Got Pets?

Oct. 23, 2015

Three Pet Stores You Should Know

D.O.G. BAKERY

Traverse City
535 West Front Street, (231) 932-2045
dogbakeryonline.com
Owners: Karry and Chris Barolo

STORE INSPIRATION

Named after the owners’ two late beloved dogs, Daisy and Oscar (the bakery’s name is an acronym for Daisy and Oscar’s Gourmet), D.O.G. opened in May 2004. “My husband and I saw an opportunity to combine our love for our dogs with the chance to do something together,” Karry Barolo explained. “Daisy and Oscar were the inspiration for what we do every day.”

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Following their gut instincts and Karry’s talent for baking, they learned by trial and error, baking their treats and cakes in their home kitchen and learning as they went. “It’s always a work in progress,” Karry said. “When we started, we visited a couple who run a pet bakery in Iowa to have them show us the ropes. Then we just ran with it.” D.O.G. features more than 21 recipes made regularly, including meat-based baked treats with chicken and beef, plus a lot more. “We have 2,000 square feet, so we’re even more than the bakery,” she pointed out. “We also have premium dog foods, pet apparel, collars, tags, leashes and gifts.”

BEST SELLERS

The most popular dog treats at D.O.G. are their unique Cherry Chews. “We make them with local cherries and local honey and they’re shaped like the state of Michigan,” Karry said. “We’re known for them.” Also a hit are their decorated dog treats, which change with the season. “We’re in Halloween season right now, so we have Poochie Pumpkins, Growlin’ Ghosties, Scooby Boos and Boneheads,” she said. Many of D.O.G.’s treats have proved so popular that the bakery is shipping them wholesale all over the country to a wide range of pet stores.

KARRY AND CHRIS’ PETS

Two Tibetan terriers named Raggs and Lucy keep the Barolos busy. “They are also our taste testers,” Karry said. “Nothing goes out on the floor that they don’t approve of first!”

FUNKY FISH AND FRIENDS

Gaylord
128 West Main Street, (989) 732-1232
gaylordfunkyfish.com
Owner: Steve Funk

STORE INSPIRATION

“I’ve had fish my whole life, both fresh and saltwater,” Funk said. So when he decided to move back up North after going to school at Western Michigan university, the first thing he thought to do in order to line up a new career for himself was something that involved fish. “So it really was a hobby that turned into a business,” he said.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Funky Fish focuses mostly on both freshwater and saltwater fish, and all the supplies needed to give them a great place to live and swim. “We also carry some reptiles and invertebrates, like crabs and shrimp, and some small animals, too, like gerbils and hamsters,” Funk said.

BEST SELLERS

Saltwater tanks are traditionally more colorful than freshwater ones simply because of the wider range of exotic fish available in a saltwater environment. Funk said, while both are great, saltwater tanks are his favorite. “Saltwater tanks are slightly more complex to learn and set up — there’s a bit of a learning curve — but I think they’re so worth it because saltwater tanks are just so much more bright and full of life,” he said. “You just have to be patient!” In freshwater, fish guppies and angelfish are always popular sellers and for saltwater tanks Funky Fish sells “a ton of clownfish,” plus sea anemones and corals. “We also sell a lot of bearded dragons and leopard geckos (lizards),” Funk added.

STEVE’S PETS

He has one big saltwater aquarium at home with lots of corals, a clownfish and a sailfin tang. “And I have a black rescue cat named Max,” Funk said.

PUP NORTH

Traverse City
800 Cottage View Drive, (231) 942-4PUP
pupnorthlife.com
Owners: Rachel Tompkins and Lauren Maxwell

STORE INSPIRATION

Friends and co-workers Maxwell and Tompkins found they were constantly discussing dogs while at work and watching YouTube videos of puppies on their breaks, so creating a business focused on dogs was a natural next step. “It started with us just talking about it, then went to us having brainstorming sessions and late-night Skype talks to figure out our ideas,” Tompkins said. Their ideas solidified into an outdoor focus: Dogs love northern Michigan, too. “People who bring their dogs up here can do so much outside with their dogs — beaches and all kinds of things,” she added.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

They began on a small scale with their distinctive bandanas. The Pup North name was a result of the friends’ shared background in branding and marketing, although Tompkins is quick to credit Maxwell with the Pup North moniker. “She said it out loud and we both just started giggling,” she said. The store expanded as the co-founders started finding additional merchandise possibilities. “We researched other Michigan-made dog items online, so now we have our own Pup North line, plus a large selection of other outdoorsy items for dogs,” Tompkins said. “And now that we have a space in the Mercado, we’ll have room for even more, plus the Mercado is dog-friendly, which was really important for us,” Maxwell added.

BEST SELLERS

Their bandanas are still Pup North’s trademark item, embellished with dog paw prints and phrases like “Ruffin’ It in Northern Michigan” and “Campsite Patrol,” just the right size to tie around your dog’s neck. Other items include dog collars, clothing, shampoo bars, dog dishes, toys and treats, and a Michigan-shaped sticker with extra dog toes added, all sourced from a wide range of artists and producers. Maxwell and Tompkins said they expect their inventory to keep expanding. “We didn’t anticipate having a store at all yet, so we hope to hear from more vendors so we can bring more products into our dog-friendly atmosphere,” Tompkins said.

RACHEL AND LAUREN’S PETS

Maxwell has a Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Barley and two cats, while Tompkins also has a cat and two Puggles. “They’re named Maddy and Cormac,” she said. “They’re a mix of beagle and pug and I just think they’re the cutest dogs.”