How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

Thursday, February 4

Puppy dog eyes.  I get them a lot.  Perhaps I give them once in a while.  I got a whole lot of them yesterday.

Because I went to the Pets Plus in the Pavilion on South Broad Street.

My mission there in a second.  First, the puppy dog eyes.  Pets Plus used to sell pedigree dogs.  Really expensive pedigree dogs.
And Pennsylvania is one of the top puppy mill states in the country.  Put two and two together.  A lot of people weren’t happy.  Picketing every Saturday unhappy.

But those pickets are now gone.  Pets Plus no longer sells dogs.  It adopts out rescued animals.  Now, this is not free.  You have to pay an adoption fee.  It helps cover vet costs, housing and feeding.  Plus, it makes sure you are a committed pet owner.

It’s so sad to see these wonderful pets without loving, forever homes.  Cue the Sarah McLachlan song:

We have three rescue pets right now.  And that seems to be a good limit for us.  They are the sweetest, most loving pets.  Almost like they are so grateful that we rescued them.    You can get that same feeling, too, by bringing one furry friend into your family.

I wish I could take them all home.  But more importantly, I wish one reader.  Just one.  Would go there and adopt one of these pets.  Then invite me over to say hello.  And if more of you do, then Lansdale will be a better place.

My real mission here was to shop locally.  And perhaps spend a little more money doing it.  I usually buy cat food from Amazon.  A few clicks – then two days later it’s at my door.  Easy, peasy.  No fuss, no muss.  Insert another double-barreled cliché here.

We know Amazon has great prices.  And free shipping for Prime members.  But what if I bought the same stuff locally?

First.  That was hard at Pets Plus.  They tend to stock the more expensive, high end foods.  I love my one cat that eats this food, but at 87 cents a can she would be eating better than me (when measured pound for pound).  I did find one brand I usually get her.  And it was on sale.

So what’s the score?  55 cents at Pets Plus vs. 48 cents at Amazon for the exact same thing.  Seven cents more per day (that’s $25.55 per year).  That’s a 15% upcharge.

Well, for a minor item like this, I’m willing to do it.  But would I do it for an expensive item?  Would you?

Would you spend 15% more on an item costing $500 to support a local merchant?

I’ll be interested to hear what people have to say.

Lansdale Shopping Score:  1

I worked late.  And therefore, we had to go out and grab a quick bite to eat. 

And, as the late, great Yogi Berra said, it’s deja-vu all over again.  Because we go back to the Lansdale Tavern.

First off – I love the sign outside.  It makes me think a flock of really awesome owls will be coming to visit us.  Give a hoot, don’t pollute!

Anyway, we have a table we always sit at.  I’m not going to call it “our table,” but we are creatures of habit.  We always sit there.  And when we were there a few days ago, there was a nice couple at the next table.  We had never seen them before.  We chatted a bit about the debates that were about to start on one of the big-screen TVs.

What do you call it when four people do a double-take.  An octuple-take?  Because the four of us did it.  The exact same couple was sitting in the exact same table next to our table.  What are the chances?  We all got a good laugh out of it.

And to keep the deja-vu going, the corned beef special was again on the special board.

So I, of course, ordered the corned beef special special.

Lansdale Shopping Score:  2

So, today’s score:

TWO opportunities to shop/eat in Lansdale met.

Let’s see what today brings!