Just when I think the chew toys for my two dogs and one cat have been destroyed, my animals pull them out of some deep dark corner of the house — and the unharmed toys become resurrected.



Dammit, animals, you’ve figured out how to trick me into buying new toys!

I’ve found a favorite pet store that carries a wide enough selection of non-rawhide, all natural treats for my spoiled furry friends. Not only does Pet Pros in Milton keep my shoes from becoming Chew City, but they also know me by name. Or at least now they do, after I obsessively followed Niclyn Meyer around her store asking haphazard pet-type questions.

STEPH DEROSA: Pet Pros is a family-owned company, but I know you’ve had to have worked somewhere else to gain all your knowledge before coming here.

 

NICLYN MEYER: I’ve been in the business for over 20 years, and yes, I’ve worked for other stores. Let’s just call them the “Big Box Empire Stores.”

 

DEROSA: Gotcha. Will do. I’ll even take out the swear word you just used when I turn this interview in to my editor. Now I’ve got to ask, what’s the strangest request for a pet item you’ve ever heard?

MEYER: There are no strange requests. People ask for stuff because they genuinely need it, and I respect that.

 

DEROSA: That is such a boring answer. And typical of someone who is too nice. You are too nice. Give up the strange information to me, now!

 

MEYER: OK, fine. We had a guy come in with two bearded dragons requesting fresh frozen mice for his reptile friends. And as strange as that was, it was also really cool.

 

DEROSA: Don’t tell me you have frozen mice in here.

 

MEYER: Of course we do. Wanna see?

 

DEROSA: You know it! 

(We look in the freezer.)

DEROSA: Ew, that’s just wrong. 

 

MEYER: It’s natural for some pets to eat mice. What I want to know is what guy stands there at the butcher counter and says, “Hey! I have an idea! Let’s take the hoof and snout of that pig and make it into a dog treat!” Seriously, how do they come up with that?

 

DEROSA: I like your way of thinking, Niclyn. It’s good to question strangeness. Even with your creepy selection of frozen mice, I like you. 

[Pet pros, 900 E. Meridian, Milton, 253.517.0911]