Only in a cool place like the Muttropolis at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Calif. can champagne-filled glasses and water-filled bowls plus silver trays of gourmet cheese and doggy treats combine so effortlessly. Stop #2 on my national book tour found me hanging with plenty of tail-waggers and their favorite two-leggers at this must-see pet boutique. Special paws up to boxers Oscar and Sophie and their pet parents who made the trek from Las Vegas! Also got the chance to mingle with two lovable Cavaliers named Harper and Farley and a host of other mutts and hounds. By the end of the event, the staff at Muttropolis happily reported that we had sold all but one of my books! Yippee!

The Muttropolis has stores in southern California, Arizona and Colorado. Marketing director Dana Humphrey announced that the Muttropolis has agreed to bestow $100 gift cards to the winning dog and the winning cat entry in our national Happy Pet photo contest posted on the zootoo site. For details, please go to www.zootoo.com (and post your prize-winning mug of your favorite four-legger) and visit www.muttropolis.com Next stop on the tour: Borders at Santa Barbara. Bo-WOW!