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Pet-friendly businesses: Who let the dogs out? |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 17 May 2007 |
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 Life is good. And Gretel of Laporte — and those like her — are living it up. She’s chauffeured around town and is greeted everywhere she goes. On a typical day she can be found strolling from store to store or relaxing on a patio for lunch.
If this sounds like celebrity life, think again. This is the life of a dog.
Gone are the days of dog houses for pampered pooches like Gretel. Instead, they are going out on the town. Gretel’s owner and companion, Heide Farnham, who works full-time, knows that it’s hard for Gretel, a 6-year-old terrier, to be stuck home alone so often. So she takes her out every chance she gets.
A lot of stores are beginning to cater to customers like Farnham by allowing pets inside to shop, too.
“Home Depot is her favorite store,” Farnham said. “I take her with me everywhere.”
Many of the retailers at The Promenade Shops at Centerra have tapped into this trend and are pet-friendly. Round stickers with a picture of a pup on storefront windows mark where four-legged friends are welcome.
So if Fido wants to check out the latest Snoop Dog CD at Best Buy, he can. If he wants to drool over sparkling diamonds with his owner at Zales, he can. And if he wants to tag along to some of the trendy clothing stores, he can.
 “You are more apt to spend more time and more money if you don’t have to worry about your pet in the car,” Farnham said.
Sure, there are stipulations. The furry friends must wear their leash and be on their best doggie behavior.
At Bent Fork Grill, wait staff encourage people to sit on the patio and bring their dogs. They even serve the dogs water in fancy bowls.
“It makes it look like a more comfortable place,” said Jared Nelson, manager at Bent Fork Grill. “We are locally owned. The owners encourage a smoke-free and pet-friendly patio.”
Certainly, restaurants have to follow codes, but many other restaurants in northern Colorado also welcome pets onto patios.
At Jax Outdoor Gear, dogs are allowed on a leash with a responsible owner. The same is true for Jax Farm & Ranch.
“We sell dog supplies, so the benefit is that a customer can come in with their dog and fit their dog right there,” said Greg Smith, operations manager at Jax Outdoor Gear.
An occasional accident occurs, but it’s nothing paper towels can’t clean up. Smith said bringing dogs out in public helps with socialization and is also a way for employees to remember customers.
“You get to know people through their dogs,” Smith said.
Madison Hilleman, assistant manager at Soma at The Promenade Shops at Centerra, said she thinks making an outside mall pet-friendly is a good idea.
“It can be a concern with big dogs and low tables that they might knock something off, but most people who bring their dogs out have well-behaved dogs.”
Amanda Kendrot, elite sales associate at Zales in Centerra, said dogs are good for business. The staff keeps a stockpile of treats for these special guests.
“Dogs are people’s kids, and they love to bring them shopping,” Kendrot said.
Kendrot has three dogs of her own.
“When my little one was a puppy, my boss let me bring it to work a couple times,” she said. “The others are rambunctious, so they stay at home.”
 Not only are stores opening their doors to customers’ pets, businesses are also allowing pets in the office.
Four-year-old miniature dachshund Rocky goes to work at Toolbox Creative, a marketing and design firm in Fort Collins, with his mom and dad every day.
“We got him as a pup and started bringing him to work because we didn’t want to leave him at home,” said Toolbox Creative co-owner Tom Campbell. “He got used to it and we got used to it.”
Rocky takes some time warming up to strangers, so his owners joke that they are dog friendly but don’t necessarily have a friendly dog.
Other employees at Toolbox Creative will also bring in pets on occasion.
“Having an animal or animals helps the overall energy in the office,” Campbell said. “It gives me an excuse to get up and go outside every once in a while... It’s good marketing and gives a good image for a business.”
One thing to be aware of though, is if any employees are allergic to dogs. It’s also important that the dogs will not become too big of a distraction.
Whether or not your pup doubles as your assistant, there are plenty of recreational places to take your dog. There are even more on the way, with a new dog park coming to the old Larimer County Fairgrounds. Construction is scheduled June 2006-October 2008.
Cary Rentola, marketing and community outreach manager for the Larimer Humane Society, said the Downtown Loveland Association is also working to make downtown Loveland more pet-friendly. Rentola serves on the events and promotions committee for the DLA.
“It’s something that was approached last year, but with so many other projects on the plate, it is still on the list,” Rentola said. “The idea would be to create a program to encourage pet owners to shop downtown.”
Rentola is also a pet owner who loves spending time with her dog.
“Centerra is a great example,” Rentola said. “If I’m going to be out running errands, if I can incorporate my dog into that, it’s great. Plus, people get a kick out of seeing dogs go in and out of stores.”
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RULES FOR OWNERS AND DOGS AT CENTERRA
1. All dogs must be leashed or contained inside carriers at all times. Leashes must be no longer than six feet, including retractable leashes.
2. Dogs must be under their owner’s control at all times. Owners, by law, are responsible for the behavior of their dogs and for cleaning up after their dogs.
3. At no time can dogs be left unattended.
4. If at any time the management of The Promenade Shops at Centerra determines that the behavior of a dog is causing disturbance to others, the owner will be asked to remove his or her dog from the premises.
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 DOG-FRIENDLY STORES AT CENTERRA
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Amy’s Hallmark
- Bath & Body Works
- Bent Fork The Grill (patio)
- Best Buy
- Buckle
- Build-A-Bear Workshop
- Chapungu Gallery
- Charlotte Russe
- Chico’s
- Christopher & Banks
- Cingular Wireless
- Clarks
- Coldwater Creek
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Eddie Bauer
- Express
- Famous Footwear
- Francesca’s Collections
- GNC
- Gymboree
- Helzberg Diamonds
- J. Jill
- Kay Jewelers
- PacSun
- Perfumania
- Select Comfort
- Soma
- Sunglass Designs
- Sunglass Hut
- The Children’s Place
- Urban Homestead
- Yankee Candle
- Zales
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TO GO TO THE EXPO
Paws on the Promenade dog expo is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 9 at the main plaza in Centerra. There will be dog-related vendor booths, K9 demonstrations, dog contests and more. | Only registered users can write comments.
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