He has received e-mails from as far as Germany asking for information on his dog domiciles. For the more rugged individual, an attractive option is a dog cabin made of weather-resistant Western pine, providing the classic look of an American pioneer s log cabin. The ones I ve talked to treat their pets like their kids, says Mowrer. Or like their four-legged alter egos. One of my clients had a house-warming party for their dogs, he says.
Diversity is another trend.
Housing has not only gone to the dogs these days, but to other creatures as well. Cats and rabbits are included in the local survey, and Mowrer reports requests to build upscale housing for chickens, ducks and, in the case of one client, for a stray cat that has taken up residence in her yard. Mowrer says he builds his pet domiciles according to clients specifications. And he caters to the individual pet, as well. Among the luxury doghouses he has built are a small Spanish Mission for a Chihuahua and a Swiss Chalet for a St. Bernard.