A Yorkshire terrier sits in its cage at Millionaire Mutts. The breed is one of the store?s top sellers, along with Maltese and Pomeranians.Mike Stotts/View
Mike Stotts/viewLaurie Lee, left, and Eric Umana spend time with a border collie at Millionaire Mutts, 7035 W. Sahara Ave. Store owners also speak with would-be pet owners to help gauge compatibility with different breeds.
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At Millionaire Mutts, there are no wire cages, no free handling of the pups and no overpowering pet store odor.
"Cleanliness is vital," said Anna Morrison, co-owner of the 7035 W. Sahara Ave. business. "It takes over two hours each morning to sanitize the place before we open."
The pet store offers only puppies, ages 8-20 weeks old. When it opened in May 2006, small breeds like Shih Tzus and Pomeranians were offered. Last month, it also began carrying large breeds like Weimaraners, huskies and Great Danes.
Morrison, a realtor who also owns an accounting business, owns the pet store with her daughter Katie, 27.
Both are avid dog lovers and own five dogs between them. Before opening the shop, they spent their time sightseeing, but not on the Strip.
"We liked to go to pet shops and just look around, get our 'puppy fix,' " explained Anna Morrison. "We got thoroughly disgusted, seeing the way puppies were being treated at some places."
The pair opted to buy the business from its original owner after it was open only four months. The Morrisons kept the store's name, not to imply only millionaires could afford their prices, but to indicate that they treat their pups as if they were in an elite income bracket.
"It wasn't a tough decision (to take it over)," said Katie Morrison, who does the day-to-day managing of the store. "I mean, you get to play with puppies all day."
The partners also get to make the puppy run -- driving out of town every few weeks to resupply the store.
Puppies come from a network of reputable breeders in Arizona, Utah and California and, more recently, the South and Midwest, the Morrisons explained.
They said puppies also come with up-to-date shots, a microchip for identification purposes and a one-year warranty for hereditary problems associated with some breeds.
Summerlin residents Renny and Tammy Goldstein, who own an Internet business, found Millionaire Mutts in the Yellow Pages.
"When I saw the name, I thought they would be too expensive, but their prices were right in line with other places we visited," Tammy Goldstein said.
She cited the personable service and breed knowledge as factors for buying there. In fact, she and her husband came in for one puppy but left with two, a Maltese and a bulldog.
"We fell in love with them," she said.
Arnold and Bess Spiro bought their poodle puppy at Millionaire Mutts, too. They spent a lot of time looking for the right dog, preferably a white poodle.
"As soon as we walked in there, I saw it was more like an upscale boutique, and it didn't smell like some other places we'd been to," Bess Spiro said.
Katie Morrison told the Spiros she did not have a white poodle, but was expecting one, a female, to be driven in from Arkansas.
When the puppy arrived, the Spiros visited her for several days to make sure they got along. The staff advised the couple on the breed's needs.
"To me, it's the Saks Fifth Avenue of puppy places," Bess said.
Top sellers at Millionaire Mutts are Yorkshire terriers, Maltese and Pomeranians. Prices start at $700, unless a customer opts for an English bulldog, which goes for $3,500 a pup.
Why the higher price tag? That type of dog is bred by artificial insemination, is known for having small litters and gives birth by Cesarean section.
The store is laid out with boutique items like dog accessories. It also offers party dresses, tuxedos and wedding gowns. Collars, leashes, beds and various specialty items are offered throughout the store. Homemade natural bakery items are popular.
The holding pens for the puppies are located along each wall and include pet beds and canopies for a homey feel. The pens are behind velvet ropes for look-but-don't-touch inspection.
When a puppy strikes a customer's fancy, customers are taken to a greeting area and sanitized before the puppy is brought out. The staff inquires about the customer's lifestyle to ensure that the breed would be a good fit.
"We spend a lot of time educating everyone," Morrison said. "Having a dog is a huge commitment."
The store's Web site, www.millionairemutts.com, displays puppies that are currently available, but Millionaire Mutts will only sell puppies to customers who personally come into the store.
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