August 13, 2007 — A $3,000 bottle of dog perfume, an $8,000 crystal-encrusted doggie vest and a $7,000 hypoallergenic designer cat might sound excessive - but when it comes to high-end pets and paraphernalia, nothing beats the half-million-dollar Tibetan mastiff. Thanks in part to these excesses, spending on American pets has hit an all-time high this year, with estimates of more than $40 billion annually lavished on everything from cheap cat toys to organic doggie treats to matching Oscar gowns for red-carpet Chihuahuas. He's known the super-rich to redesign their homes to allow pets outdoor access, while others indulge in diamond-studded doggie collars or GPS locators. Pet Fashion Week, a trade show for high-end products, featured a $200,000 diamond collar last year, produced by Bark Avenue Jewelers. At this year's show, starting Saturday, there will be $10,000 alligator-skin collars and an $18,000 luxury pet carrier, along with a $3,000 bottle of doggie perfume. read more

Tags: 368000, doggie, hypoallergenic dogs, highend, , dog