Spot Check: Sam's Cats & Dogs Naturally

Last spring when I decided to adopt a rescue dog from Texas, it happened pretty fast. I filled out the online paperwork and next thing I knew, my bundle of exuberant joy was on her way to Sea-Tac. Realizing I needed a way to control the chaos my 4-month-old shepherd mix was about to unleash in my house, I went out to buy a crate.

Crates are expensive. Because Sam’s Cats & Dogs Naturally is not a large chain store, they had the leeway to give me a hefty discount on the crate I picked out even though it wasn’t on sale. I appreciated the discount, especially after plopping down a big adoption fee and knowing full well that dogs are expensive, especially when they are pups.

By the way, in case you want to know, my dog’s name is Lycanroc—named after a Pokemon. We call her Lyca for short and she is almost a year old now. She is registered as a Shepherd-mix, but I’m told she has Belgian Malinois markings.

I got her from Big Dog Rescue Project. Their mission is to re-home large-breed dogs from Texas to the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast, where there are ample qualified adopters.

Lyca the Shepherd-mix // Linda War Bonnet

I love that Sam’s Cats & Dogs is nearby. I live in southwest Everett and they are just a few minutes away from me. They are just north of 112th on 7th Avenue SE so they may be near you too if you are in south Everett.

Being nearby has come in handy many times. Like that time Lyca chewed up her collar. In her defense, she only chews up her own things.

Except for one sock and a few cat toys… and the kitchen cabinet… and most recently a reindeer antler headband I’ve had for 20 years. But other than that, her own things including a $35 harness.

I also love that Sam’s Cats & Dogs is a locally owned small business. As convenient as Amazon is, I value small businesses and try to make decisions that keep money in our community. Amazon is beginning to remind me of Buy-N-Large from the movie Wall-E. You should see Wall-E if you haven’t already. I’m starting to think it is a cautionary tale and not just another fun Disney/Pixar movie.

I value that I can go to a local business and ask questions and touch the products I am considering buying. I’m still blaming myself for Food Emporium shutting down because I didn’t shop there enough.

I love that when I realized Lyca was allergic to chicken of all things, I was able to get help picking out new food. Everyone at Sam’s Cats & Dogs is very knowledgeable.

I love that they carry West Paw dog toys. West Paw is a Pacific Northwest company that makes very durable dog toys. My previous dog Molly could tear up a Kong Extreme for tough chewers, but not a West Paw toy. Except for the first type I gave her, but they returned it and recommended a style that would be more difficult for her to chew up.

West Paw toys are made in the USA, made with safe materials and you can recycle them, though because they last seemingly forever, I’m not sure why you would need to do that.

I’ve recently realized that Sam’s Cats & Dogs is my pet store. They are just a quick drive from my house and I know I can count on them to provide knowledgeable recommendations and they always have what I need. Except for that time Lyca chewed up her last cheap training leash. But I bet if I asked, they would order one for me.