SHOPPING

Bad Dog Frida
2094 Atwood Ave.442-6868
11 am-7 pm Tues.-Fri., 9 am-3 pm, Sat.-Sun. Closed Mon., www.baddogfrida.com

He lies there in the corner, all forlorn. All ho-hum. All jealous. YOU have the Willy Street Co-op, Macy's and all of Greenway Station. What are a poor, wheat-sensitive Vizsla and his fashion-conscious sidekick tabby to do?

Trot to Madison's newest dog-and-cat specialty store, Bad Dog Frida, that's what. Cool pooches and felines, and their equally cool owners, are encouraged to come and shop for toys, collars, leashes, pet beds ' even critter-inspired art ' in a funky, feng-shuied atmosphere.

The store's owners, Carmen Alcade and Sue Hunter, also offer a thoughtful selection of healthy treats and food, to supplement the diets of sensitive pets. 'A lot of the allergies people have, dogs and cats do, too,' explains Hunter. She and Alcade carry hard-to-find pet food brands, such as Innova and Wellness, as well as refrigerated raw food from Companion Natural.

Sniff out these: Natural grooming products (soap-free ' soap can irritate your pet's skin) from Cloud Star, like Buddy Wash in lavender-mint ($8.45); innovative pet travel gear such as the 'Road Refresher' spill-proof bowl ($20); top-of-the-line, super-durable pet leash and matching collar in a funky Guatemalan pattern by A Tail We Could Wag ($39 and $29, respectively); and hours-o'-pleasure fetch toys like the Wubba Wubba ($14) and the squeaky Wee Wubba (more suitable for lap dogs, $9). And for humans? Get a Bad Dog Frida t-shirt in lime green ($20) and show your solidarity with local business, and with your beloved pet.