Galen Clarke/Tribune

Sally Van Nostrand plays with a friend's dog at a birthday party for her dog, Star, at Bow Wow Blues in the North Valley. Birthday parties for dogs are a growing trend, those in the pet pampering business say. "My grandchildren live on the other side of the country and these are my surrogate grandchildren," Van Nostrand said of her two dogs. "When you don't have children around, you get just as attached to your dogs as you do your children."

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Sally Van Nostrand celebrated her dog's birthday this month with feathered boas, star-shaped sunglasses and pink beads.

Star, a white and brown Pomeranian, is a celebrity in her own right, Van Nostrand said.

"Her name is Star because she was born on the Fourth of July," she said. "She prances around like a little star."

Van Nostrand isn't alone in pulling out the stops for a party for her dog. Those in the pet pampering business say the trend is growing.

For Star, the party theme was "Puttin' on the Dog," a sort of canine Oscar party.

Van Nostrand invited a couple of her dog's pals and their owners to Bow Wow Blues, 3845 Rio Grande Blvd. N.W.

Crissi Letherer, owner of Bow Wow Blues, said the shop has different themes: Western, Island, Mexican Fiesta and Oscar.

The store hosts about a birthday party a week and also holds anniversaries and baby showers for dogs.

Dog parties cost a minimum of $5 for each dog, but Letherer said they can range in price from $25 to several hundred depending on how elaborate people want to get. She remembers one dog party where the tables were draped in white linen and there was champagne in crystal glasses.

Kim Sewell of Three Dog Bakery, 9821 Montgomery Blvd. N.E., said the shop also plays host to parties and makes about 15 to 20 cakes a week ranging in price from $12 to $45.

"We've had a request to make a cake for a dog wedding," Sewell said.

Star's cake was small and round, with carob icing, which has the appearance of chocolate. The cake also had a star candle and a No. 3 candle to celebrate Star's third birthday.

As if a cake wasn't enough, owners got other party favors for their dogs such as bones, sequined bow ties and Mardi Gras beads.

Star's adopted brother, Louie, and her friends, Bebe, Donovan and Dolly, got a slice of doggy pizza, made with turkey, carrots, cheese, eggs and red peppers.

Sewell said she knows there's a lot of naysayers who think throwing a party for a dog is ridiculous, but she says they don't understand the reasons behind it.

"People are doing it because they love their dogs," she said. "They aren't crazy. They know their dogs aren't going to remember this day on the calendar."

She said people have parties mainly to socialize.

"In a day where people are always online, it really feels good to connect with people," she said. "People can blow it up into anything, like people loving dogs more than kids, but it's not about that. It's about having fun."

Letherer said she thinks it's fitting that people celebrate dogs.

"Dogs give us so much joy," she said. "I think in your last life you come back as a dog because you live in the moment and they love you unconditionally. They are part of our families."

Van Nostrand said she wanted to go all out for her dogs because they are part of her family.

"My grandchildren live on the other side of the country and these are my surrogate grandchildren," she said. "When you don't have children around, you get just as attached to your dogs as you do your children."