The Pet Department
by Glenda Bissex
Go in the hardware store door, immediately turn left, and you are in a most bountiful pet department—everything for your dog or puppy, cat or kitten. No pets? If you feed the wild birds, bags of bird seed are right there, too, along with bird and hummingbird feeders. Every time I go in, I notice something new—or perhaps Lisa and Hillary, keepers of the pet department, have squeezed something more onto the already packed shelves.
Let’s start with the basics—food. You have many choices among canned, dry, and frozen food. There are tiny and small cans for cats, and large cans for both cats and dogs. You can buy individual cans or a case. I wanted large cans of a cat food that was stocked only in small cans. No problem—I can special order exactly what I want, and so can you.
Fussy cat? Surely one of these flavors will appeal: chicken & lobster, turkey & salmon, tuna with shrimp, chicken in gravy (all in cans) or many flavors of dry food, including duck recipe. The same goes for your dog. How about beef & beef liver or venison & salmon stew in cans, among many others? The choices in dry food include, for instance, catfish or pork with probiotics. And then there’s frozen food like Vermont raw chicken, with or without vegetables, the same for both dogs and cats.
There are different brands and different prices. A sign explains the advantages of wet food but the choice is yours since both are available. This is an ideal expression of the values of our new Co-op as a store for everyone: offer information about food choices, then provide a range of products so customers decide what to buy, based on their priorities and budgets. As for the pricing, I have found Co-op prices substantially lower than at some other area pet stores.
There are different kinds of cat litter, including my favorite, Cedarific, which is basically cedar sawdust—light weight and naturally odor controlling without added scents. Only the 50 liter bags are in stock, but you can order small or medium sizes. And there’s a great assortment of pet treats. You’ll find many more pet needs and pleasures, such as toys, shampoo, brushes, nail clippers, leashes, and bowls. Bulk catnip is in the herb corner of the grocery section. If you need anything more, check with Lisa or Hillary.
