Pawz, the cat at Green Pawz Pet Supply on North Maple Road in Ann Arbor, is all decked out in a Christmas hat and party collar that can be purchased at the store. Pawz doesn't mind dressing for the holidays.

Janet Miller | For AnnArbor.com

Christmas is going to the dogs. And, to a lesser degree, the cats.

As holiday shoppers are making their lists and checking it twice, the names of Fido, Spot and Tiger are not being forgotten.

Pet owners and their friends and families are shopping for holiday gifts, from Christmas baked goods with sprinkles to red and green rawhide chews.

And while Ann Arbor area pet owners are a practical lot -- no Burberry coats for these dogs with a Midwest sensibility -- they don’t mind spending an average $20 to $50 to make their pet’s Christmas morning special, pet store owners said.

Like their human counterparts, baked goods are a holiday gift favorite, said Michelle Baber, general manager of The Pet Emporium n Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Lodi Township.

The shop carries holiday chocolates (made of carob, not chocolate, which is toxic to dogs) adorned with a paw print and cookies with yogurt frosting decorated with snowmen. It also sells dog stockings -- in the shape of a paw rather than a human foot.

Pet gifts are following human trends of buying healthy and buying local, Baber said. “Anything that’s all-natural is selling, as well as anything made in Michigan,” she said.

Sales are good for Christmas-themed toys from Planet Dog, a high-end pet toy brand that offers an eco-friendly line. The Pet Emporium carries a red-and-white chew toy that smells of mint.

Pet gifts sales are brisk. Area pet stores owners report that December sales are between 10 percent and 20 percent higher than other months, and that this year’s holiday sales are topping a year ago. “This year is better than last. It’s picking up,” Baber said.

It’s a reflection of an industry that is growing, despite the tough economy. Annual pet spending hit $47.7 billon this year, up from $45.5 billion last year, according to the American Pet Products Association.

According to a Harris poll, 88 percent of pet owners said their pets are part of their family. About 70 percent of dog owners and 63 percent of cat owners have said they have bought a holiday gift for their pet, according to the poll.

Green Pawz Pet Supply owner John Scherer is pictured with Prada, a Pomeranian dog.

Janet Miller | For AnnArbor.com

“When it comes to Christmas, they want to do for their pets what they do for their kids,” said Oliver Vallier, co-owner of University Aquarium in the Westgate Shopping Center.

Holiday sales began to pick up in mid-December, Vallier said. Fleece dog toys in red, green and white are popular along with squeaky toys in the shapes of Santa and snowmen. They sold out of green-and-red rawhide in the shape of candy canes but still have dog bones laced with green and white, Vallier said. Dog gifts outpace cat gifts. “Cats don’t care, one way or the other. Dogs are more in tune.”

John Scherer, co-owner of Green Paws Pet Supply in the Maple Village Shopping Center, set up a holiday display of Christmas pet gifts after Thanksgiving that includes velvet pet hats, party collars (with a “Be the envy of every dog” tagline) and plush red squeaky bones.

While some pet owners want holiday-themed gifts, many other go for regular toys, chews and treats. Customers buy for more than just their own pets, Scherer said. “They buy for their granddogs, they buy for their neighbor’s dog," Scherer said.

Customers seem to make pet gift purchases late in the holiday shopping season, Scherer said. “Last year, the last week before Christmas was crazy, with the last couple of days very busy. People do human shopping first and wait last-minute to do their dog shopping.”

Scherer does not buy much for his three pets -- Louie and Prada the Pomeranians and Pawz the aloof cat -- who hang out at the store, he said. “Every day is Christmas for them. But they’ll still get something on Christmas morning.”

Janet Miller is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.