A Guide to the Best of Southern California : PETS : A Day Out for Fido

WITH ITS BAKERY, clothing boutique, designer beds, jewelry, custom-painted dog houses and--in case Fido gets thirsty while out shopping--doggie drinking fountain, PETCO in Santa Monica is perhaps the ultimate pet emporium.

The aroma of biscuits baking in the on-site bakery will set your pet’s nostrils aquiver. The natural-grain biscuits (some are shaped like little cats), pies, birthday cakes, cupcakes and miniature bagels may make the both of you salivate. If you’re a cat owner, check out the catfish pie ($1.99, though the price varies daily with the price of fish). For dogs, select one of the eight different flavors of cupcake ($1.99 each)--the lamb and rice with liver icing is a best-seller--then stroll over to the canine fountain, recessed into the floor, to help Fido wash down the last crumbs. Thirst quenched, Fido surely will want to proceed on to the PETCO boutique, where the two of you can try on matching sweaters ($12.99 to $34.99). Or perhaps your pup prefers jewelry--a gold overlay chain with charms, or miniature bones and rhinestone baubles ($8.99 to $24.99).

After a long, hard day of shopping, should your baby get weary, PETCO sells designer beds covered in fabrics from F. Schumacher & Co., Waverly and Laura Ashley.

PETCO, 2828 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; (213) 453-8474.