It's your party, and you can bark if you want to.
And you can lick your plate, sniff your pal and play bobbing for hot dogs, too — provided you're of the canine persuasion.
Throwing parties for pets is a growing trend nationwide. Almost 4 million dog owners and 3.3 million cat owners have birthday parties for their pets each year, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association. Gift-giving is on the rise, too, said association spokeswoman Tierra Griffiths.
Eighty percent of dog owners purchase gifts throughout the year for their canine companions — 27 percent for birthdays — and 63 percent of cat owners buy gifts for their feline friends, including 13 percent who give their pets birthday presents.
Tucson graphic designer Jayce Martin recognized the trend and started her card company, It's the Little Things in Life, which specializes in invitations for pet parties and puppy and kitten showers.
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"I'm a huge pet fanatic," she said. "I have two huge, hairy dogs, and it's just fun. I do a lot of stuff — kids' cards, too — and the pet thing feeds into my style of illustration."
Martin describes her illustrations as childlike, playful, whimsical and fun. Her cards are sold at Paws and Claws: A Pet Boutique and Bakery.
Muttropolis Dog and Cat Boutique and Uptown Pup Pet Boutique offer gift registries for animal birthdays and puppy and kitten showers.
Tucson pet owners who enjoy celebrating their dog's special day organize birthday parties in their homes and at local venues.
Two years ago, Robin Fatovich celebrated her Chihuahua's first birthday with a party for family, friends and dogs at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Birthday pup Madison and the other dogs were served canine cuisine from silver platters. Fatovich organized party games, too.
When Kristi Mehes threw a party for Merlin, her Hungarian Komondor, at Sit! Stay! Play! doggie day care, she had a life-size mailman piñata made and stuffed it with dog treats. The owners, not the four-legged guests, whacked away at it.
Janet Galante, owner of Sit! Stay! Play!, organizes weekend parties for up to eight dogs for $150 at her indoor-outdoor Midtown day-care center. Galante makes and mails custom invitations, puts together goody bags and party favors for each canine guest, bakes a cake, decorates, takes photos and organizes party games such as bobbing for hot dogs and musical chairs.
"You have to engage the owners as well as the dogs," she said. "That's really important. We have games that include both the dogs and the owners."
● Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at 807-8431 or at kmatas@azstarnet.com.
Party organizers and pet parents in Tucson have tips for throwing a successful bash:
» Plan games that people can play with their pets.
» Keep the number of canine guests manageable.
» Invite only sociable dogs.
» Keep decorations, especially balloons, out of dogs' reach.
» Plan the party in an area that gives the dogs space to spread out.
» Have a crate or fenced-off area for puppies that need a safe space to rest or for aggressive dogs that need a timeout.