FETCHING PERSONALITIES

People love their pets.

Like doting parents, owners hold forth on the virtues of their domesticated mammals, “… makes my world a better place,” “… changed my life,” “… has the sweetest soul.”

And most Americans back those warm sentiments with cold cash. We will spend some $58 billion pampering our animals this year, according to the American Pet Product Association. Around the Preston Hollow area, we have our pick of posh pet hotels and pooch patios, doggie bakeries (barkeries) and upscale grooming services.

We took a close-up look at a cross section of neighborhood pets to find out what makes them so worth it.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

If you submitted a photo of your pet to the online photo contest, keep an eye on our regular Pet Pause section in future issues, where you might see your furry friend and his tale in print.

Dudley The Social Media Mogul

Je Kitner is on a mission to promote pet-friendly businesses in our neighborhood. Luckily, he has the assistance of Dudley, an irresistibly adorable Corgi. While Kitner’s Twitter account has 108 followers, Dudley’s has nearly 200. But the dog’s owner, a Preston Hollow resident, isn’t jealous – he’s amused.

“I never anticipated that Dudley would have the number of followers he does, and it seems to grow everyday,” Kitner says. “It’s a mix of a lot of neighborhood folks and neighborhood businesses – places we go to and support. I think Councilman [Lee] Kleinman follows him.”

He does. We checked. Other Dudley fans include the Dallas Arboretum, Corner Bakery Café and Northaven Trail, the last of which Kitner supports as a board member. On behalf of his pet, Kitner Tweets pictures of Dudley scoping out businesses like Anthropologie and Home Depot. Followers will also see pictures of the dog meeting members of the Dallas Police Department.

“He’s jumped in a police car before,” Kitner says. “A lot of people like dogs – the po- lice are no di erent.”

Dudley knows how to have fun, but he always stays true to his roots. He was a shelter dog who Kitner found through the Education Animal Rescue Society of Texas (EARS). Many of his Tweets link to fellow dogs in need of adoption.

“Dudley has a lot of popularity,” Kitner says. “People do seem to know him in the neighborhood, and if we can use that to promote dog rescue, all the better.”

Want more? Follow Dudley on Twitter @DudleyCorgi.