December 01, 2008
Vanessa
Jenkins
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Devoted pet owners now have a new place
to outfit their furry friends. "Bark in the Boro," downtown
Statesboro’s newest business, opened its doors last Friday, Sept. 26,
on East Main Street.
“I wanted to bring the best products
possible to Statesboro for people who love their dogs, in a way that is
as eco-friendly as possible,” Jenna Holloway, owner of Bark in the
Boro, said. Holloway owns the shop with her mother and silent partner,
Jessie Strickland.
Residents of Statesboro may remember Holloway
and her dog, "Corky," from the Pet Idol contest earlier this year at
Statesboroherald.com. Holloway said that the 3-year-old Yorkshire
Terrier played a big role in the decision to open the business.
“Corky was my inspiration for the store,” Holloway said. “I couldn’t
find anything that was stylish and high-quality for him, so I decided
to open a store.”
The boutique is both pet- and owner-friendly;
pets on leashes are welcomed. Both dogs and owners can enjoy the
sitting area, complete with couches and a flat-screen television that
broadcasts — you guessed it — Animal Planet. There are even doggie
dressing rooms at the rear of the store.
“We have two “poochie suites” with Dr. Livingston beds and feeding dishes,” Holloway said.
And there is plenty to try on — the pet boutique offers up everything
from argyle sweaters and t-shirts to leashes, and carries the clothing
and accessories in sizes ranging from toy to Great Dane (6XXX).
“A lot of people think that we just carry sizes for small dogs,” Holloway said. “We have (products) for big dogs, too — and we can do special orders on anything.”
Bark in the Boro carries dog clothing from labels including Oscar
Newman, Ruff Ruff Couture, and others. Additionally, patrons can find
handmade jeweled collars from Dressed to the Canines, as well as
swarovski crystal retractable leashes that are used by stars including
Jessica Alba. The boutique also has a selection of Puchi bags, as seen
in the movie “Legally Blonde.”
In addition to clothing, the
boutique sells specialty organic dog and cat food by manufacturer
Stella and Chewy that is free of corn, wheat and soy products, which
Holloway said many pets are allergic to. Additionally, the store
carries gourmet treats that are all natural, and in fun people-food
shapes like bacon and eggs, muffins and iced cookies.
The store also offers a selection of essential oils and other all-natural spa products for pets.
“We are the only place in Statesboro
that pet owners can find the Spa Organics line, which is a collection
of completely organic shampoos and conditioners for pets,” Holloway
said.
For dog owners looking for the perfect Halloween costume,
the store carries a selection of outfits ranging from bumblebees to
football players.
“We have sold ten costumes already, and it’s only the first day of October,” Holloway said.
Bark in the Boro is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
