Pet Boutique Mixes the Posh and the Healthy

For 17 years, Wendy Haskins was a Realtor. And then she got a dog.

That led to her true calling, as the owner of The Posh Paw, an upscale, natural pet boutique that sells everything from seaweed tablets to prevent plaque to pumpkin dog food.

“My boyfriend – now husband – and I just decided to do it,” she said. “We really just felt like there was a need for people who understood animal nutrition.”

The Posh Paw originally opened in DuPont in 2006, where it built a loyal fan base. But landlord issues had Haskins and her husband, Craig Carlson, looking for a new home in 2010. They found one at 8415 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., and opened in September.

“It’s been a very good move for us,” said office manager Sheila Reitz, who is also Haskins’ mother. “It actually broadens our customer base.”

Haskins said that being close to Lakewood’s dog park at Fort Steilacoom Park means good foot – and paw – traffic. The closest holistic pet-food store is in Fircrest.

“When we started in the industry, only 10 percent of people were feeding their pets a higher-end or quality food,” she said. “There’s so much room for improvement and for people to understand.”

Lesson No. 1 is that grocery-store pet food is not always a healthy option, she said.

Most dog food contains corn, wheat and soy, none of which is good for dogs. And don’t even get the employees started on genetically modified ingredients.

Natural food, they steadfastly believe, means smoother, shinier coats, stronger eyes and teeth – and all-around better health for pets.

“Everything we have is natural,” Reitz said. “We do not bring in anything that Craig has not thoroughly researched.”

To say that the approved items are unique would be an understatement.

The shelves are lined with holistic pheasant dinners and freeze-dried chicken breasts along with tins of calamari over rice and sweet potato purees, frozen raw food and cans of beef chunks. There’s even a line of natural dog food imported from New Zealand.

“That’s kind of fun, but surprisingly, most of our people are pretty down to earth and they want pretty basic stuff,” Reitz said. “A gentleman came in this afternoon and was excited that we had Grandma’s pot pie and turkey dinner for dogs.”

With a 20-pound bag of food easily costing $30, holistic pet food is more expensive, “but the cost shouldn’t be the issue,” Haskins said. “They really need to understand how much they’re going to be saving if they need their pet appropriate food to boost the immune system.

“It’s more, but they’re eating half of the amount, there’s half to pick up the yard – it’s getting that across.”

The results are something that brings Haskins immeasurable joy.

“I love to see an animal get healthy,” she said. “I don’t love it when someone comes in and their dog is a hot mess, but I love educating people and helping them.”

Employee Amanda Tindale said that such passion for animals is why she enjoys working at the store.

“I love animals,” said the owner of two dogs and a cat. “People always make fun of me, but I like pets more than I like people, and I can bring them to work with me.”

In addition to fostering dogs at times, Haskins and Carlson have four of their own – the Chihuahua that started it all, two Italian greyhounds and the first pit bull to be legally adopted from a Pierce County animal shelter in 20 years.

“She’s a sloth of a pit bull,” Haskins said with a laugh. “She is amazing.”

Their canine quartet eats primarily raw food – “because wolves ate naturally for thousands of years, and so did dogs” – but also enjoys kibbles.

In addition to food, The Posh Paw carries a full range of health and bath products, litter boxes, pet toys, harnesses, leashes – even $129.99 Swarovski crystal collars.

Customers can also purchase bones of all kinds, from kneecaps and tendons to a 7-inch rib bone and deer antlers.

Wait, deer antlers?

“They’re to chew on,” Tindale explained. “They’re really good for dogs with sensitive stomachs.”

The Posh Paw recently expanded its grooming area into a space adjacent to the store. Services performed by their two groomers include bath packages, haircuts and nail trims, and start at $7.

Tindale smiled proudly.

“There’s something for everyone here.”