Upscale Internet Site Is Pet-Set Neiman Marcus

Tue., Aug. 24, 1999

By Rick Bonino boninobeer@comcast.net

Dr. Steven Kirsch didn’t think that finding distinctive pet products should have to be like pulling teeth.

So the Newport Beach, Calif., dentist started an Internet company — CoolPetStuff.com — and set out searching for creative items for cats and dogs.

Kirsch says he borrowed his business philosophy from the upscale Neiman Marcus stores, famed for customized customer service. “If we don’t have what you are looking for, we will do our level best to get it for you,” he vows.

The treasures Kirsch has tracked down include a tuxedo for a Jack Russell terrier who was ring bearer at a wedding, a schnauzer-sized motorcycle helmet and a doghouse made from a wine barrel, for a Fido-loving oenophile.

His regular catalog features such exotic accessories as a Duncan Phyfe-style hardwood dog bed with satin sheets ($500); stained-glass art deco lamps that display a picture of your pet ($85); a toilet-shaped ceramic dog water bowl ($68); an electronic beeper to keep track of your cat ($30); official National Football League team jerseys for dogs ($20) and the ever-popular pet sunglasses ($9.95).

Check it out on the Web, or for more information, call (800) 686-6599.

* Writers and riders: Icelandic Horse & Travel Magazine, a nonprofit publication produced in the Spokane Valley, is seeking stories for upcoming issues.

While the magazine focuses on Icelandic horses, it accepts articles involving all breeds on such topics as health and nutrition, grooming and riding techniques and human-interest experiences with horses.

Submissions may be mailed to Icelandic Horse & Travel Magazine, 507 N. Sullivan Road, Suite A-4, Veradale, WA 99037, faxed to (509) 928-2392 or e-mailed to icemag@icemag.com; for more information, call (509) 928-8389 or visit www.icemag.com.

* What a tangled web: Homeowners may want to think twice about using cats to control spiders, as suggested in a story in Friday’s IN Life section. That prompted questions about whether spider bites pose health threats to cats.

If cats are bitten in the mouth while eating spiders, that can cause ulcerations, but those usually heal easily on their own, said Dr. Patrick Carter of the Cat Clinic of Spokane.

But a spokeswoman for South Grand Veterinary Clinic said cats, like humans, can experience allergic reactions from spider bites ranging from mild to severe. To control spiders, the clinic recommends using one of the insect growth regulator products available at veterinary offices and pet stores.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.