Carolina Mountain Dog

ReTail Scene: Patton Avenue Pet Company, Asheville

How many pet stores have a friendly, inviting front porch with a rocking chair, a huge pet mural in the parking lot, and a bark mulched dog park in the back, complete with red hydrant?

That's what you'll find at the new Patton Avenue Pet Company, 1388 Patton Avenue (near Haywood Road) in Asheville. This new breed of locally-owned pet supply store aims to be a resource center for Asheville's pet loving community, says owner/animal lover Jenna Yarosh (shown in photo with Penelope, one of her three dogs). Of course, pets are welcome inside, but dogs will find their own little piece of heaven in the fenced-in dog park at the rear of the store, which is located in a brightly painted house. The dog park has a little "pee garden" with a fire hydrant, dog toys, a bench for humans, and plenty of space for some off-leash play.

Inside the store, you'll find a complete assortment of top-notch nutritionally appropriate pet food, free of meat byproducts, artificial coloring, additives and perservatives, and with a minimum of fillers. Also on hand is a wide range of supplies, accessories, treats and other pet products. Some of these products, such as the line of pet potions from GoodJudy, are available exclusively at the store. Patton Avenue Pet Company even imports humanely sourced moose antlers -- known to be the best chew sticks for dogs -- directly from Alaska, so you can get them at a great price.

The store offers a companion animal lending library which sits over a cozy fireplace, actively seeks products from local community sources, and will periodically hold training classes and adoption events. Artwork from local artists graces the exterior and interior. The store's hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM (closed Monday). Visit http://www.pattonavenuepet.com/ or call (828) 505-8299 for more information.

Grand Opening on January 14
Stop by with your pets for the store's Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, January 14 from 12 to 4 PM. There'll be free samples, free nail trims, free behavioral and nutritional consulting, and a contest.

New Year, New Advertisers

We're pleased to welcome several new local advertisers as we begin 2012. You'll see their ads to the right of blog posts under the heading, "SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS." And we hope you will do just that -- show them your support! Just click on each ad and you'll be taken to the advertiser's website. Here is a little about them:
Patton Avenue Pet Company
A "new breed of pet supply store" in Asheville that features high quality products, many of which are locally sourced.
Bed and Biscuit Pet Spa
WNC's premier dog and cat boarding facility, in an idyllic setting in Black Mountain.
Best Bites for Pets
A free delivery service for the Asheville/Hendersonville/Brevard area focused on only natural food, treats and more.

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

"Starwolf Weavings" Support Full Moon Farm

Wrap yourself in the "Spirit of the Wolf" and help a good cause at the same time! Starwolf Weavings was born of a desire to find a way to combine Dianne Woni Lea's love of knitting into much need funds for wolfdog rescue. Dianne uses collected undercoat of captive bred wolves and wolfdogs (Spring blow) sent to her from rescues and sanctuaries. It is processed at a local fiber mill and combined with sheep fleece and is spun into the "Wolf 'n Wool" yarn. Wolf 'n Wool yarn is combined in each item Dianne makes. It is soft and reminiscent of angora fiber. It develops its own fluffy "halo" the more it is worn.

Hat and scarf sets are $89; hats are $25, and scarves are $75.  Shawls can be rectangle or triangle and are $150. All items are hand-knit, each one is unique, and none are exactly the same. You can reach Dianne on Facebook (Dianne Woni Lea of Starwolf Weavings) or email her: dianl@cascadeaccess.com. Choose your colors from a vast selection of colors and place your order for a custom-made Wolf 'n Wool shawl or scarf & hat set. 100% of all monies generated from sales will go directly to rescue efforts at Full Moon Farm. You may pay directly to Full Moon Farm at fullmoonfarm.org. Once you have made your purchase Dianne will contact you for color preferences. When the project is complete, in 2-3 weeks, it will be mailed directly to you. Full Moon Farm is a nonprofit organization in Black Mountain for abused and refused wolfdogs. 

New! Dog Lovers Bookstore

Just in time for holiday shopping, Carolina Mountain Dog is pleased to announce our new Dog Lovers Bookstore!

We've selected some fine books especially for dog lovers and made them available in one convenient place. Just click on any title in the store and get more information about the book, or you can purchase it online at a great price, thanks to our association with Barnes & Noble.

Take a look right here and see what's in store for you. You'll also find a link to the bookstore in the navigation at the top of this page.

ReTail Scene: Travel Pet Mat

The Travel Pet Mat, made by Crypton, is a go-anywhere sleep surface that easily rolls up into a packable size. It's the perfect portable bed for all of your summer vacation destinations, from hotel rooms to campgrounds. It is made from material that offers complete stain, moisture, mildew, bacteria and odor-resistant protection. The Travel Pet Mat is available in three different patterns and sizes. Prices vary from $65 to $105.

Crypton also makes a "Throver," which is a soft, comfortable stylish blanket-like tarp that protects your sofa or car seat.

For additional information about these and other products for pets, visit: http://www.cryptonfabric.com/pet-beds/cat-dog-beds.do

ReTail Scene: Better Buddies

A new start-up that features pet beds has a mission: to promote adoption. Better Buddies, Inc. will not only sell products, the company has also launched "Project Paw," an umbrella for  social programs directed at educating the public on the merits of adoption. Through its first initiative, the Guardian Angel Project, Better Buddies pledges to donate 10 percent of profits to Best Friends Animal Society, one of the nation's leading animal shelters and advocates for "no more homeless pets."

Better Buddies was launched by Julie Marie Berman, an actress who plays 'Lulu' on the television show, General Hopsital, and her husband Mike Grady. The company's focus will be on making products that are well-designed, stylish and of high quality while adhering to "green" ecologically conscious standards. "Our goal," according to the founders,"is to make our products attractive vehicles that help push positive social and environmental change."

Better Buddies currently offers donut beds, pillow beds and bedrolls and will be expanding its product line over time. For more information, visit their website: http://www.betterbuddies.com/

ReTail Scene - Car Thermometer for Your Dog's Safety

It's a sad fact: Hot cars kill dogs. With the summer approaching, it's especially important to be aware of just how quickly a car can heat up. If you're dog is left unattended inside the car, it can spell disaster, even if the windows are left partially open. Temperatures are much higher inside an uncooled car than they are outside, and they can rise very quickly.

Here's a handy device called "Too Hot for Spot" that reads the temperature inside your car and displays it in an easy to read format -- on a thermometer that attaches to the inside of your car window. It's a good reminder that the car is no place for your pet when the temperature is too hot.

Check it out here at PetProductAdvisor.com.

ReTail Scene: Lucky Dog Delivers Opens Woodfin Store

Lucky Dog Delivers, an Asheville area pet store on wheels, has settled down and opened up a shop in Woodfin. Still delivering holistic and natural pet foods to pet lovers in and around Asheville, their healthy foods and eco-friendly products are now also available at the new shop at 175 Weaverville Highway, Woodfin.

Deane Giordano, owner of Lucky Dog Delivers Holistic Pet Supplies, says she hopes to use the new venue for puppy socialization hours, free nutritional consultations, a library of pet health information, pet adioption events, in-store fostering of homeless pets through local shelters, and a worm composting center.

Hours at the store are 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. For more information about the shop or the free delivery service, call (828) 484-9032, or visit www.luckydogdelivers.com .

Quality Dog Photography on Sale

Suzi Camarata is a professional photographer with an impressive portfolio and the ability to capture a dog's spirit. She recently relocated to Asheville with Charlie, a female pit bull mix that Suzi found along a road. Suzi promptly set Charlie up for a photo session (that's Charlie on the left) and decided it would be fun to offer other dogs the same treatment.

To introduce dog owners to her photography services, Suzi is offering $75 off a portrait session (regularly $150) that is booked by February 28. If you mention "Charlie" you'll also get a free print.

You can contact Suzi via email: suzi@camarataphotography.com, or call her at (617) 429-3128.

ReTail Scene: Fully Adjustable Dog Wheelchair

It's a known fact that some dogs, dachshunds, for example, are prone to back problems that can potentially cause rear leg paralysis. Other problems, such as hip dysplasia, common in larger breeds such as golden retrievers, might also eventually cause a dog's inability to walk. Some owners feel the most humane option in severe cases is to put their dogs down.

However, there is a way to keep a dog who cannot use its rear legs mobile -- the doggie wheelchair. While many wheelchairs must be custom-made, there is a wheelchair on the market called "Walkin' Wheels" that is completely adjustable to fit virtually any size dog 20 pounds and up. (Custom carts are available for dogs under 20 pounds.)

According to the maker, a Walkin' Wheels dog wheelchair can be shipped the next day, requires only approximate measurements, folds flat, comes fully assembled and is adjusted, without tools, to fit your dog. In some cases, such as for animals over 100 pounds, some customization may be required.

Check out Walkin' Wheels at: http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/dog-wheelchair-carts.html

ReTail Scene: MoonDoggies Natural Pet Foods

MoonDoggies is a family-owned natural pet food store located at 1263 Smokey Park Highway in Candler, NC.

Owner Linda Gavel says on the store's website, "When you walk into the store you will immediately feel right at home. We take pride in our business and offer a full line of holistic and organic pet foods, as well as an organic doggy bakery. We also have holistic supplements, Chinese herb blends, and natural remedies to keep your pet healthy and happy. Local products are our first choice and we have many to choose from ranging from raw meat diets to leashes made from recycled mountain climbing ropes.

"One thing you can expect when you come to Moondoggies is personal service that ensures your pet is getting the best products and natural pet foods made especially for them. We look forward to the opportunity of serving you locally and as we expand our website presence we will be adding new products for your online shopping convenience."

MoonDoggies also features online shopping. For more information, check out the MoonDoggies website: http://www.moondoggiesnaturalpet.com/

ReTail Scene: Cool Dog Tags on Sale

We've periodically mentioned one of our online retail partners, Dog Tag Art, a company located in Asheville, NC. Dog Tag Art makes the coolest dog tags we've ever seen. They come in hundreds of styles created by artists and are virtually indestructible.

Right now, you can take advantage of a special Winter Sale: Buy 1 tag, and get 1 at 25% off the regular price. This is a great time to get a new tag for any of your four-legged friends -- or your friends' four legged-friends!

Dog Tag Art also has a unique program to keep your pet safe called "Virtual Leash." You can learn more about it at their website.

Visit Dog Tag Art and use the code WINTER10 when you check out to take advantage of this special offer.

ReTail Scene: "Fur-Ever Home," The Animal Rescue Game

Looking for something different as a birthday gift for the kids? How about a board game to help educate them about animal rescue, the first of its kind.

By playing "Fur-Ever Home," you work together to get all the animals off the streets of "Straytown," creating a rescue organization that needs to raise money, pay bills, spay/neuter, and do a lot of other things that real rescue organizations have to deal with. You "win" the game when Straytown's streets are free of homeless animals and each one has been taken in by a shelter or adopted.

You can purchase Fur-Ever Home directly from the maker at: www.petsapalooza.com. Designate Asheville Humane Society and a $5 donation will be made with your purchase.

Custom Pet Portraits

Alyssa Wood has a veterinary degree, a love of animals, and a lot of artistic talent. She lives in Burlington, Vermont, but creates custom pet portraits from photos and is happy to ship them anywhere.

Alyssa can create a custom pet portrait from a high quality photo you provide within two weeks, using oil paint or oil pastel. Prices start at $175. She did oil paintings of our three dogs and every one captured their personalities and distinct qualities.

For more information, contact Alyssa at amwood@uvm.edu, or call (315) 383-1520

ReTail Scene: Anxious Dog? Try This.

Here's an interesting product that doesn't use drugs or any other substances to calm a dog's nerves. It's called Thundershirt and it works using gentle pressure which is known to have a calming effect on animals. The shirt apparently works for a variety of issues -- dogs who are afraid of thunder, who have separation anxiety, don't travel well, etc.

We have not tried the product so we can't speak to its effectiveness, but it is widely endorsed by vets and trainers and comes with a moneyback guarantee. Visit http://www.thundershirt.com/ for further details.

Gift Idea for Dog Lovers: Asheville Doggie Guide

Here's a great holiday gift for anyone who owns a dog in the greater Asheville area (including yourself): A copy of the all new Asheville Doggie Guide!

This guide is your complete resource for dogs in Buncombe and Henderson Counties. It features hundreds of listings for accommodations, adoptions, bakeries, boutiques, boarding, daycare, dog parks, grooming, sitters, therapy, trails, training, vets and more! As a bonus, the guide contains over 50 pages of material from the past year of Carolina Mountain Dog. It's like getting a library of the best information from this blog!

The guide is available exclusively from Asheville Humane Society, and a portion of the sale of every guide supports the care of homeless animals of Buncombe County.

To get your hands on a copy of the Asheville Doggie Guide for just $10.95, get on over to the Asheville Humane Society's Adopt 'n Shop store at the new Adoption & Education Center, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville. It's open Tuesday through Saturday, 12 - 6 PM and conveniently located near the WNC Farmers Market, at the intersection of Brevard Road (Route 191) and Pond Road, right behind Deal Motor Cars.

The guide is also available online in print and as an e-book at: www.ashevilledoggieguide.com .

ReTail Scene: Cyber Monday Deal from Dog Tag Art

TODAY ONLY!

You can get your very own personalized, indestructible dog tag from our friends at Dog Tag Art -- and get another one free.

Simply visit the Dog Tag Art website -- click on the cute little doggie in the right column of this blog under the heading "GOOD BUYS." When you go to the check-out page, enter the coupon code CYBERMONDAY and you'll be elible for the special BUY ONE - GET ONE FREE offer available today only.

Check out all the cool designs now!

ReTail Scene - Lucky Dog Delivers, Asheville

Lucky Dog Delivers is a new delivery service for dog and cat owners that delivers high quality pet food and other products, free of charge in the greater Asheville area.

Deane, owner of Lucky Dog Delivers, says the service grew out of her need to find high quality special food for her Bernese Mountain Dog, Zephyr. While Zephyr is gone now, Deane and her two "canine testers," Rico and Lucy, personally choose every dog food product , ensuring each is "nutritionally advanced and as close to what nature intended as possible." In fact, all of the dog foods sold by Lucky Dog Delivers are on the Whole Dog Journal's list of approved dog foods.

Lucky Dog Delivers offers pet food, treats, and supplements, along with select toys and accessories, even cat litter for the kitties in the household. You can set up deliveries as needed or take advantage of "Recurring Delivery" -- especially convenient if you need dog food delivered on a regular basis (maybe along with a special Treat of the Month). In addition to offering a unique service for dog and cat owners, Deane pledges to donate 9 percent of the company's profits to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and Asheville Humane Society.

For more information or to schedule a delivery, check out the company's website: www.luckydogdelivers.com

 

ReTail Scene: "My Pet Speaker" Sound System for Dogs

Now we've heard everything! My Pet Speaker "transforms yor personal music library into pet-friendly tunes that soothe and relax dogs, cats, horses and their people," according to the maker, Pet Acoustics. This sound system works to eliminate the highs and lows that animals are sensitive to and features a soft bass design for easy listening. It avoids "jarring volumes" and "piercing sounds," according to the manufacturer.

The company also offers the Pet Acoustics iPhone Application, with multiple tracks of music categorized by pet type and environment designed to relax pets. The application is available for $1.99 at the iPhone App Store.

My Pet Speaker is available through Frontgate.com and Amazon.com.

ReTail Scene - Wag! Pet Boutique, Hendersonville

When your travels take you to downtown Hendersonville, NC, be sure to check out Wag!, a unique Pet Boutique located at 231-A N. Main Street. The store carries apparel, beds, toys, collars and leashes, treats, and grooming supplies.

Store hours are Mondays through Saturdays, 10 AM to 6 PM. Wag! also operates an online store, available at their website: www.wagpetboutique.com