For a price, they can have the best of everything: luxurious chiffon gowns, expensive hair treatments for a silky mane and bottled water imported from the remote island of Fiji.
   No, this isn't the life of the Hilton sisters, but the American pet, as a growing number of U.S. pet owners say yes to high-end goods and services for their beloved dogs and cats.
   According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, a U.S. not-for-profit trade organization, owners spent some $31 billion on pet products last year, and U.S. companies are heading the call.
   From Origins to Harley Davidson, Old Navy to Omaha Steaks, products for pets are huge in the U.S. consumer goods market.
   Specialty pet boutiques sell cashmere sweaters by Christian Dior and Swarovski crystal tiaras. There are pet psychologists whose clinics treat anger management issues in dogs and physical therapists who massage away a cat's muscle tension. A few U.S. veterinary clinics even offer liposuction and other cosmetic procedures for dogs and cats.  
 

''People are no longer pet owners, they're pet enthusiasts,'' said Irwin Palchick, president of sales for Pet Silk Inc., a Houston-based purveyor of high-end grooming products for pets.
   On Jan. 22, that ''enthusiasm'' helped launch a partnership between Pet Silk and Continental Airlines, a partnership that will provide each animal boarded in the airline's cargo with an ''amenities'' packet.
   Palchick said the packet includes samples of high-end pet treats, dental hygiene products and of course, Pet Silk.
   The reason? As Palchick explained, people crave luxury goods and services for their animals.
   ''I think people are looking for luxury items and they are enticed by them - everybody wants to show their animals off,'' Palchick said. ''The more things they can show them off with, the better. I hate to say this, but there are some people who probably spend more on their animals than on their kids.''
 

That craving has helped fuel the explosion of pet products from high-end companies like Coach and Paul Mitchell, companies whose products traditionally cater to the human market.
   The boom in the pet goods market has helped pet boutiques such as the Le Chic Pet Boutique in Lithonia, which sells $200 chiffon doggie dresses and $600 14-karat gold toggle necklaces, flourish.
   The pet goods market also has changed the offerings at businesses that offer pet services, such as the Four Seasons Pet Resort in Hull.
   At the resort's sprawling complex, clients can relax at the hands of Becky Rogers, who performs pet massages, or opt for amenities such as private walks and ''limo'' service to and from the resort's facilities.
   As co-owner Greg Bleakley said, customers want the best for their pets.

Around 90 to 95 percent of Four Seasons ''regulars'' come from Athens; some travel from as far as Macon or Atlanta.
   ''This is our ninth year (in business), and during that time I have seen a definite change away from basic boarding,'' Bleakley said. ''The kennels that are not moving toward the higher end are losing business.''
   Bleakley said he envisions creating ''luxury suites'' at the Four Seasons in coming years, posh accommodations that would include wallpapered suites with private televisions, luxury bedding and even sterling silver water bowls.
   ''Clients that board with us want the best services for their animals,'' said Bleakley. ''They want to be sure that what they get is what they want. Many (clients) are checking out our facilities like they would a day care center for their child.''
   But as Bleakley explained, the need for high-end facilities, services, products and other amenities are popular because the family pooch isn't just a pet anymore, but a member of the family unit.
    ''If you ask (people) to give up all of the things in their (lives), the last thing they would give up is the family dog,'' Bleakley said. ''When you look at it that way, it makes sense that people are looking to get their pets the absolute best.''