SOME come in to have their toenails painted.
Others to have their fur dyed.
And it’s all in a days work for Alison Rogers, who runs the Pretty Paws grooming salon and training centre at Thongsbridge.
Alison and her own two dogs, Pete the poodle and Viva the bichon frise, feature in tonight’s episode of Yorkshire Television’s Wood You Believe It?
The programme features the extraordinary lives of ordinary people and starts at 11.05pm.
Britons splash out nearly £3.5bn a year on their animals, say researchers.
It’s a booming industry and the market for pet foods, products and services has surged. And we are seeing an increasing trend to “humanise” our pets, in some cases substituting them for children.
Alison makes no excuses for her involvement in the booming pet industry.
She said: “I would not want my dog sleeping on a manky blanket. As a pet owner I don’t see my dogs as being less important than myself.
“I have my hair done. Why shouldn’t they? I think the wellbeing of my dogs is a priority and if someone wants to spend £1,000 on a collar that is up to them.”
The TV cameras follow Alison and her dogs as they prepare to take part in a dog fashion show.
Here clothes, hats and even goggles for dogs who travel in open-top cars are on display and painted toenails and fur dye are the order of the day.
Also featured in the programme is the Croftmount Pet Country Resort in Halifax.
Here some dogs turn up with their own pyjamas and others with their own beds. And all bring with them their own supply of meals.
The kennels, set in 12 acres of parkland at Ogden, are run by Martyn and Janette Peel, who are currently juggling caring for their own and other people’s pets along with their civic duties as Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale.
