Lifestyle Pets declares they’ve done just that by developing three types of cats with a mutant gene that blocks this protein’s production. For allergic animal fans, it’s a major breakthrough, but one you’ll pay dearly for (their felines go from $5,950 to $31,000-yes, you could be choosing between a kitty and a car). Unaltered males produce the most sebum (a secretion that aggravates the allergic), and altered males produce the least. Through breeding, they created what they describe as the first canine scientifically proven to help those allergic to dogs, allowing some of the wheeziest among us to buy an adorable 10-pound pooch. Dogs with curly hair, like terriers and poodles, are far less likely to bother your allergies than, say, a chow chow. And, while an American Hairless Terrier or any of the other types of hairless dogs won’t magically cure your allergies (even a hair-free dog still produces dander), it’s far more manageable than an Irish setter or Afghan hound shedding all over your home.

And people don’t have to be rich and famous to give their pets a taste of the good life. Mealtime brings more than just dry dog food for Reynard’s dogs. In Mason, the newest PetSmart location just opened its PetsHotel, where pet parents can leave their dog or cat at doggie day camp or for overnight stays. Dogs can stay in the basic atrium rooms or can be upgraded to a suite, where they will get a hypo-allergenic lambskin blanket, a poochy cot and TV.

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Roundup - New York Politics Capitol Confidential - Albany Times Union - timesunion. The news from Denver includes coverage of last night’s more XY-chromosome lineup of Bill Clinton, John Kerry and Joe Biden — plus a special cameo from Barack Obama. The New York Post mocks — whoops, the GOP mocks the set for Thursday’s Obama speech, and the New York Post merely does a good job of reflecting that critique. The politicians will crow like this was some sort of HUGE job creator and financial boost to the region, but to be fair, the only real jobs of a significant nature will be the construction jobs, and they are basically payoffs to unions and the political contributors of the pols. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama favors a second government stimulus package, while Republican rival John McCain supports free trade and other business measures to energize the economy.

June Lotz had raised horses and was familiar with the Lycra coats used on show horses. Later, when one of the dogs injured itself, they slipped on the coat to keep it from chewing at its stitches. The Lotzes founded K9 Top Coat, and today they make 13 products, including a Comfort Coat introduced in February with antimicrobial and hypo- allergenic materials made for dogs with allergies. The coats have been a godsend for Lorni Jarmie, who battled her Weimar-aner Jax’s skin problems for four years before happening on the Top Coat Web site. It was also thick with native plants including sage, juniper, fescue grass and yarrow, and soon Jarmie noticed Jax’s feet were red and raw, the hair chewed from his legs.