Specialty Pet Supplies: Where Canine Boots, Catnip, and a Talking Bird Are All in Store

“He likes yogurt, mozzarella sticks from the bar, and the occasional breakfast burrito,” says Brian Case, a stock specialist at Case is referring to Leonard, 37, who, with his bright blue mohawk, is somewhat of a celebrity at the store. He’s spontaneous, fast-talking, and if you give him a piece of jerky, he might just dance on cue.

Leonard, by the way, isn’t a punk-rock child of the 80s; he’s a blue-and-gold Macaw, a Neotropical parrot that hails from South America. Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc.’s vivacious mascot serves as a metaphor of sorts: the store boasts an unrivaled variety of items with surprises down every aisle. Avid pet lovers are sure to find something new for their beloved friends upon every visit, particularly during the holidays.

“We basically have stuff for dogs and cats, but we also carry items for pet birds, outdoor birds, bunnies, and then the rodent family -- the hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, as well as items for fish,” says Cindy Rogers, a buyer for the store.

I ask Rogers about the store’s biggest seller, and her reply isn’t surprising: dog food. But when it comes to the most popular non-essential item, Rogers’s response does indeed raise my eyebrows. Now, mind you, I’m thinking she’s going to say peanut butter kongs or rawhide sticks. Nope. It’s doggie boots. Case then leads me to the front of the store where he uncovers a box containing four of the tiniest, cutest, Chuck Taylor All Star-inspired footwear I’ve ever seen.

“They [the dogs] don’t like going out in the snow,” explains Mathew Thomason, the manager of Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc. “The salt can be really rough on their paws.”

I know of what Thomason speaks. After a few minutes on the walkway, my mother’s Bichon Frise, Sir Meister, hops around like he’s on a bed of coals.

“We carry pet-safe salt, too,” Thomason adds.

And that’s another great thing about Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc. -- their merchandise changes with the seasons. Today, it’s all warm sweaters and boots, but come summertime, you’ll find cooling beds for your dogs. (Filled with liquid, they’re kind of like a water bed and supply much-needed relief during the warmer months.)

But seeing as though it’s Christmastime, holiday stuff is everywhere inside the store, including treats that look -- swear to goodness -- just like the Christmas sugar cookies that Grandma makes. (A word of caution: If you buy said cookies, do make sure you keep them separate from those you put on the tray for guests -- they look that good.)

“We also have deer antlers -- the dogs chew them,” says Rogers, who knows that these are a hit with dogs because her Datsun, Caddy, loves them. “The antlers last a long time…and we’re getting the moose antlers in this week.”

In case you’re wondering, these antlers come in different sizes. I feel compelled to clarify this because the first thing I envisioned was having to tie a set of antlers to the roof of my car in order to get them home. Thank goodness the ones that Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc. sells are little enough to fit inside a bag.

How do they find this stuff?

“The owner, Terri [Bennet], attends pet trade shows throughout the year,” says Rogers. “She’ll see the new products, and she’ll either pick stuff up from there or get inquiries from owners who come in asking about a new product; we also receive trade magazines”

Whatever Bennet does works. She has owned Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc. for 30 years. Bennet isn’t at the store when I pop in to conduct interviews and take a look-see around, but her employees speak of Bennet’s love for animals. Like her employees, most of whom are pet owners, Bennet is one herself. After all, how do you think Leonard got here? Bennet rescued Leonard back in the 80s when he became badly injured after flying into a window.

“He still can’t fly, and he’s got a crooked beak,” Thomason says.

Leonard’s presence notwithstanding, what really stands out about Specialty Pet Supplies, Inc. is that the staff doesn’t seem to be at work. I mean, of course they cater to their clientele. But, at the same time, they are relaxed and down-to-earth, and it’s clear that they truly like what they do.

“We get to know the pets and their owners,” says Thomason. We build relationships with them. That makes everything worth it.”

The staff is super knowledgeable, too.

“All of us in this room have a combined 30 years of experience [in the pet industry],” Thomason chimes in.

And it shows. Even Leonard got the memo on hospitality. “He always says ‘bye’ to the UPS man,” says Case. (The exception, however, would be Bennet’s sister-in-law’s dog, Storm. Apparently, Leonard is not a fan of Storm and whenever Storm comes into the store, Leonard screams, ‘Get out! Get out!’ But we won’t talk about that.) “Leonard does like people in uniform.”

I’ll remember that the next time I stop in. And if I don’t wear a uniform, I’ll at least bring him a breakfast burrito.