Animal Attraction

In Europe, people take their pets everywhere, in stores and to restaurants. Although you won't often see that in the United States, you can sometimes find store owners who invite their animal companions to join them at work, giving a little extra something to customers and visitors.

From typical cats and dogs to unusual lizards and turtles, akronlife magazine searched our community for the friendliest, cutest and best local shop pets we could find for our second annual Pets Issue. 

Scooter

Tallmadge Branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library, Tallmadge

Scooter traveled a long way from Costa Rica before she ended up tucked in the corner of the Tallmadge branch library’s NatureConnect corner.

Donated by a patron who wanted the turtle to live in a place where children could enjoy her, Scooter was warmly accepted by young and old alike.

Cassie Baldesare, Scooter’s main caretaker, recalls children pressing their faces against the glass making noises at her or putting on a show for her with the library’s turtle puppet. "Most kids, once they know she’s here, come in and go 'Can I go say hi to Scooter?' Or they’re leaving, and they are like, 'Oh, I didn't say bye to Scooter,'” Baldesare says. "It’s so cute."

Denise Lee, the library’s branch manager, doesn't know how old the turtle is, but she says they recently threw a birthday party to celebrate Scooter's one year with the library.

"I think it’s interesting because we have other playthings," Lee says, "And it’s interesting the kinds of kids that will go sit at the table and watch her. I think she adds something to the area because she’s a live animal."

Lee says Scooter may serve as an incentive to get children to come to the library.

"It entertains them while they’re here, and I think it gets them interested in animals and pets," she says. "Of course we have books on turtles, and they get checked out when we put them out there. I've actually had some parents ask about turtles and what’s involved in their care because they think it might be a good pet to get for their home."

Baldesare says Scooter is spoiled by the library’s patrons and staff and has learned to beg for food. 

"She seems to show off," Baldesare says. "She's very good at posing. When we're not open, we can take her out and let her run around a little bit, and she's happy."

Lily

Lifesource Yoga, Akron

Those who practice at Lifesource Yoga know their first step is to go in the boutique and retrieve a kibbles treat to give to the little dapple dachshund waiting at their feet.

Lily, a rescue dog from One of a Kind Pets, and her owner, Debbie Watkins, spend their days in the yoga studio moving in and out of classes. Watkins, who recently retired from the teaching and administration job she had for 35 years, has been doing yoga since the 1970s. Three years ago, she bought Lifesource.

"[Lily] just loves to crawl up on people's bellies or snuggle under the blanket with them," Watkins says, "She will make the rounds and visit different students. She just picks her space and then she hangs out."

Watkins enjoys having Lily, her true companion, around while she works her 60- to 70-hour weeks. Lily’s presence in the studio gives it a more homelike environment.

"She's like a therapy dog," she says. "She's so sweet and so people-oriented." Watkins says Lily brings comfort to students to those who need it, especially during the restorative classes, in which students position their body over bolsters and blankets to relax, renew and end stress.

"There are people who can communicate with animals better than they can communicate with others," Watkins says. "Lily just gives unconditional love. … The idea of just being loved and being able to give love. I swear sometimes she senses who needs it, and that's who she gravitates to."

Although Lily is very friendly and calm, she is “very much a little pig” and will let you know when she wants someone to give her a treat. She’s even been known to go through students' bags, looking for food. However, Watkins' students come first.

"We offer free tea to everyone, and Lily's like free tea. She’s just another bonus," Watkins says. "Everybody just loves Lily. I always wanted my zen yoga dog, and I think I finally got it."

Stella and Stumpy - West Hill Hardware, Akron

West Hill Hardware has been in the Tschantz family for 83 years, and though Richard Tschantz has only been running it since his father’s retirement in 2005, for the past three decades there have been feline friends roaming the aisles.

Stella and Stumpy, the store's current companions, belong to Tschantz and his family. When their first cat passed away after 15 years in the store, a regular customer approached Tschantz offering a kitten from her cat's litter. Tschantz said there was one condition: The cat had to have dark-colored fur so it didn't look dirty from the dust in the store. The customer came back to the store with two kittens.

"We only wanted one at the time, but one of them only had three legs, and so I didn't want to take the one that had all its legs and leave the other one,” he says. “So we ended up taking both."

Though some customers are allergic to cats or scared of them, Tschantz says he and the customers enjoy having them there. 

"I have cats at home, and growing up I've always had cats," he says. "They’re comforting, I suppose. I take them a little for granted."

Usually Stella can be found curled up in a basket, sleeping on the counter or wandering the store, being affectionate with customers. If it’s summertime, they both can be found wandering the parking lot out back, up on the roof or chasing birds. 

"They're always here when you come in in the morning, and they’re the last ones I see at night," Tschantz says.

Finnegan, Cleo, Roxy

Alter’d Relics, Barberton

When Pamela Andrella rescued Roxy from the Coshocton Dog Pound, the Airedale Terrier was a sad, terrified and matted mess who had been separated from her recently birthed litter of puppies.

Six happy years have passed, and today Roxy goes with Andrella to her design studio, Alter'd Relics, since the building was renovated last September.

Andrella and her daughter, Arica, also have Cleo and Finnegan, three-year-old wire-haired terrier mixes that were rescued at three months from a local group called Diamonds in the Ruff.

“They are my babies,” Arica says. Though they used to stay behind a door in the back of the shop, the three tricksters have learned how to knock the door and open it to greet customers.

The Andrellas first brought the dogs to the shop to be companions during long work days, but they soon noticed that the dogs’ presence brought customers into the shop and broke the ice. 

"We've had quite a few people say they or their grandparents had Airedales growing up," Pamela says. “It brings back great memories. They also ask where we got them, which gives us the opportunity to promote adoption from shelters and dog pounds. I also work a full-time job, so this gives me more time with [Roxy].”

The Andrellas say Roxy and her two dog “cousins” like to crawl into the display windows and fall asleep, sometimes startling passers-by who don't realize the dogs are real until they move. "They end up laughing," Pamela says. "I think we need to put up a 'How much is that doggie in the window?' sign."

Both the women say it's nice to have the dogs at the shop while they’re working late at night, to give them someone to talk to and double as their bodyguards. But, Pamela says, she suspects Roxy has a sixth sense when it comes to talking to "others" in the building.

"It will be totally silent, then all of a sudden she looks up at the ceiling and starts barking like a mad dog," Pamela says. "This building is hundreds of years old, so maybe she's communicating with a ghost dog. Who knows?"

Alter’d Relics carries items from jewelry to furniture, both new and vintage. However, plans are in the works to carry unique doggie beds and feeding stations, inspired by the Andrellas’ furry friends.

Heisman

Winking Lizard Tavern, Peninsula

Five years ago, Heisman the iguana joined the staff at Winking Lizard Tavern in Peninsula, and since then, she’s become one of the restaurant’s main attractions.

"We named her after the Heisman Trophy," says Gary While, the restaurant’s manager. "At the time we had a ‘Name the Lizard’ 

contest for the employees. That year, college football was really big, and the trophy had just been awarded.

When the original Winking Lizard opened in 1983 in Bedford Heights, the executive team brought a lizard on board, and the pet very quickly became a favorite for locals and another reason to visit the restaurant. Once the lizards were adopted as part of the restaurant atmosphere, Jeff Reide, an expert from the Cleveland Zoo, was brought in to assist in caring for them.

"They needed someone qualified — someone used to handling all the lizards — and he comes in once a month and cleans her cage, checks her out to make sure she’s ok," While says. "He also gives us vitamins to give her in her food. He's a good guy and knows everything about lizards."

While says the staff in Peninsula loves Heisman, and they feed her and spray her with water.

"Heisman draws the kids back in because they want to see her," he says. "You see how happy the kids are, and just seeing the joy on their faces is great. All the adults also comment on how big she has gotten since their last trip [to the restaurant.]"

/ Writer Caitlyn Callahan is a senior at KSU working on her bachelor’s in magazine journalism.

Comments?

Email them to managing editor Abby Cymerman at acymerman@bakermediagroup.com.