Dawn Rivers, owner of The Furry Godmother in Waxhaw, holds an edible greeting card for pets. Last year, Rivers sent the cards to canine friends across the country. The cards made it safely through the mail but probably didn't last long once the pooches got their paws on them!
Charlie, a grooming client, investigates Poochie Bells hanging from the front door at The Furry Godmother. A fast-selling puppy training tool, Poochie Bells have been hard to keep in stock since Oprah endorsed them.
New toys and treats at the store tempt Charlie.Grant your doggie’s wish list at The Furry Godmother
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
Looking for the perfect gift for that special canine on your list? If so, The Furry Godmother in Waxhaw is a great hunting ground. The combination doggie day care, gift shop and pet-grooming salon on 113 W. South Main St. opened 18 months ago with a selection of unusual gifts, including edible greeting cards for pooches.
“I wanted to give dogs a place that they could come and enjoy and not be petrified of the whole grooming situation. We try not to cage the dogs - we let them run around and play, we take them out for walks,” said owner Dawn Rivers, a 15-year veteran of the pet care and grooming industry. Baths start at $30; haircuts start at $40; and de-shedding starts at $50. Consultations are free.
Tasty treats, tough toys
“People probably could eat them but they are made for dogs,” said Rivers. Snowmen, Santas and other holiday treats sell for under $2.
In addition to gourmet dog biscuits, plush toys that make animal noises rather than simply squeaking are another hot item this year. Why does a duck-shaped chew toy squeak, anyway? A duck quacks and so do the duck chew toys; for $12.99 your pet can pick from a variety of appropriate-sounding chew toys.
For aggressive chewers that destroy toys regardless of their sound effects, Rivers carries Jolly Balls, which range in price from $9.99 to $14.99. “They are balls with ropes through the center. They are soft enough so that heavy chewers … can still sink their teeth into them but they can’t rip them apart,” she said.
Training tools
A more practical present, especially for a new puppy, are the coveted Poochie Bells, a fast selling, housebreaking tool priced at $16.99. Poochie Bells, which come with a detailed instruction card, are hard to keep stocked, Rivers said, because not only do they work but also Oprah has endorsed them.
“They hang on the doorknob and every time you take your puppy out, you teach (the pup) to nudge the bells with its nose or hit the bells with its paw so the dog learns to ring the bells to go outside and use the potty,” explained Rivers. “Once your dog understands the concept, Poochie Bells will work anywhere you take your pet. It’s a smart thing.”
Additional training tools include choke-free harnesses and fleece-lined versions made of hemp with heavy metal buckles. “Choke-free harnesses go around the sides of the dogs verses around the neck or the chest. (They) pull on the body. Nothing touches the neck at all. They work on all size dogs,” Rivers said.
Grooming, food and fashion
Other practical gifts include high-end grooming products by Angel Eyes and Eqyss, as well as high-quality dog food. “Merrick (dog food) was never on the recall list. It is very high in protein and made with all natural, organic foods. There’s turkey, duck, pheasant, buffalo, trout, salmon, chicken and venison. The dry food has freeze-dried vegetables in it. We can barely keep it in the store,” Rivers said. Individual cans sell for $1.89; cases are discounted. Dry dog food runs $25 for a 15-pound bag and $35 for a 30-pound bag.
If dog breath is an issue, Oxyfresh starter kits contain a toothbrush, toothpaste and water deodorizer for about $20. “Oxyfresh works from the inside to neutralize smells so that your dog is odorless,” Rivers said.
If you own a fashion hound, designer doggie duds available include blue jean jackets, camouflage skirts, overalls and party dresses. For dogs that would agree wearing less is more, there’s a wide variety of holiday-themed, custom collars, too.
People presents, too
For children who may not be ready for a real pet, wildly popular Webkinz are available. On the market less than a year, Webkinz are plush toys that come with access codes to an online virtual world. Rivers likes Webkinz because they teach children about responsibility.
“Children have to earn money to provide food and other things for their Webkinz. They learn that if they feed their pet potato chips obviously their pet’s health isn’t going to be where it should be. If they give their pet a more balanced diet, their pet’s health will be better,” she said, describing the online component.
She also sells special little collars created to safeguard Webkinz’ access codes. “A lot of kids were losing their codes so another company came up with the idea for a little collar so the children can have the pet’s name on the (collar’s) front and the access code on the back,” she explained. Webkinz sell for just under $15 and the collars are about $5.
Numerous novelty items for dog lovers of all ages include a carved wood chess set pitting cats against dogs ($89) and much more. Gift certificates are available for store items, grooming and pet care.
“I tried to get different (gift) items in here - not the same things the (chain stores) carry,” said Rivers, adding that her desire is to help owners get what they want from their animals while helping animals get what they need from their owners.
Deborah is a freelance writer who lives in Indian Trail, North Carolina with her husband, two children, two dogs and one cat. This article was published in Union County Weekly,Volume 2, Number 49 * Dec. 7-13, 2007. Send your dog-related news to dogreporter@hotmail.com or add your comments on the above article by clicking on the link below.
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