I had no idea how much I’d fall in love with this dog. She came to us a scared, timid Terrier mix and has grown into a mix of confident, endearing and loving family member material. She is our Millie, a.k.a. Pretty Pony for the way she prances around the neighborhood. I know I am not alone in this dog-loving City when I answer the question, Who rescued who? with a resounding, She rescued me! Millie has truly made our lives better.
Which is why knowing where to buy her healthy food and treats is of supreme importance to me. When I hear about tainted jerky treats from China and cyanide-laced meatballs found in tree plots, I never want to leave the house with my Millie. But that’s where the part about her rescuing me comes to play, for our twice-daily walks together to Golden Gate Park bring us both endless amounts of joy and well being. I could never give them up as long as we both can put one foot (or two) in front of the other(s).
Enter Pet’s Corner, a family-owned pet store that opened in our Inner Sunset neighborhood recently. Pet-health-conscious owners Jonathan Truong and Linh Do, have already created a solid reputation of responsible purchasing with their other location in the Richmond. Woof! And to paw, they keep their prices for quality food and supplies comparably low. I asked them about their philosophy on a recent visit, “We are animal lovers before we are business owners,” Jonathan says, kneeling down to give Millie a treat. “Our motto is simple, feed your dogs healthy food and show them plenty of love. That’s a recipe for a happy and healthy pet.” Linh added, “We believe in making our products as affordable as possible so pet parents can afford to give their furry children all they need for long and happy lives.”
Each Saturday, as we near the store on our walks, Millie willfully pulls us in for her daily treat, a 12” Tremenda stick (beef bladder) for less than a dollar. She carries it proudly in her mouth all the way home, a handful of blocks away, much to the delight of passing crowds. “Look at the dog with the stick!” they muse. “She’s on a mission!” Millie doggedly carrying her “stick” is really quite a sight to behold.
Sometimes those trips to the pet store coincide with refilling her kibble (Taste of the Wild), her jerky treats (Dogwell’s Happy Hips. Flavor: Chicken) or a toiletry, like toothpaste, which she wouldn’t mind dropping from the list. And the best part of this exchange? I don’t even have to think about whether or not said food, treats and supplies are safe…the owners of our neighborhood pet store do all the homework for us. “We make sure that,” owner Linh adds, “the ingredients are consistent and uphold the high standards we and our customers expect.”
Linh and Jonathan’s handsome Bernese Mountain Dog, Murphy, who graces the aisles of the cozy store, is living proof. His only gripe is when you stop petting him to ask his parents a question, or settle your tab. He sings a lament that is actually rather soulful, but that story of Murphy’s beautiful voice is for another issue of Bay Woof on musical dogs.
Some of my friends and family tease that I’m overly obsessed with Millie. But if only they could feel the peace and joy this girl brings to me each day, perhaps they’d change their tune, or roll their eyes less. For the real doubters, look no further than these photos. What a difference love and good food makes. And for those of you like me, find yourself a good neighborhood pet store that does the buying for you.
Author Annie Tahtinen lives in the Inner Sunset with her husband Roy, 16-month old son Leo and dog Millie. She works at a local nonprofit helping people find jobs in tech and creative media. Like Millie, she loves long walks with her family. Unlike Millie, she loves to swim, mostly in the refreshing waters of the Bay.
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