I have been shopping at Wags to Whiskers for several years and have become a loyal customer. To be honest, Janelle, the owner, and the rest of the staff deserve a lot of credit for improving the health and overall wellbeing of my dogs, each of whom have specific health problems and resulting dietary needs. Janelle and at least two of the staff remember my dogs -- their names, faces and their health issues, even the two they have never met. I have always considered myself a responsible, reasonably well-informed dog owner, and I love my dogs and consider them members of our family. When I first visited Wags, I thought I was already doing the very best for my dogs in terms of the food I was giving, but I discovered that I had a lot to learn and a lot of room for improving. I don't mean to suggest that I was made to feel bad or irresponsible for what I had been doing previously. On the contrary, I was given respect and encouragement in wanting to improve my dogs' diets and health. Janelle generously and patiently helped me through a process of changing and trying various foods. She did this by educating me about each food - their benefits or shortfalls - and about the overwhelmingly deceptive and destructive mainstream pet food industry. In case you're wondering, no, this wasn't merely in order to sell her products, though she has every right, as a business owner, to promote them. No it was so much more than that. When Janelle and her staff promote the foods, supplements, toys and chews they sell, it isn't just about money. In fact, I think it has more to do with their love of animals and their passionate commitment to helping pet owners give their pets the very best chance at long, healthy lives.
In the three or four years of shopping at Wags, I have come to know much of Janelle's story, and the evolution of Wags itself. That is how I know that she (and her staff) do what they do because of that passion and commitment as much or more than anything else. Janelle was, in fact, inspired to start the business precisely because of her love for a dog who had passed away. (You'll see a picture of that dog, Tallie, behind the counter, and Janelle will be happy to tell you all about her!) To me, Wags to Whiskers feels as much (or more) like a mission to help cats and dogs live long, healthy lives, as it does a business.
To that end, Janelle has pursued many educational opportunities, such as classes, conferences and a lot of reading and studying, and has, in fact, gained certification as a pet nutritionist. I wholly believe that there is little that she doesn't know on the topic, and when questions or problems do come up that require more expertise on a topic than she currently has, she WILL find the answers, if there are any!
The staff is also well-informed, as well as very friendly, helpful and undeniably devoted to improving the lives of cats and dogs! I always look forward to shopping here, both for the products and information I get as well as the chance to visit with the delightful staff!
The products Wags carries are top notch and varied. As I said above, each of my three dogs has at least one medical problem that requires special dietary approaches. To my extreme relief and satisfaction, after following Janelle's advice, dietary and otherwise, I have seen the health and wellbeing of each of them improve dramatically. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I was feeding them garbage before. I was giving them a grain-free, protein based kibble that wasn't cheap and was sold at all of the chain pet stores. When I started feeding them products from Wags -- eventually all, or almost all, raw food and some supplements -- I saw noticeable increases in energy, playfulness, weight stabilization and general happiness of my fur babies. In other words, Wags to Whiskers can help make the lives of your pets longer, healthier and happier! read more