Talk to the Animals: Wigs for dogs and other weird animal services

Joe the Bartender and the Lady Gaga wigs for dogs. Photo / Wiggles Dog Wigs

As you would expect, the shops are bursting with festive merchandise at this time of year, however I was a little surprised to see Santa hats for guinea pigs and rats on offer. At the risk of sounding like the Christmas Grinch I would suggest that the choking risk of strapping elastic around a small pet's neck far outweighs any perceived amusement value.

There is an astonishing array of goods and services available for pets, with some like doggy daycare and DIY dog washes being rather useful while others seem more about catering to the whims of eccentric pet owners. With some trepidation, I set out to find the strangest of them...

Pet psychic

Ursela Rabe says she first discovered her gift for talking to animals when, as a Feng Shui master consulting in people's homes, clients' pets would stand in front of her "demanding attention and asking her to translate information to their guardians". Ms Rabe claims she is able to communicate with all animals, even fish and hamsters. For a fee, pet owners can use this 'pet psychics' service to locate lost animals, find out what a pet's life purpose is or get to the bottom of problem behaviours. She even does all this via a phone consult with your pet. Put the goldfish on the phone - it's Ursela!

NZ has several 'animal communicators' advertising similar services.

Rent a chicken

If you've ever dreamt about collecting fresh eggs every morning but are not ready to make the commitment to being a chicken parent, you no longer have to. For residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania they now have the option to rent two or four chickens over the summer and then return them in the less productive winter time. This part-time poultry business also allows you to adopt, if you can't bear to part with your new friends.

Dog wigs

This strange business was inspired by the owner's friend asking her to make a wig for her bassett hound. According to the website, many subsequent orders and 'high profile engagements' resulted and a business was born. Amongst the styles on offer are two inspired by Sarah Palin, a 'mini poof' and a Lady Gaga creation. The women behind 'Wiggles Dog Wigs' is Ruth Regina, self proclaimed eighth generation wigmaker and makeup artist to the stars. Why she turned her hand to these truly horrible hairpieces is uncertain.

Nail art for dogs

The motto at Warren London - Dog Spa and Grooming Products is that 'every dog deserves a spa day'. Whether every dog actually wants a spa day is another question altogether. Based in the US and with products available worldwide, Warren London boasts the 'pawdicure polish pens' which are apparently the number one dog nail polish in the industry. Their website has a gallery of slightly embarrassed looking dogs showcasing multi-coloured claw art inspired by everything from Halloween to watermelons and even some 'matchy matchy' with their owners.

Photo / Warren London

Snake massage

An enterprising salon owner in Northern Israel uses her collection of pet snakes to offer clients a back rub from up to eight serpents at once. Larger species such as the Florida King snake are used to treat deep muscle cramps while others like the smaller corn snake create a 'fluttering effect'. The salon's owner, Ms Ada Barak, came across the idea after noting that her friends become very relaxed after holding her pet snakes for extended periods of time. A sensual serpentine massage costs around US$70 for an hour.

Kind of makes putting a Santa hat on your guinea pig look a bit tame really...

- nzherald.co.nz