by Christine A. Obrien

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What do Liver's Lane, Cat Man Doo Bonito Flakes, Carb Chip Puppy Dough and Treatza Pizza all have in common? New flavor combinations for Ben & Jerry's? Obviously, you aren't on the cutting edge of the hippest and coolest pet treats that will have even the most finicky feline purring and the most persnickety pooch wagging their tails in delight! We've narrowed our list down to the top four spots to find pet treats in the Boston area that cater specifically to the palate of your four-legged companions.

Located in Boston's trendy South End, Polka Dog (http://www.polkadog.com) is a treat boutique for dog and cat lovers. On the heels of winning the Best of Boston 2007 Pet Supplies award with a bakery and boutique under one roof, it is guaranteed to become your pet's new favorite oasis! These goodies are all natural with no salt, sugar or preservatives and baked on premises. A couple of customer favorites, according to Jane, a store employee, are "liver's lane", a healthy and meaty treat and "peanut butter oatmeal crunch treats are another popular item." Both are available for $29.95 in bulk at the bakery. And if you like to keep your pet in the most fashionable attire, they also have an array of clothing items, such as a canine quilted vest, $55, which is water resistant and comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

In the heart of Coolidge Corner is a chic and trendy pet boutique, Cause to Paws (http://www.causetopaws.com) that just picked up the Readers Choice award 2007 for favorite pet store, sponsored by Community Newspaper Company. Whether you want to have your puppy show their team spirit with a Red Sox varsity jacket, which start out at $30 "depending on the size of the pet" adds store owner Terry Meyers
or provide hours of amusement for your kitty with the Fling-Ama-String, $28, which won the Best in Show/Best New Cat Product award at the Global Pet Expo 2007, this is the place to indulge your pet.

If you're in the historic Beacon Hill area, why not stop into Four Preppy Paws (http://www.fourpreppypaws.com), which believes that each dog is a "preppy" dog and should be dressed accordingly. For the fashion forward dog, this boutique specializes in collars and leashes with matching belts for owners. They also offer an assortment of key chains and harnesses, all handmade in New England.

And last but certainly not least, take a look at The Pet Shop Girls (http://www.thepetshopgirls.com) also in the Boston area, which specializes in holistic pet food. The pet food they bring into their store has to meet strict dietary guidelines and they hold true to the belief that a pet has a much better chance of staying healthy through proper nutrition. They also offer an array of pet toys, such as the King Kong Red Tuffy, $17, and treats such as Feline Greenies Tuna bag, 3oz, $2.99.

Learn more about this author, Christine A. Obrien.

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