a small thing, when there are so many new canine combos strolling around town.

We love to pamper, protect, and project our fantasies onto our best friends. Why not? If you are an animal lover you know that they somehow understand it, and love all the attention.

Like… the first annual Puppy Prom at the Morris Animal Inn (www.morrisanimalinn.com) which is tomorrow night.

Publicist Kelly Vanasse wrote: “Ties, tiaras and tuxes are optional, but tails are required. The Hooray for Howlywood theme will capture the glamour of classic Hollywood and guests will enjoy music, dancing, prom photos, doggie delicacies and an after-party “trip to the Shore” in the resort’s indoor pool and Aqua Center.”

It’ll cost you $39 for your date at the prom… if you go, bring a gently used formal dress for Becca’s Closet, (www.beccascloset.org) which helps high school students get outfitted for their proms even if they can’t afford the clothing.

If you think your pet has loads of love to give others, consider becoming a team to help read to others.

The Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program (www.hudsonvalleyvisitingpets.com) is recruiting volunteers in North Jersey. The R.E.A.D program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) helps children improve their literacy skills and develop a passion for books.

There are similar pet therapy projects underway in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. While most of the pets used are dogs, they occasionally take along cats, birds, hamsters, and rabbits.

These are some pet projects that make a difference, and they may be good therapy for you as well!

We know your pain. The backyard grass, the expensive landscaping, the place you love to relax—and the spot where your best friend likes to –shall we say—find some relief.

Along comes Doggy Deuce (www.doggydeucerml.com) of Oradell. It is your “one stop shop for all your pet services” according to founder Chris Rago.

This is help for pet owners, times two. Doggy Deuce employees bring a leash… and a shovel. Dressed in (appropriately) brown jackets, they walk your dog, and scoop the poop in your yard. Rago, a dog owner, started Doggy Deucebecause he felt there was a “growing need” by busy homeowners for these services.

Doggy Deuce also offers concrete cleaning and disinfecting, and even partners with a real dog whisperer– Wyckoff resident Janice Wolf. (www.americasdogwhispererinc.com/njwhisperer.html)

Hiring Doggy Deuce will cost you from $22 for thirty minutes to $35 per hour. All basic services are included in that rate. They’ll also stay overnight with your dog in your home for $75. From Dobermans to Dachshunds and all breeds in between, all breeds and all sizes are priced at the same rate.

The walkers/scoopers cover Bergen, Passaic, and southern Rockland counties and have about a hundred clients. They are available every day, 365 days a year.

Doggy Deuce covers plenty of ground, and cleans up after the customers. You won’t find many businesses pulling that kind of double duty.

 This NJ My Way story was written by our intern Alexander E. Joseph

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The new Boss of Asbury Park has four legs. And he couldn’t be more eager to show them off, striding through the rapidly improving downtown shopping district, eyes bright with excitement.

Jake — his show name is Ch. Classic Field Of Dreams — is a show-stopper at this fast changing beach resort. He’s a champion greyhound who hangs out all day at Asbury Bark (www.asburybark.com), the pretty corner pet emporium belonging to his human co-owners, Jim Modica and Jeff Winton. You can’t enter Asbury Bark without running into Jake, or noticing the scads of ribbons and show photos proudly displayed.

Jake made headlines recently when he rose through the ranks at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show, giving him the honor of showing against some of the most notable dogs in the United States. Click www.westminsterkennelclub.org, then select "Videos" and "2008 Breed Judging Videos."

Jake, #10, won the Greyhound division and went on to the Hound group, where the competition was tough. The winner, a Beagle named Uno, went on to be named Best In Show.

But to the folks of Asbury Park, Jake’s the real champion. And according to Modica, the greyhound has become a local star. Folks stop on the street to pet and admire him — Jake’s favorite thing is to hang out (weather permitting) while Jim and Jeff enjoy the various outdoor eateries near the shop.

Jake is three years old, so there are plenty of days in the show ring ahead. But before that, he has to make the daily rounds in this resort town and hit the park with his playmates. Like the city’s other Boss, Jake stays close to his roots — and the people who knew him before his doggie star rose to the top.

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A funny thing happened when Willie — a romping, wriggling bundle of pure Maltese energy — slipped  into his Puppy Purse (www.puppypurse.com) and was hoisted beneath his owner’s arm.

He stopped moving. Hanging there, he looked like the ultimate designer handbag of fur, sequins, and fun.

Legs dangling, encased in his powder blue puppy purse duds, Willie was enjoying his new high altitude dog’s eye view. Just like a baby who quiets after Mom finally picks him up. See our video on www.njmyway.com.

Hedy Grant, the Oradell entrepreneur who is co-founder of the Puppy Purse empire, points out that dog owners are happy too; they see their prized pooch more easily, and bond with them skin to fur.

The purses adjust to a front carrier as well, so you and Fifi can snuggle heartbeat to heartbeat, and exchange those little wet kisses more easily. The purse attaches to a leash, for quick air-to-ground transitions. You can even buy accessories like colorful “charmings” that brighten the outfit. 

Puppy Purse has grown to a world-wide business; the purses are available in more styles than you can imagine, from black biker leather to sequined party pink to pink, green and brown camo. Most run about $70.  They are sold on-line and in couture pet stores across the state and the country.

If you’ve got a designer dog, this is a must have accessory. There are enough varieties of Puppy Purse to match every outfit in your closet. You’ll be perfectly coordinated with your little canine arm charm, every time the two of you walk out the door.

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The fur was flying in Iselin last weekend.

Hundreds of cats from throughout the Northeast made the pilgrimage to the Central Jersey Cat Fanciers Cat Show (www.ticama.org). Coiffed like beauty contestants, and  traveling in cushy crates with leopard print drapes, the fabulously well bred felines purred and spat but mostly reveled in the scene and the attention.

There were sleek Abyssinians stretching, Persians prowling, Ragdolls primping. A Chartreux — one of the so-called “smiling blue cats” from France — leered at her judge as she clung like a magnet to the scratch pole. There was even a category for cats labeled “Household Pets”… a catchall for every Tom, Dick or Harry who is “clean, well fed and altered,” according to the show spectator’s guide.

While it was hardly the most important of contests, the costume competition caught our eye. We voted the cat dressed as Elvis Presley “best in show” with the poor kitty with the Thanksgiving turkey outfit a close runner-up.
 
There were treats for the cool cat in your life. Tabbywalk Design (www.tabbywalkdesign.com) brought silver-plated kitty charms bracelet and hand-painted drinking glasses with a colorful puss. Other vendors sold handbags and totes for the cat obsessed, cat-oure clothing, and gourmet pet food. 

Some owners sported scratches like badges after their pets lost their tempers during the long wait for judging. Others sat staunchly crate-side, hoping kitty would bring home the blue.

Peter Zabrowski, from Glen Gardner, admitted his Bengal cat Mr. Montague had not performed at his peak. 

“He’s a little lazy right now, ” Peter said. “I think he’s getting tired of the whole affair.”  

Mr. Montague looked sleepily at us. A cat outfitted as Queen Latifah was called to the costume ring. Three days is a long time for anyone to be at their best, even when you are dressed to the nines.

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We’ve got some four legged friends that love to party.

Click here to watch video

The second annual pug Boo Bash held by the North Jersey Pug Extravaganza Meetup group (www.pug.meetup.com/571/?gj=sj2) had a howling good time on Sunday. Dozens of pugs tolerated their often cumbersome costumes at the Best Friends Pet resort in Chestnut Ridge, NY.

We met this pugnacious group last February, during their Valentines extravaganza. But Halloween is when the compact little dogs let their hair down!  

Chewy the I-Pug shuffles to the tune "Who let the Dogs out" and likes to snort and smell with non-pug brother, cocker-spaniel, Joey who is also dressed to impress…as a PUG.

Irving the pug is costumed as a hot-dog with mustard for today’s event….he doesn’t seem to like his heavy buns which have begun to sag. Two terrifying tarantulas and a few Devil Dogs mingled with Maggie the police pug , who held her sister Chloe as pug prisoner for the day. And who would have thought that a VIP would show up? Re-pug-lican candidate for puggie president RUDY. His owner says he is a member of the GOP…grand ole pug party.

SO many pugs were parading their Halloween best that the event spilled out onto the front lawn of the pet resort.

At the end, Ellen the Pug Meetup leader presided over prizes; Frankie the Tarantula was voted frightfully scary, while Brownie the 10 week old was Cutie Patootie…Most Creative went to the Skunk and the Seal. And the Hooters puggy girls, voted Best Duo– thankfully their puggy bras held up well.

Best in show went to the precocious Puggy Posse of Sherriff Loban and his three perfectly behaved convicts.

Happy Halloween! Next year, we’re dressing up as a pug.

Proud Pug Owner and NJMYWAY Contributor Maria Quinn penned this for us!