A tail of shop pets: Furry friends give local businesses some added personality

Shop pets are a special breed, breaking down barriers and providing companionship in a home away from home.

"Having a welcoming, furry face at a store is kind of like an immediate tension release for people," said Glassroots shop owner Katelin Robinson. "[The customers] kind of open up and feel a little more welcome."

Robinson regularly has her 1-year-old Border Collie mix Smokey in the shop. As customers enter the store, Smokey runs to greet the customers and receives several pets before returning back to the company of Bizzy, a 6-year-old Basset Hound, and Hula, an 11-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, both owned by Glassroots' store manager Emily Beck.

Glassroots isn't the only place to meet a bubbly black and white pup, however. Belle, a one-and-a-half year-old Border Collie, is a shop staple at Cyclewerx bicycle shop. Shop owner John Dodd rescued Belle when she was a few weeks old, and she has spent at least six days a week in the shop since she was rescued.

Guy Greene, a self-claimed "cycling junkie" and shop regular at Cyclewerx, laughed while saying that while it's great to visit the shop and be around fellow cyclist lovers, he really comes to see Belle.

Belle, a one-and-a-half year-old Border Collie, appears to smile as she waits for her owner John Dodd (not pictured) to throw her toy at Cyclewerx bicycle shop.

"As long as you play fetch with her, she's completely happy," said Dodd as he tossed Belle's favorite toy.

Running after her toy and pouncing forward to catch it with her two front paws, Belle eagerly picks up the toy and races back, tail wagging, to play again. Dodd described having a shop dog as a way to take down barriers and bring in a sense of friendship.

Dogs might be more playful, but shops aren't limited to the canine species. Dan the Man is a 17-year-old black cat who can be found curled up on his favorite chair at Annie Laurie's. He even had a shirt designed after him that can be purchased from the shop.

"He can be a little bit of a stinker sometimes," said shop owner Laurie Everett. "For the most part he just sleeps and people enjoy coming to visit him."

Having pets at the workplace, "makes the place feel like home," Dodd said.

KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com Belle turns to catch a toy thrown by her owner John Dodd at Cyclewerx Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 in Cape Girardeau.