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SPRING IS SPRINGING!
Happy Spring! We are very grateful that we went from ice storm to daffodils in such a short time! It’s been helpful to have some sunshine for us and our customers to have an easier time waiting and “shopping” out front. I’ve done a lot of puppy consults this past week or two, where I bring a big basket of what I consider essential products for the first weeks, like a soft high value jerky for potty training treats, tiny gentle Whimzees chew sticks, a soft adjustable harness and leash, a Lickimat to keep them busy, etc and spread them out on our table outside to discuss. It’s sure nice not to have to do that in the cold wind/rain/hail that we’ve had to deal with!
I’m not ready to make any announcements yet, but we are busily working behind the scenes on modifications that will get us closer to safely able to have customers back in the store (we’ll likely have a 2 people in the store system where one person per family comes in, and keeps visits to 15 or 20 minutes). We’ll keep you posted!
We miss you, too! As essential workers we expect to finally get access to vaccines soon, so that will make us feel better. When we were letting two people at a time into the store last fall, we were seeing up to 100 humans a day inside the store. More than a year of that with no vaccines in sight was stressful for all of us (and for other essential stores like Beaumont Market and Beaumont Hardware).
Thanks to those of you that have been patient with us during this time. We need to protect our health, especially for our 3 immune compromised employees. Some people find out we’re curbside only, and leave in a big huff saying they’ll just go to Mud Bay (it’s as if they know that’s the threat that hurts us the most - they could at least go to another local independently owned store!) but we’re sad as we know that if they gave us a chance, they would have had a personalized shopping experience they likely couldn’t get at any other store, where we bring armloads of choices right to them and go through each of the products listing their attributes and answering questions, without them having to seek out the best options themselves. It’s truly personal shopping, and most folks say “I’m so glad we did that - that was great!”
Thank you also for being patient with how short staffed we are. We can’t afford a new employee right now, and there’s also simply no time to train someone! It’s a real chicken and egg situation needing someone but not having them be useful to us unless they know our store and products really well. Even after we are able to get some customers back into the store, we’ll still be encouraging people to use the curbside option for customers getting their regular products that don’t need advice or browsing.
For now we’d like to ask you to help with our ability to be efficient with our time by emailing your orders to info@greendogpetsupply.com This benefits you as well, as so many people have trouble getting through on our phone lines! We check the email every few minutes and attend to those orders right away. We can cut the time you would spend making your orders by phone way down, as we don’t have to make you wait while we do the administrative parts like making sure your frequent buyer cards are up to date, dealing with any technical problems our computers give us, or pondering alternatives when something is out of stock. Once we have your email order put together, we can call you when the phone is open, and get a quick payment with no muss or fuss.
Remember - you don’t have to spend much effort on your emails. Your history is right at our fingertips, so you can just say “I want the same food I bought last time but in a different flavor”, or “I need my cat’s litter” and we’ll just look it all up. Some of you really do get the same things each time you order, so we can make a “standing order” that is a list of your basics (that you give us for this purpose). Instead of having to type out and list your regular items, the next time you order you can say I'd like my regular order, or even add things like, “ I need my regular order and also poop bags and a good training treat without chicken”. We’ll take care of the rest.
We have to do something to free up our phone lines; when we push the button to end a call, it literally rings in our hand. We haven’t had the chance to complete or assemble the order we just took, and suddenly we have four orders stacked up in front of us and people showing up to pick them up when we haven’t had a moment to get away from the phone to get the products for them. It makes for a truly chaotic day, all of us literally running around to grab products. We dream of the old days! I know we’ll get there!
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| FLEAS AND TICKS!Spring brings lovely flowers, but it also brings fleas and ticks in higher numbers. As a holistic store, we like to encourage a great deal more prevention and more natural products, and fewer of the toxic alternatives, some that have scary side effects (check out this article about a potentially dangerous commercial product): Popular flea collar linked to almost 1,700 pet deaths. The EPA has issued no warning. There are certainly alternatives that do a great job preventing fleas and ticks from catching a ride! First, I’d like to remind you that a flea comb is your most important weapon. Running it through their hair when they come inside can find and remove pests before they infest your home. When you have a flea problem the comb can help you monitor whether if what you’re doing is working.
For cats, we do have a flea treatment that prevents and also gets rid of fleas called Cheristin. It is a monthly topical that comes with far fewer warnings than any other we’ve found, and many of our local holistic vets carry it in their clinics. Otis the cat had flea allergy dermatitis that would cause him to tear out his beautiful fluffy hair. This product saved us when a flea or two got into the house and he was ripping himself to shreds. We wish they made a dog version!
For dogs, prevention is the key. We have a variety of effective non toxic repellent sprays that you can lightly apply that do a remarkable job of preventing these parasites. Come and we’ll show you and let you sniff them to choose your favorite. We also have powdered supplements that help to make your dog unappealing to fleas, ticks and mosquitos. Check out this one from Earth Animal, and this one from Mad About Organics, which also helps to prevent plaque on the teeth!
One of our very favorite weapons is Fleabusters, a nontoxic powder you can apply to your rugs and carpets that kills fleas that hide there (sometimes for months). The amazing thing about it is that it stays in the carpet and protects your home for up to a year after application even with regular vacuuming! It can be a game changer. If there are fleas on your pets, you can guarantee that they’re in your home.
We have the coolest and most effective tick removal device. They come with 2 sizes, and I highly recommend having them on hand if you are out in the bush. They're small and can be attached to your keychain so you always have them on a hike.
NEWSLETTER SPECIAL: Mention this newsletter and get 15% off of any flea and tick product! |
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REPRESENT YOUR FAVORITE STORE WHILE HELPING TO PROTECT OUR FORESTS!Show the world you love Green Dog while out on your adventures or walking in the park.
These BPA free bottles are not only the sharpest looking bottles in the city, they're sustainable in so many awesome ways! They are made by Liberty Bottle in Union Gap, Washington, who provides jobs for more than 50 U.S. veterans (and still growing). It's the only American made bottle in the marketplace, and the only bottle made from recycled materials! Each bottle uses the equivalent to about 14 recycled aluminum cans, and the bottle is of course recyclable. Locally made by a company that focuses on sustainability and economic revitalization, non-toxic, durable, recycled and recyclable, these bottles fit so many of our definitions for Green products!
Even better, we’ll be donating 50% of the price of each water bottle to BARK, a watchdog organization for MT Hood National Forest. They make good gifts! |
| | | SPRING BRINGS SUNSHINE BUT ALSO RAIN!
Rain Coats: We have lots of locally made affordable rain coats in stock! Keeping dogs dryer means less work for you when you get home from a wet walk.
In the dog owners world, rain also means mud!
Protect your car after outdoor adventures: Email us and ask us for our car seat cover catalog, complete with photos, descriptions and prices.
Mud Busters: Another amazing mud fighting tool is the Mud Buster paw cleaner. It works so well! Soft silicone fingers gently clean the whole foot - just put some warm water in the container, insert foot and twist. It also comes apart for easy dishwasher cleaning. It’s available in 3 sizes.
Travel Shower: Lastly, check out this nifty tool - just pop it onto your plastic water bottle and squeeze - instant travel shower! Great to keep in the car. See it in action here
Newsletter Special! Mention this newsletter and get 15% off of any of these 4 items! |
| | INDOOR ACTIVITIES!
Rainy Days can be boring for dogs. How about a little agility work? Normally agility fun can only be had outdoors, but this little set can be set up in the living room and used to start teaching the basic concepts. More info here.
Don’t forget the kitties! They need stimulation and enrichment too, often more than dogs do. Your dogs get to have adventures that cats don’t get to go on. If your cat is annoying, this usually means they’re bored. Cats absolutely can learn all of the types of agility activities that dogs can. Check out this amazing video!
NEWSLETTER SPECIAL: Mention this newsletter and get 15% off of an agility set while supplies last! |
| | MORE PUZZLES ARE HERE!
These are also great indoor activities! Challenge their minds to occupy them when they’re stuck inside.
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| | | EASTER COOKIES ARE ON THE WAY!
March 20th is the official first day of spring, and we expect to have our gorgeous wheat free peanut butter Easter cookies ready to put out by then. They’re giant! Like all of the Gourmet Pup cookies, these beautiful cookies are handmade locally, and hand-piped with yogurt frosting. All of the colors are created with foods - pink is beet powder, green is spirulina, orange is carrot powder, etc. Her pale blue color is made by steeping edible flowers!
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SPRING CLEANING!
Now’s the time that we all traditionally get up and start doing things, including cleaning out storage areas and rehoming things we’re no longer using. Don’t forget that we can take most gently used pet supplies and get them where they will be most needed. We donate loads of stuff to local rescues, low income housing units, and places like The Paw Team that help low-income and houseless pet owners get access to basic veterinary care and other resources. We can take gently used raincoats, clean blankets, food bowls, intact toys, leashes and collars, sealed treat and food bags, canned foods, clean beds, crates, and even medications (Paw Team can take them). Make sure all items are clean and in good condition and we’ll make sure they get where they need to go.
This photo was of a donation of food bags and pet supplies that were donated to us, damaged in shipment, or returned to us but still very safe to feed. They went to Alabama, for a rescue in an area that has no shelters whatsoever. Without them, stray or unwanted dogs would be simply euthanized. Fosters care for these dogs and send adoptable dogs to Portland. The empty transport vehicle is then filled with donations like these to go back to those amazing volunteer foster homes. This is just one of many places we support; most others are local.
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| | | THERE'S STILL TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MARCH SPECIALS!
- Austin and Kat CBD (select oils) $5 off!
- Koha Dog cases $$ off - Pure Vita/Nutrisource: $3 off small bags/ $4 off medium bags/ $5 off large bags
Do you wish you could see the monthly frequent buyer program specials at the beginning of the month? Just give us your email and we'll send you the link. You can also track your own frequent buyer card progress to see how close you are to a freebie! |
| | NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS!
- Robin Ady, owner of Gazelle clothing will be retiring and closing up shop by October after 37 years. We wish her the very best and will miss her and her lovely store. More here
- Nacheaux Is Open! This new restaurant in the old Alameda Brew Pub sounds very promising! More Here. Don't forget there's also ice cream in that space...One stop evening meal takeout!
- Metalwood Salvage can Salvage more! More here
- Ridwell - A new recycling service that takes items that aren't accepted in curbside bins. (Remember - putting items that are dirty or not on the list of accepted items can result in entire loads of items being discarded). Check out their services here
- Looking for a job? We’ve heard about a few recently.
The Beaumont hardware store next door is looking for someone part time.
Paperjam Press on NE Fremont is hiring.
I just stumbled on this post from Hollywood Star with more local jobs! |
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING A LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT STORE! |
| | | | Located in Beaumont Village 4327 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon 97213
Telephone: 503-528-1800
© 2007 - 2015 Green Dog Pet Supply. Green Dog Pet Supply® is a Registered Trademark. |
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