Favorite Things Saturday - Where the Pets Shop

Jill's inspired me recently with her fun photos of frogs and turtles to look back at these pet store photos I took a while ago. And Judie has me thinking about macaws. Not to mention I'm having animal dreams again (one of these days I'll have to tell you about some of them). So I think my favorite thing  I'll share this Saturday will be: pet stores. (click on the link to see other people's Favorite Things Saturday and, as always, click on the thumbnails on this side for a larger view).

A little background on how pet stores came to be my favorite thing: There was a wonderful store in my hometown, when I was little - called Sage's (I still sometimes visit it in my dreams; and it closed when I was teenager - that's how magical this store was!). It was way ahead of its time. Long before there were Wal-marts in every town (let alone Super Wal-marts), this store managed to be a one-stop-shopping wonder; but with higher aspirations than your average super-store nowadays. The grocery section had everything from apples to escargot (I still remember the butcher - who oddly enough, could whistle any number of birdsongs, sounding just like each bird - while he chopped away at the meat. Actually, that's kind of strange, now that I think about it!). A deli and a cafe (it was the first place I ever had french onion soup or bleu cheese dressing, both still favorites of mine). There were clothes and shoes, beauty products (I remember how excited I was in 7th grade, when I received a bottle of their "champagne" bubble bath as a birthday present from a friend); a jewelry store (a real one - not just costume jewelry - where you could buy a wedding ring or get a watch fixed). Household goods of every kind. Art supplies and a  little bookstore. And in an adjacent little storefront was their toy and pet shop. Yes, that's right - toys and pets all in one store: little girl heaven! They had resident minah birds and parrots that could talk. Parakeets, canaries, and finches. Hamsters and guinea pigs. For a little while, they had a monkey that lived there. He wasn't for sale - but I think he was an illegal immigrant and that's why he suddenly disappeared one day - though I don't remember there being a big scandal. He just siddenly wasn't there anymore. They had every kind of  bright and shiny tropical fish; even seahorses. Turtles! While my mother was shopping, I'd spend an hour visiting all the animals (and, um, there was some toy-playing, too - I confess! They had Madame Alexander dolls in a glass case - that had my nose and fingerprints all over it.) I loved that place.

There was another pet and feed store in our town, that my mother would sometimes take us to, even though it wasn't quite as cheap as our regular feed store. This would always be a special treat, because though the building looked pretty run of the mill from the front (other than the huge cement gorilla that stood between it and the neighboring stone memorial/ornament business) - if you went all the way through the store, past the bags of chicken scratch and dog food; out through the back door - you would step into another world. A jungle of ferns and palm trees, surrounding ponds full of - alligators! There were high wire fences on both sides of a walkway - and on either side were two ponds of alligator families: from little baby gators all the way up to huge, full-grown 6 - 7 foot alligators. They would open one eye and watch you as you ventured down the walkway; only a foot or so away. My mother wouldn't let me go out back there unless she was with me - I can't say I blame her. Thinking back on it, that double-layer of chicken wire wouldn't have been much of an impediment, if they'd been very hungry! But it was an adventure, that still haunts my dreams from time to time - I can still recall the distinct scent of those aliigators, and remember how I wished I could pet their ridged, textured backs - yes, my mother was definitely right to keep a close eye on me! (A relative of this store owner went to high school with me. I found this out on a day we were having a pep rally - a guy friend and I were walking together to class.  We saw someone walking towards us carrying a large rubber alligator, with its head resting on his shoulder and its tail hanging down to his feet. The guy I was with, made a comment about what cheesy skit they might be using that obviously fake gator in  for the pep rally. I knew though - just a second before he drew even with us and one eye opened, and the tail swung up and to the side - yep, I smelled that gator! Maybe that's why I stepped back - with a little nervous squeak! - while the guy I was with dropped all his books and leaped to the other end of hall! Ha-ha! I can't imagine someone getting permission nowadays to bring their 5-foot pet alligator to school!)

I have happy associations with pet stores  - going to a pet store always cheers me up.  Even though we buy most of our pet food at Costco  or the feed store (cheep! cheep!), there are still little things like frog or fish food for Bon-bon's little 10-gallon aquarium that necessitate that trip to the pet store.  I'm always glad to go in and browse for awhile (for one thing, it's about 20 degrees cooler in there right now, than it is at home - Lucky critters!). Work the room; say 'hello' to everyone. It would be rude to visit and  not acknowledge them, wouldn't it?

I've always wondered what it would be like if pets shopped for people. Would they be as enthralled by us, as we are by them?  Would they be as picky as we are? 

"Oh, look at those wrinkles and gray hair - that one's too old, he'd walk way too slow on a leash...and that one's too hyper - she'd never sit still long enough to get a proper nap on her lap. Oh, that one looks athletic, I bet he'd throw a frisbee all day! Sure, the redheads are pretty, but I've heard they're temperamental. Oh, look how cute - she's trying to pet me! "
I wonder what would be in canned people food.

In her Artist's Date Book, one of the suggestions Julia Cameron made, was to visit a pet store - even if you don't have a pet. Though I have a menagerie of my own, maybe going to the pet store today will inspire me - to let Mr. Oddbody  out of his trunk in the attic of my mind, long enough to tell the story of his Curious Pet Shoppe - provided Madame Sylvia will let him, of course!

Comments

[judie]

Wonderful photos, as is your story to go along with it, as usual! Two questions: How do you get those bird pics without the cage bars between your lens and the subject (wanting to photo my keets but bars are prohibitive) and ..um..does Mr. Oddbody reside in the SAME trunk with Madame Sylvia? Don't you think that is a little risque...or even risky?

[Jill]

I love going to pet stores, too. It feels a little bit like going to a miniature zoo.

[amber]

What totally fun post!! This had me smiling the whole time, seeing it all in my minds eye, and thinking hwo I would have also loved it as a little kid. Or even now! lol

I would love to hear about your animal dreams! I read a lot about meanings of dreams, and totem symbols of animals. It would be fun to hear it. ;)

And thanks for your sweet words on my blog. :)

:)

[Brain]

I remember taking alot of my "friends" to the pet store...lots of good times, but that was when work was alot more fun, remember Pink? Also, who gave you that name "Tinker"? Geeeeeeeeeeeee, I wonder????
Tee Hee Hee!!!!!!

[gemma]

Cute little birdies...

and to comment on your Awesome drawing "Emotions" That is really outstanding. You nailed it!

As always enjoy your blog!!

[Paris Parfait]

What an incredible, fun store! Too bad it no longer exists. I like pet shops too-you never know what you might see. Love your post and your photos!

[Marilyn]

What a delightful post! And what a place that must have been! I love the idea of pets shopping for owners...many probably would not choose the owners they end up with. :)

[melba]

I never go to pet stores. We don't own a pet and although we had several growing up I never remmber visiting one.
But I will take me children because like most children they love animals. We do go to the nature perserve where they have some animals for the children to pet and a small aquarium. We also went to the zooquarium here in Cape Cod and that was a lot of fun!
I love birds. We have so many in our backyard. (I think the couple who lived here before us planted bird seeking trees) We stare out the window in our backyard and observe.
Love your story and pictures too!:)

[samantha]

I still remember the excitement of going to a pet store as a kid...I just loved looking at the puppies! I would imagine how wonderful it would be to take one home...and now I never would! I'm much more partial to mutts. But they are magical, and definitely hold lots of possibility. And birds. Always, birds chirping and screeching like mad!