Three months ago, I became the owner of a spunky two-pound chihuahua named Pinky. Or, it seems, she became the owner of me. The high-maintenance bitch made it clear upon her arrival that she not only required rhinestone-encrusted T-shirts, but also enough squeaky animal toys to fill a zoo. I'm not the only schmuck to fall under the spell of an adorable puppy. More and more owners are turning from PetSmart to doggie "boutiques." Redmond's Eastside Dog is a rare find in this trendy, growing market in that it's both fashionable and inexpensive. Charmingly disorganized shelves offer organic pet snacks and shirts with slogans like "I'm a princess" that run $10–$25. And the staff is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. (Don't be surprised if an employee whips out her cell phone and shares her "baby" photos with you.) Pinky always gets a complimentary bag of treats to take home whether I purchase anything or not, thus winning my wallet and her heart's stamps of approval.—Erika Hobart 7533 166th Ave. N.E. , Redmond, 425-497-9487.
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