Finding the right purse can be a challenge. Fortunately for Sarah Segal, her friend Stedman was by her side when she recently browsed for a new bag.
“He pointed to a nylon Prada bag with a plastic shoulder strap,” the Inman Park resident said. “I try not to wear any animal products at all and this nice, fashionable bag is animal-friendly. Plus it was on sale 50 percent off.”
Stedman, the seasoned shopper who sniffed out the deal, is a 7-year-old beagle.
Segal, owner of Atlanta Dog Spa, routinely shops with Stedman and Boomer Jr., a 6-year-old beagle. “There are so many shops in Atlanta where you can bring dogs,” she said. For her, it’s a matter of convenience. “If I don’t have to go all the way home and back and instead can stop en route, I’m more likely to shop,” she said. “At pet-friendly stores I don’t have to leave my dogs in the car, so it’s less stressful.”
Retailers are aware that keeping a furry friend nearby is an important issue for some shoppers.
“We know our customers are busy and sometimes have their dogs with them while running errands, so we want to make it convenient for them,” said Olescia Hanson, public relations manager for the Container Store.
From boutiques to department stores, retailers that allow dogs share one primary requirement: Dogs must behave.
“Use common sense and just be polite,” said Barbara Hays, store manager for the Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points. “Know how your animal behaves around other people and different situations before bringing him or her into the store.”
Jaimie Meredith of Roswell routinely shops with Sabrina, a cocker spaniel adopted 11 years ago. “She has separation anxiety, so I take her everywhere with me,” Meredith said. “Most little shops, if you ask with a smile and they do not sell food, will usually let you in.”
Fellow shoppers often enjoy the unexpected sight of a dog in a store.
“When Sabrina wore a Halloween costume, at least four people asked if they could have a photo,” said Meredith. “She’s like a celebrity in some shops.”
“It’s a fun treat,” said East Point resident Maria Palladino, who shops with Lucy, a 10-year-old Lab/dachshund mix, and Barley, 7, golden retriever. “They love to go in the car and just get out with us. To be able to take them somewhere other than the park to walk around is fun for all of us. They are part of our family.”
Some dog-friendly stores
Bath & Body Works
4475 Roswell Road at the Avenue at East Cobb in Marietta, 770-579-3700
Bloomingdale’s
3393 Peachtree Road N.E. at Lenox Square, 404-495-2800
Container Store, Perimeter
120 Perimeter Center W., Suite 100, Dunwoody, 770-351-0065; and other locations
Half Moon Outfitters
1034 N. Highland Ave. N.E. in Virginia-Highland, 404-249-7921
The Junkman’s Daughter
464 Moreland Ave. N.E., Little Five Points, 404-577-3188
Nordstrom *
4390 Ashford Dunwoody Road N.E. at Perimeter Mall, 770-394-1141; and other locations
Orvis Co. Store Atlanta
3275 Peachtree Road at Buckhead Square, 404-841-0093
Paper Source
1052 N. Highland Ave. in Virginia-Highland, 404-575-4400
Petsmart
All 17 Atlanta area locations, www.petsmart.com
Picture People **
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road at Perimeter Mall, 770-392-9032
Ralph Lauren Polo
3393 Peachtree Road N.E. at Lenox Square, 404-261-2663
Saks Fifth Avenue
3440 Peachtree Road N.E. at Phipps Plaza, 404-261-7234
Urban Outfitters
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road N.E. at Perimeter Mall, 770-804-8722; and other locations
* Service dogs or small dogs in carriers only
** Dogs permitted during evening hours only
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