Hey DU! Can you help me with something?

[Lorien]

My friends Marcia and Melissa own two independent natural pet supply stores: http://www.pookiesbowwowbakery.com/. Not only are most of the products they carry from small, independent BLUE companies (none of which were on the pet food recall list), but they are very active in supporting liberal candidates, environmental, gay and lesbian issues and pet rescue efforts. Now their little business is up for our city's "A--list"!! Aside from the fact that their stores carry the best products around and that their staff is the most knowledgeable and helpful you'll find, Marcia and Melissa have worked tirelessly to help pets in need. They constantly raise funds for rescue groups, and if a client can't afford a surgery for their pet they'll hold a car wash fundraiser in their parking lot to help raise the money. They trap, spay and neuter, and find homes for dozens of feral cats in the city. They gave me space every weekend in their store to do pet adoptions, and when I asked them for assistance with a Katrina pet rescue effort last year they helped to raise thousands of dollars and NINE trucks/ vans worth of pet and human supplies to take to areas affected by the hurricane. They even sponsored one large truck themselves, along with a police escort (the area they went to was rather dangerous). Two of their employees drove it and spent four days in LA, camping with pup tents and doing triage for pets being brought out of NOLA. On top of all that, they give extravagant baskets and gift certificates to other non-profit organizations for silent auctions and other fund raisers-but they never draw attention to their own generosity. Sometimes I wonder how they turn a profit with all that they do for others!

Could you please give them some good karma in return by voting for Pookie's Pet Nutrition and Bow Wow Bakery here? http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/ShowCategory.aspx?contestCategory=836

Melissa and Jane, an employee of Pookie's, load a van for hurricane Katrina survivors and their pets:



Thanks so much everyone! This really means a lot to them, and their BLUE business certainly deserves the title! :loveya:

[Zoigal]

1. Sent my vote

They sound like great people.

[Lorien]

2. Thanks so much!

They are wonderful people. If every business owner in America cared as much about their customers, community and employees we really would be "the envy of the world"!

:hi:

[Guava Jelly]

3. Just voted

:)

[Lorien]

7. Thank you!

*smooch*

[graywarrior]

4. Done

[Lorien]

8. Thanks Graywarrior!

:hi:

[Inchworm]

5. Down 14 points in the poll! Rock the Vote!

Hope them all the best!

:yourock:

Current standings
http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/Standings.aspx?contestCategory=836

:hi:

[Inchworm]

10. Gained a point --lucky 13

:D

http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/Standings.aspx?contestCategory=836

:hi:

[Lorien]

11. Thanks so much!

DU is making a difference! I also posted this in the pet's forum last night. Pookie's was at 15% then!


:hi: :bounce: :loveya:

[Inchworm]

13. looking good :)

:yourock:

[Lorien]

16. Just four points away from second place!

Thanks everyone!

:bounce:

[UrbScotty]

6. There you go! (nt)

[Lorien]

14. Thanks ih8thegop!

:loveya:

[NV Whino]

9. Done

[Lorien]

15. Thanks NV Whino!

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

12. Done!

I'm quite impressed by these women. They certainly do much more than just sell pet food! Very happy to vote for them!

[Lorien]

31. Thanks so much SeattleGirl!

:yourock:

[boilerbabe]

17. Don't make me cry!! I voted! n/t

[Lorien]

32. Awww...Thanks!

:hug:

[enigmatic]

18. sure

I'll tell you what; I'll be more than happy to put a link yo their site on the front page of our station website if that's cool; just let me know and it's done..

[Lorien]

33. That would be wonderful! Thanks so much.

:hi: :loveya:

[Bluestar]

19. Done

Always happy to vote for a pet food store that promotes natural and organic foods for our little fur babies!

[Lorien]

37. Thanks Bluestar!

yeah, I was really relieved that I shop there when those awful recalls came out. Glad I turned all my friends on to the good stuff too!

:hi:

[Bluestar]

43. Hey Lorien--You helped me a lot

Just before the pet food recall, I was searching and searching for some cat foods that were mostly protein, without grain. I didn't even know there were such natural and organic foods for pets available. One night, very late, I found one of your very informative posts and the names of the foods I was looking for. I started my cats on Wellness about a month before the terrible recall. So, it was a double bonus--my kitties got the good stuff with no danger! They are thinning down and muscular now, frisky as can be.

[Lorien]

44. So happy that I could help!

I often tell the doubters that many of those grain free foods are like "Adkins for cats"; and as cats weren't designed to eat grains, it only makes sense that they would maintain their optimum weight while eating high protein foods. My cats love Wellness, Innova Evo and Prairie Nature's variety. Good thing too; my big boy Oberon is a Maine Coon, a breed known for it's tendency toward obesity. Oberon has remained a very lean and energetic 20 pounds. I suspect that if he were eating Friskies or Fancy feast he's be closer to 30-and that would REALLY hurt when he leaps up on me in the morning, lol!

Like you, I didn't know a few years ago that such foods were available...until one of my cats became extremely ill after years of eating the above mentioned commercial brands, plus Hill's Science diet. My pet sitter gave me a gift certificate for Pookie's (I'd never heard of it before) so I went in and talked to the employees there. They gave me plenty of reading material to take home, along with free food samples. I was HORRIFIED to discover just what I'd been feeding my beloved cats for so many years! The switch came too late for one of them, but the second lived many more healthy years. I'm hoping to have Oberon and Puck with me a good 20 years or more now. :-)

[marzipanni]

20. You have my vote for PPN and BWB

Marcia and Melissa and their employees sound like wonderful people :thumbsup: Good luck to them in their business and in all their good work!

[Lorien]

30. Thanks so much marzipanni!

:loveya:

[REP]

21. You Got It!

Glad to do it. Tell your adorable hairballs that their stalker admirer in California says hello.

[Lorien]

40. Lol! Thanks REP!

The beasties send their regards. :hi:

[bigwillq]

22. I just voted!

:bounce:

[Inchworm]

25. hey you!

How did your NYC trip go?

:hi:

[bigwillq]

26. It was awesome.

[flvegan]

23. Done!

[Lorien]

28. Thanks flvegan! You'll be happy to know that

Pookie's is one of the only pet supply stores in this area to stock SEVERAL brands of vegetarian dog food!


:bounce:

[Inchworm]

24. Pulled into second! and 9% behind lead...!!

Love it!

:yourock:

http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/Standings.aspx?contestCategory=836

[Lorien]

27. Woot! Power to the independent progressive "ma and ma" stores!

Hopefully, with a few more votes, they'll win...and plenty of central Floridians will give them a chance, discover that the service and products of a small, locally owned shop are WAAAYYYY better than those of Wal-Mart, and they'll make a habit of shopping locally!

[buddhamama]

29. done

:thumbsup: :)

[Inchworm]

34. Looks like they are winning

tied at 32% and out of alphabetical order on top!

:party:

Standings:
http://wesh.cityvoter.com/Contests/Standings.aspx?contestCategory=836

[Lorien]

38. One point ahead now!

The power of DU at work!!

:bounce: :party: :yourock:

[Lex]

35. I voted for 'em!

:thumbsup:

[JustJeking]

36. I voted too!

Went to their website - and am loving it! Moved to the Clearwater area, but if I'm ever in Orlando, I'll be sure to stop by and make a purchase for my dogs.
j.

[S n o w b a l l]

39. Done!

Good luck!!

:)

[VenusRising]

41. Happily done!

They are doing such a great service. You have lovely friends!

:hug:

[Karenca]

42. DONE! . nt

[In_The_Wind]

45. I voted for Pookie's.

Thanks for bringing this to The Lounge.

[kedrys]

46. Done!

:hi: