If you have any doubt that pets have moved from the backyard to the living room, a stroll through the Pampered Pets area of this month's Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market would convince you.

The wholesale market, which isn't open to the public, launched a separate pets area in 1999. Since then, the number of vendors has doubled to 45, with a waiting list, and this year the pets section moved to its own area.

MAILEY McLAUGHLIN/Atlanta Humane Society (ENLARGE)

Lollipop, a 5-month-old spayed rat terrier, is an upbeat, bouncy puppy with a sweet personality. Lollipop lives to play and has energy to burn. She needs house training and obedience training. Though small in stature, rat terriers are not couch potatoes; they need lots of exercise and supervision. They are often called 'big dogs in small packages.' Please research her breed prior to adoption. Lollipop has had her DHLPP vaccinations and has been dewormed. She will be at the Atlanta Humane Society, 981 Howell Mill Road N.W. Sealed bids will be taken at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 28.

Raymond Stanley (ENLARGE)

This doggie diaper bag makes it easier to tote Fido's stuff.

"Sellers have been desperate to get into Pampered Pets," said Elizabeth Turnipseed, who oversees the section. "We've been turning people away."

And that's because pets are big business. Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, said the amount of money people spend on their pets has doubled over the past 10 years, with pet lovers expected to drop $39 billion this year.

"It's a market that's been growing at 5 [percent] to 8 percent year to year," Vetere said.

Owners are spending more on their pets' health, with natural foods and supplements, keeping them comfortable with gadgets like self-cleaning litter boxes and automatic feeders, and buying them luxury items, he said.

All those trends were evident at the January show. Jack Aaron, of A.P.E. Products of Newnan, said his company started making people products but now has a thriving sideline in pet beds. Orders for their newest line of car-shaped pet beds were heavy during the show.

"Pets are treated more like children than they were 30 years ago," said John Love, a partner in A.P.E. Products. "A generation ago, when the kids left home, the pets went with them. Now the pets move into the kids' room."

Some of the more unusual items at the show were birthstone pendants, "wine" for dogs and cats, dog crates in intricate designs and spa products for pets, like an exfoliating scrub and massage oil.

Tracie Annase said she started her line of bone-shaped silver pendants set with Swarovski crystals because she couldn't find a charm with her dog's birthstone on it.

"With the Birth Bone, you can wear your dog's birthstone, or they can wear yours or whatever," Annase said.

Jamye Hickman of East Point created her product, a doggie "diaper bag," after looking for a convenient bag to carry all her Shih Tzu's stuff.

"I wanted a practical bag for my dog, Zoe-Joe, but I couldn't find what I wanted. So I made one," said Hickman.

Her E.B.D. (Everything But the Dog) Carry-all holds a blanket, collapsible food and water bowls, a waste-bag dispenser, a cooling pocket with gel insert, and enough pockets for a cellphone, antibacterial wipes and numerous other items.

"I'm completing my Ph.D. in engineering psychology at Georgia Tech, and we focus on usability and ergonomics, so I wanted to make something that's functional and easy to use," Hickman said.

At a nearby booth, Kathleen Ramsey of Williamsburg, Va., was selling "Fine wine for the canine and feline" from Bark Vineyards. Despite names like Sauvignon Bark, Pinot Leasheo and Meowlot, the wine bottles actually hold gravy to top a pet's food.

Suzette Lindsey, who co-owns two Top Dogs Pet Boutiques, in Kennesaw and Roswell, said she always attends the mart looking for new products. Several new carriers and clothing lines caught her eye.

"People are dressing their dogs up more, even people with larger dogs," said Lindsey, whose first store opened about 10 years ago. "And they seem to want to take their pets with them more, too, so carriers are really popular."

John Soper, of Kreature Komforts in Marietta, said he usually tries to go to the mart, especially if he doesn't have time to go to one of the national pet-products-only shows.

"We've been here 41/2 years, and I can't keep up with all the new products and trends," Soper said.

For more on Birth Bones: www.havasmoak.com, 772-781-7544.

For more on E.B.D. Carry-all: www.ribbonsandbow-wows.com, 404-518-4819.

For more on Bark Vineyards: www.barkvineyards.com.

Show dogs in Atlanta

More than 2,500 top dogs are expected at the Atlanta Exposition Center South on Friday-Feb. 4 for the Cherokee Rose Cluster All-Breed Dog Show. The show is one of the largest in the area with dogs from all over the United States competing, including many who are on their way to Westminster later in February. In addition to the dog show, there will be obedience and rally competitions and a number of vendors selling all things doggie. 3850 Jonesboro Road, Atlanta. Parking is $5 a day, or $10 for the three days. Admission is free.

Eat, drink to help cats

This Wednesday, Marietta Pizza Co. will donate 20 percent of every bill from the Fountain Room (be sure to ask for a table there) to Good Mews, a no-kill cat shelter in Marietta. The offer is good 5-10 p.m. 3 Whitlock Ave. 770-419-0900. The same night, 5-8 p.m., the Marietta Wine Market is holding a wine tasting of Italian wines for a donation to Good Mews. 18 Powder Springs St. 770-919-1574.

Quick tip

Just as cold weather dries your skin, pets also can become dehydrated in the cold. Make sure they have plenty of clean water available, and make sure it doesn't freeze.

News to share?

Know of pet news, events or stories? Tell Sandra Eckstein at seckstein@ajc.com or call 404-526-7260.