Furred and feathered, reptile and rodent, four-legged or two -- pets play an important role in many human families, in some cases becoming full-fledged members of the clan.

And pet "parents" frequently lavish more than mere attention on their "babies." Whole industries have sprung up to cater to pampering the dogs, cats, lizards, birds, fish, hamsters, snakes and other members of the animal kingdom we bring into our homes.

Pet hotels, pet spas, gourmet pet food shops, pet clothes manufacturers and stores that specialize in jewelry for dogs and cats are among the businesses that help us indulge our love for these special companions.

There are argyle cardigans for doggies. Have an allergic pet? Catalogs carry hypoallergenic pillow beds. Puppy can have her nails painted the same shade as "mommy."

And most chain pet stores feature a special "pastry counter," displaying pretzels, cookies and other good-for-pet delicacies.

Jennifer Gonzales of Griffith runs an in-home pet-sitting business called Pampered Pet Nanny, and works to make sure her dog, cat and rat clients have everything they need. She's even pet CPR-certified and insured.

"When people call, I go to your home and meet you and your pet. I have people fill out extensive paperwork. I want to do what the parents want done," Gonzales said, whose services include mid-day potty breaks, in-home sitting for overnight or vacations, and taking pets to grooming and vet appointments.

She spoon feeds one dog from its bowl. Another set of pet parents doesn't allow their dog to walk on the floor of the vet's office, so Gonzales holds the pooch throughout the visit. She also administers medications to pets with diabetes and cancer.

"The pets' parents can call me any time of the day or night. They can call 50 times a day, if they want," she said.

"I sleep with my cell phone under my pillow."

Although the majority of her pet clients are dogs, the Pampered Pet Nanny has also taken care of a white female rat named Snowball. "I took her out of her cage and petted her. I fed her Raisin Bran and talked to her," Gonzales recalled.

People pamper their pets, Gonzales said, because they are "four-legged children. They're babies." That's exactly how Cindy Parobek of Lynwood describes 9-month-old Ozzie, a 6-pound Chihuahua that a friend found wandering in an alley last June.

"He's my baby. My sister laughs at me. I take him to family gatherings. He goes everywhere with me in his carrying bag," Parobek said.

"I've always had dogs all of my life, and I've always loved them. But this is different," she said. "This little guy has me wrapped around his little paw."

Ozzie sports his own sweaters and coats, depending on the weather. This winter he's also added boots to his couture. "He can walk in them, but he hates them," Parobek said.

"I haven't done the dog spa. If I had the money, I probably would take him to a spa," Parobek said with a chuckle. "He's a lot of fun. He's my friend."

Zoe, a 14-month-old pit bull, holds that special place in Lela Sills' heart.

"I'm not married, and I don't have children," said Sills, a Valparaiso resident.

"She's like my kid." In addition to having her own bed in the master bedroom, next to Sills' bed, Zoe is gifted with toys and treats every time her "mommy" goes to the store.

And the pooch also enjoys special treats because she's a picky eater.

"Zoe doesn't eat much so I mix cream-of-chicken soup in with her food to encourage her to eat," Sills said.

"When I cook ground beef, I give her some before I add the seasonings. I also give her rice and noodles when I cook those." This pampered puppy also gets a daily constitutional.

"I take her for a walk every morning, no matter what the weather. I have to get up a half-hour early so I can walk her," said Sills, who teaches in East Chicago.

And on those walks during the winter, Zoe wears her own coat. "She's so skinny and she shivers when we walk. I want her to be warm," Sills said. "She's such a brat."

For the Spyrkas of Munster, Tabby and Daisy are definitely fully privileged family members. The 8-year old tabby cat and 2-year-old Maltese-Bichon Frise mix dog don't go to a kennel when their human family goes on vacation. Grandma babysits the pets, said Lindsay, 13, a seventh-grader at Wilbur Wright Middle School. In addition, the pets take turns sleeping with the whole family.

And there's no dog-cat fighting in this family.

"Tabby and Daisy are friends. They sleep together. That's how they became really close."

Not all pampered pets are furry. Kid A, an 8-inch-long male bearded dragon lizard, has a special place in Natalie Swanson's Dyer home, along with a cat, a gecko and a fish. Kid A got his unusual name because Swanson is a fan of the musical group Radio Head.

A native of Australia, Kid A came to live with Swanson and her other pets about five years ago. And he keeps his pet mother busy with his huge appetite.

"He eats a lot," she said. "I fix him vegetables and lettuce, sometimes fruit, although he likes the lettuce best. Once a week I get him crickets to eat at the pet store." Kid A is also a cold-blooded animal, and his cage must be kept at a toasty 80 degrees. To generate that heat, Swanson trains a heat lamp on Kid A's cage. And at Christmastime, she fashioned a tiny Santa hat for her bearded dragon out of one of her cat's toys.

"I thought he'd eat it because he eats everything. But he wore it and posed for a picture," Swanson said.

"He's one of my babies," she said of Kid A. "He has a lot of personality."