I am very excited to announce that I am now modeling for Paw Palace! You will find me modeling in magazine ads and on their web site’s home page! I just love their selection of clothing!

Dana, we are honored to represent your company. Thank you!

I am proud to announce that I am now an official model for “I See Spot.” They carry some of the most fashionable and adorable clothing! I just received some really cute items to model in, so keep your eye out for me! Sandy, thank you for this wonderful opportunity and we are so honored!

I am such a lucky girl; I just received another modeling offer with Doggy Apparel! I will be modeling some of their exclusive fashions and other fun things! Meloney thank you kindly, we are very excited to be working with you and your company!

I am so lucky! I have been hired to model for Pet Flys! They make airline safe pet carriers and fun and funky clothing to match! Their clothes even have glow in the dark patches and are scented like all kinds of yummy things. You can find me modeling on their web site wearing their fabulous fashions!

Thank you Tammy, Dante and Bucky!

Pampered Pets Owners love to spoil pets with food and toys By Kimberly K. Fu/Staff Writer Most readers surveyed about their favorite place to buy items for their pets said they view their four-legged friends as family that deserves to be pampered. Others still claimed the family connection - but not an overly-indulgent one. Kristen Loomis of Vacaville said she and her partner spend "gazillions of dollars" at their veterinarian's office for three of their cats - 6-year-old Josie and Rudy and 5-year-old Tuffy. Rudy apparently has pinhead-sized kidneys, is running a $500 tab for medical bills and requires special food that comes in miniscule 4-ounce tins that cost $1.80 a can. "The big problem is that if we feed just Rudy the expensive cat food, he will go after the food of the others, and we will be looking at another monster vet bill," Loomis said. "So, all three of the indoor cats eat this ridiculously expensive food and the ridiculously expensive special-formula kibble that goes with it." Leo, 12, is the only one that eats "normally." Because of the cost, Loomis said, the cats only occasionally get fun extras. "Over the years we have acquired a cat-tree, and a kitty fishing pole, and lots of stuffed fake mice to try to keep them amused," she said, adding they also love wadded-up bits of paper and plastic bottle caps. "Most of it all ends up under the stereo, which we excavate every few months," she said. Vacaville resident Tony Shipp said he's happy to supply his yellow lab pup, Dodger, with food. His wife, however, spoils the youngest family member with toys, "which he quickly eats." The Shipps frequent Western Ranch & Pet Supply in Vacaville. "Because people are friendly and they generally get to you right away," Shipp explained. Deborah Gallagher of Vacaville also loves that store. "Besides having almost everything that Petco has, it's locally owned, and I love supporting my community," she said. Fairfield resident Jeri McCarley expressed a fondness for Pet Club in Cordelia. "The store is designed real good and the staff is very friendly," McCarley said. Valentina Bloomfield of Vacaville has two favorite pet stops in Solano County - Scraps Dog Bakery and Boutique in Benicia and any Petco. Both offer goodies that her pint-sized Yorkshire terrier, Paris Noel, appreciates immensely. Scraps, Bloomfield said, is a quaint shop that sells anything from treats and toys to beds and upscale clothing. Petco, she added, just has everything. "It's a great place that offers so much and is very fun for your special companion," she said. "Whenever we tell Paris we're going to Petco, she gets very 'talkative' and excited. Once we pull up, she just loses it. It's like a kid going to Disneyland." And it's apparently not so bad for those of paying for that Disney experience, either. Though we may grumble about the cost, the survey showed that we enjoy being able to make our animal companions "smile."

Puppy Love Meet Paris Noel, wearing pink and hearts By Greg Trott/Features Writer, The Reporter

Vacaville's Valentina Bloomfield holds Paris Noel, a 1-year-old Yorkshire terrier, who has a burgeoning career as a model for dog couture. (Tod Rasmussen/Reporter photos) After weeks of e-mails and phone calls, it was agreed upon: They would meet for the first time at San Francisco International Airport. It seemed romantic to Valentina Bloomfield that San Francisco would be the city the two would first lay eyes on each other. And it was finally happening. She had waited years for this perfect companion. Her heart pounded as she thought of those big, brown eyes from the photos exchanged via e-mail. Finally, the plane from Nebraska landed. It was time. When they met, confessed Valentina, looking back a year later, "It was love at first sight." As she embraced the warm, quaking, furry body, Valentina delivered the first kiss. Her affection was quickly returned, a wet, warm tongue licked her face. Furry body? ... A warm tongue? Meet Paris Noel, a two-month-old, 2-pound Yorkshire terrier puppy - Valentina's newly adopted daughter. And what a pair. Both love to shop. Pink is their color of choice. Tiffany & Co. is their favorite jewelry store. And milk? Nonfat, of course. Then there's the name thing. Paris is named after Valentina's favorite city. The love between the two is as evident as their fashionable hairstyles. "Since we have gotten Paris, she has brought more joy and love into our home, even though there was plenty before," said Vacaville's Valentina. "She is our little girl." Keith Bloomfield, Valentina's husband of 11 years, is a dude's dude. The 43-year-old Solano County sheriff's deputy is compactly built with a Marine-style haircut. He's the last person you would expect to see taking an itsy-bitsy, dress-wearing dog out for a walk in the neighborhood. But he does, religously. Since Keith's 18-year-old daughter, Jennifer, left home last year, Paris has dashed into their lives, filling a void. Valentina, 40, always wanted children, but things just didn't work out. Instead, Paris is her four-legged Valentine. And, holy milk bone, does Valentina have plans for Paris on Valentine's Day. "I bought Paris a special pink sweater, of course, with hearts on the back," said Valentina. "She will wear that with a matching pink bow. I plan on making her an egg with a heart-shaped cookie cutter for a special treat with a bit of cheese. Then we might go shopping and have dinner in the evening in Napa somewhere - all three of us." Special treatment is nothing new for Paris. The Yorky is a covergirl model for Bow Wow Couture's and Hip Doggie's clothing catalogs, and was voted 2005 Pup of the Year in a contest held by www.dogloversgift.com, which then put Paris on the cover of its 2005 calendar. Paris has even pawed into philanthropy. A percentage of www.dogloversgift.com's calendar sales goes to Paris' favorite charity. Valentina selected ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation), a dog and cat shelter in Contra Costa County. And, yes, Paris does have a Web site, which Valentina updates every day. "It's fun, whimsical, adorable and full of love," Valentina said. "Guys might think it's silly. Keith doesn't." Paris has taken all of this in stride - even her first birthday. In January, she partied with 17 of her closest friends at Napa's trendy Bistro Don Giovanni, where the food is plate-licking good. When it came time to sing "Happy Birthday," said Valentina, all the customers belted out a rousing rendition. But what to wear for the bash? From three drawers filled with tiny doggie outfits, Valentina selected a pink satin dress. She also tied back Paris' hair in a pink bow, and accessorized with a Swarvoski crystal crown. "Those little outfits aren't cheap," said Keith. "Her little birthday outfit was $85." Did we mention Paris has her own handmade princess chair and a Louie Vuitton pet carrier? Did you say spoiled? Sure, why not. And neither her "mother" or "father" would deny that. Keith gracefully puts up with his two card-carrying princesses. He fought against having pets in the home from the beginning of his relationship with Valentina. Now, he's helping to foot the bill for doggie wear, special treats, beds, blankets, bags ... "I was against it," Keith confessed. "He never had any say," said Valentina, laughing. But with age comes wisdom. Meaning ... if you want a happy marriage, don't upset your wife. Keith can't even fathom the thought of a life without either Valentina or Paris, even if he's surrounded by pink. "I'm comfortable with my manhood," he said. In fact, Keith has a new photo idea for Paris' next calendar: Paris sitting in one of the sheriff's K-9 cars wearing a pink tutu. That's great, said Valentina, as long as it brings attention to ARF. "I wasn't familiar with ARF at first," she said. "They have a huge facility. Beautiful. And the more I learned about it, I wanted to help get the word out about this organization and their adoption programs." ARF was co-founded in 1991 by former Oakland A's and current St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and his wife, Elaine. LaRussa is a vocal and ardent supporter of animal rights and uses his celebrity status to host fund raisers to help fund the nonprofit foundation. ARF's mission is to rescue cats and dogs whose time has run out at public shelters. ARF brings these animals to their spacious shelter in Walnut Creek, where they vaccinate, spay and neuter them before presenting them to potential adopters. When Valentina informed ARF of her pledge to them, she said, they were "appreciative, touched that we wanted to do something to help them out. They thought Paris was adorable." Who wouldn't? Paris is calm and well-behaved, loves her feline stepsiblings - 11-year-old Bailey and Forest, a Himalayan. Both dwarf Paris, yet it doesn't stop Paris from jumping on Bailey's back every morning. From this cowboy-like position, she promptly grooms the cat's ears. As the couple talked about Paris, she propped a rawhide stick against Keith's shoe and quietly chewed it. This was a dog being a dog - despite wearing a white tutu and pink tulle. Valentina, an Executive Assistant at Golden State Lumber in American Canyon, has big plans for her youngster: Paris' own line of calendars and accessories. If successful, Valentina is pledging more money for ARF. Philanthropy is nothing new for Valentina. She's involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and Love Letters, an organization which sends letters and gifts to terminally ill children. But her biggest charity case is a little ball of well-groomed fur. It's a charity that keeps on giving back wet kisses. Now, that's a Valentine gift.