Wanted to give some honest information about this business. I volunteer, shop, donate, and foster at The Peppermint Pig that is a nonprofit whose proceeds go to pay for the rescue, care, and spay/neutering of animals in your Cincinnati community. No paid employees. All volunteers with different skills, backgrounds, interests but who have a great love of animals. Some people work mainly in the store and some on adoptions and vaccinations. This is not a normal retail store.
The store takes donations of money and household goods. My favourite things to sort and price are things that were obviously lovingly cared for but no longer needed or wanted. Sometimes people even tell me the history behind their donation. A collection of German ornaments from a grandmother, a cranberry cut glass pitcher bought by a father for his wife, a set of china bought in Japan. The store inventory changes daily. We have people who shop and donate weekly. They feel like they can clean out clutter or change decor while donating to a good cause. Inventory includes electronics, tools, furniture, jewelry, pet supplies, glass, books, seasonal, pottery, garden, linens, art supplies, clothes. If you have that one thing you know is worth something and you haven't taken the time to Ebay it or Craigslist it, but you don't need, like, or have room for it, donate it to a good cause. That's the Pig's store inventory.
The animals and their smells. The store is not a shelter. A cat or dog is caged because it hasn't been vetted or has been brought to the store for potential adopters to see. The organization uses foster families to rehabilitate and care for rescued animals. The store is used for adoptions and so animals are brought in and out. Accidents happen when you have been living outside under an old car, in a kill shelter crate, or are a 8 wk old puppy. If you are a cat, you poop in a box. Volunteers get to clean it all up. Shoppers might get to smell it, but we do actively clean. The clothes DO NOT SMELL! I have bought many things for my husband and boys- Aeropostale, Ralph Lauren, Josabank, American Eagle, dress shirts donated with dry cleaning tags on them. It would be wonderful to have separate areas for the store and animal adoptions but that would require a different facility.
Fostering: the Pig needs more foster families. Patient people who can behavior and potty train animals. For dogs, you need a fence. I foster cats/ herds of kittens. Great experience for families with children. read more