© Linda McCallum

Pets Welcome

A dog's-eye view of downtown

by Linda McCallum

posted 3/14/2009

A lost dog found shelter at Motte & Bailey, Booksellers.

“We had the door open on a warm day, and a dog without a leash wandered into the store,” recalls co-owner Gene Alloway. “He ended up curled up under the desk, resting on my knee.” Alloway called the number on the animal’s tag and learned that he had been running free in a park and had taken off up the street. The owner soon arrived to rescue him.

Canines are regular visitors to the Fourth Avenue bookshop, which has a Pets Welcome sign on the door. A Great Dane once stopped by (with its owner), and Alloway says a beagle named Ruby is a regular, keeping a proprietary eye on the store and giving a bark of greeting to incoming dogs.

A few doors down, at pet supply and gift store DogmaCatmantoo, “we encourage people to bring their dogs,” says owner Alice Liberson. “There is no discrimination against breed, age, species, or size.” Other animal visitors have included rabbits (in containers) and a leashed cat named Pants. Both Dogma and the nearby TeaHaus set out a water bowl for four-legged visitors.

Dogs also are welcome around the corner at Vicki’s Wash & Wear Haircuts and Heavenly Metal gallery—so long as they’re approved by the “Queen of the Shop,” owner Vicki Honeyman’s papillon. Canine visitors can check out all sections of the store—except Lucy’s food dish.

At all businesses, basic rules of canine etiquette apply. Dogs are expected to be friendly and well behaved and should be encouraged to relieve themselves before entering. And unless there’s a sign specifically welcoming pets, owners should always check to make sure it’s okay.

It’s no surprise that dogs are welcome at the Ann Arbor Biscuit Company on South Fourth Avenue—the biscuits in question are dog biscuits. Less predictable, given the shedding issue, is the Pets Welcome sign in the window of Mitchell Gold @ Three Chairs Co. But in fact, even places that don’t post signs often are pet friendly. Both Borders and Shaman Drum allow shoppers to bring their dogs indoors—as do Sam’s Clothing Store, Orchid Lane, and the Footprints shoe stores on Main and South University.

At Downtown Home & Garden on Ashley, owner Mark Hodesh welcomes pets—but advises that the store’s resident cat, Lewis, merely tolerates canine visitors. Small dogs get too near to Lewis at their peril.   

[Originally published in March, 2009.]

 

Acme Mercantile has pet treats inside and water outside. We also visit Crazy Wisdom Bookstore. My dog likes Border's and Downtown Home and Garden the best. All the smells. Lewis will draw blood on large dogs as well, it isn't just small dogs that should be cautious. You must respect that it is his store.

Not downtown, but Stadium Hardware is a favorite place for many dogs. They give lots of treats.

For copying, Kinko's no longer lets dogs in so Kolossos gets my printing business--they welcome well-behaved dogs.