Pet stores:

Pet Stores - are a given.  I am very political about this - Pet stores make their living from pet owners - they wouldn't stay in business if it wasn't for us - and yet some of them won't let us bring our canine life companions in with us when we go in their store to spend our hard earned cash in their facility?  I don't think so!  If I can't take my dog in with me - I am not going to go in there - period!  Even if I don't have my dog with me - I'm not going to go!  When you talk to the owners they always have some sob stories "we have expensive items down at floor level that are always getting peed on...our store dog is always off leash running around in the store....dogs are always coming in and peeing on everything.....we have carpet in the store...." blah blah blah - well to me - those are just excuses that they think the public is going to buy because they got into the dog business because they thought they could make money - not because they actually LIKED DOGS.  If you have expensive items at floor level - PICK THEM UP!  I have a whole page of tips on this website called "Tips for owners of dog friendly businesses" - business owners can read that page.  I have talked to too many owners of un-dog friendly businesses now that I haven't heard all of the excuses and I can tell you - they're all bullshit.  If they want my money - they had better let me bring Buttercup, or Charlie in with me.  And that's that.  And you should stand up and agree - because that's the only way they're going to listen - with our hard earned dollar.  Don't spend one red cent in any of our local "pet boutiques" - like Willows, or Four Feet on the Floor, or Road Apples - until you can bring the animal that you are buying that product for - in with you.  Period.  There.  I've said it.  Now - on to the fabulous stores that you CAN bring the best thing in your life in shopping with you! haha!

Pet Boutiques have sprouted up throughout the city - on Doyle Street in downtown Halifax a "Bark and Fitz" has opened up - I haven't been there yet but I hear it's lovely - there's tons of treats along with lots of froo froo coats and collars and stuff.  A place definitely worth checking out!

The Doggy Bakery Treatery has opened up in Enfield and is owned by long time lab rescuer Trish Pittman - this is what they say on their website - "The Doggy Bag Treatery is the home baked treat store for your pets. We make all natural treats for dogs, cats and horses. Our bakery is on site and you can come on in to see what we are making for your furry loved ones each day. Bring your furkid in for a visit, buy a treat and, sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee on us" - now that sounds GREAT to me - and worth the drive!!!

Three Dog Bakery has opened up over in Dartmouth Crossing - they don't seem to have a website yet, but I'm sure they're going to be a great addition to the boutique pet store business in the HRM - they're a franchise business that's spread all across the States, and I know they sell really good stuff in other places - so I'm sure they're going to sell super stuff here too!!  Thanks to Stephanie and Charlie for giving me the heads-up that the store had opened up!  They are located at 22 Logiealmond Close in Dartmouth Crossing, and their phone number is 902-405-3364

There's also Naughty Dog and Glamour Puss - the gold standard for froo froo stuff!  They're on South Park Street just about Spring Garden Road.  I've spent my fair share of money there for Buttercup - I've bought her a buddy belt, some coats, lots of cow lung, and some other stuff.  I'm completely unrepentent - their website is at http://www.thenaughtydog.ca/ 

Bark & Fitz - on Doyle Street in Halifax used to be a kiosk down at the Historic Properties for a couple of years and has now opened a store front operation - and all the dogs in Halifax are saying - yippee! haha!  The owner Christine Greening has gotten into the dog business because she loves dogs - and the store is defnitely showing it.  There is a huge showcase of doggy cookies and confections - no dog in this world could turn any of them down - they are perfection!  Their website is at http://www.barkandfitz.com/home.htm 

Metro Dog Wash on Cunard Street has everything you need for the dog on the go when you want to go hiking and do outdoorsy type stuff - get the dog clean, then buy ruffwear type stuff, then go!

House of Dogs on Quinpool Road is the grand dame of pet locations in the city - they have been grooming dogs forever, and have a surprising large selection of great accessories - and lots of good froo froo stuff too!  They also sell dog food as well - and they are of course - dog friendly!  They are located near the corner of Quinpool Road and Quinn Street - not too far from Oxford Street.

Then of course you have Global Pets - they're in Bayer's Lake and Woodlawn Mall in Dartmouth - they sell tons of healthy type kibble food.  And of course all of the stores that I've mentioned do NOT sell any live animals - which is of course requisite for shopping at any type of pet store.

Ruffins out in Bedford is a little weird because they do sell some types of animals - I forget which at the moment - they're in the Bedford Place mall - so I'm not sure if I should recommend them - if someone can email me - my brain is a bit foggy about that place.

Petcetera out in the megolithic Dartmouth Crossing is also a bit iffy - they sell rats and fish too - I have had pet rats so I consider them a live animal - they are very close to being a "Pet's Unlimited" as far as I'm concerned - I don't know if I'd recommend them as a place to shop - there's enough other places to go now that you don't really need to shop at those types of places anymore, really - and the food they sell is shit.  I had an email from a dog owner and his dogs Taz and Thunder though who still think that Petcetera is still worthwhile because of the fact that they are so dog friendly and the fact that they don't sell dogs or cats and that they have an adoption program with a local rescue organization - and their prices for dog supplies are way cheaper than other places.  So there's good and bad to every place - but just make sure you DON'T GO to Pet's Unlimited! haha!

I also take the dogs into non-dog type petstores - like Aqua Creations on Quinpool Road.  The dogs get a little freaked out by the aquariam noises though.  And probably Charlie gets hungry because a couple months ago he ate a whole container of fish flake food, so I think he's developed a taste for it!

In a completely different spot in the city - Ted's Tack shop un on Oxford Street in Halifax - they sell mostly horse stuff, but they've also got quite a bit of dog stuff too, including some dog coats which are quite nice!

Another horsey type store that’s dog friendly is “Tack it Up” which is out in Bayer’s lake on Chain Link Drive – I had an email from Katherine who said that the owners are dog owners and dog lovers – now if only I could get Charlie and the rest of my dogs to not want to chase horses whenever we see them at the beach!!!

Sandra emailed me to say that Brenda's Dog Dudz out on Sackville Drive in Lower Sackville is dog friendly - and that most of the items that Brenda sells are hand made - leashes, collars, coats - so that's awesome!  I remember her products as only being available on the web, so the fact that she has a retail store now is super!!  She still has a website though at http://www.geocities.com/brendasdogdudz/ so you can check everything out before you go.

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