October 10, 1995
Web posted at: 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT)
From International Correspondent May Lee
TOKYO (CNN) -- A dog's life in Tokyo isn't all that bad. In fact, the Japanese passion for pooches makes it pretty peachy.
Step inside any pet salon and it's quite clear. You'll see doggies getting clipped and buffed and brushed at a cost ranging from $60 more than $150.
But the latest trend to becoming the cat's meow? Boggy and May's pet eatery, where owners and their furry companions can dine together (697K QuickTime movie). You'll see dachshunds at the dinner table and felines on the floor. There's even a special pet menu with lo-cal dishes, plus a few decadent goodies such as chocolate biscuits.
Before Boggy and May's started up in June, pet owners were forced to leave their loved ones in the dog house if they wanted to dine out. Kenichi Hamada was faced with that choice one too many times. That's why he opened the restaurant.
"Just come, whoever loves dogs ... and cats," invites Hamada.
Pet owners say it's about doggone time. "Before, we left our dogs in the car," said one woman, her shih tzu pretty in pink. "But at this restaurant, we can go in together."
"I think it's great to have meals with out pets," said her friend, who holds a matching pooch. "Usually we can only take our dogs on walks. We are rarely allowed to go inside a store."
A place at the dinner table is nothing compared to the lengths some dog lovers go to coddle their canines. Take the Shikis and their Siberian husky, Seven. He has a personal backpack adorned with his name and packed with toiletries, gadgets and custom-made towels. And the royal treatment doesn't stop there.
The Shikis remodeled part of their home for Seven and reupholstered their Mercedes. "We changed the interior of our car to synthetic leather, so the dog can go inside even when he's dirty," explained Noriko Shiki.
But not everyone sits in the lap of luxury. There are those who would rather rough it, like an English bulldog who was seen hitching a ride on a Harley to his favorite watering hole.
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