The Honest Kitchen - pet food with a passion

The Store of the Month is VINNY’S PET SHOP, located in Brooklyn NY since 1978

“The thing I love most about this business is the people. We’re really blessed to have a loyal customer base that trusts us to not just sell them something, but to show them the right products and offer different options based on their pets need. I know how much I love my own two dogs, both rescues, and  its obvious that the pet industry is very challenging, always evolving and never boring. I love finding new products and learning more about products we already have. That’s why I jumped on the chance to take the webinar and get certified. I’m most proud of the reputation we’ve built through educating ourselves and being ahead of the curve on new trends-by attending trade shows, listening to sales reps and taking advantage of resources available.”   -Mike Santomarco

The History of VINNY’S
The shop was started by Vinny Santomarco in 1978. The original store was in a pre-1900 building that had previously been a “notoriously loud & raunchy biker bar called the Snake Pit, complete with the stripper pole.” The original plan was to be a hangout where Vinny could surround himself and his brother Harry with their favorite pastime, racing homing pigeons….MAYBE make a few bucks to support that hobby. The pet shop became a place where local pigeon fanciers came to buy feed and have a cup of coffee. Pet Shop Loft flew racing pigeons from 1978-2005. During the 1980′s the shop sold little more than pigeon supplies.

When Vinny passed away in 1990, Harry and his wife Carmela (Mike’s grandparents), took over operation of the business. The store began to expand beyond pigeons and bird supplies. By annually increasing dog and cat products the store began to flourish. Mike spent his weekends hanging out at the store since he was 10 years old, began working part time during high school, and full time after college. It was during college when Mike discovered he had a passion for the business, and “I literally used to skip out on class and go to work!”

In 2005, the shop moved a couple blocks away to the current location. With the new building emerged a new approach, new products and new help. Mike’s dad, Frank, began working at the shop in 2006. “That is when we really began to focus on the natural segment.  Then the Menu-foods recall in 2007 sparked a local interest in healthier foods and exposed us as a go-to place for expertise and advice.”

http://www.vinnyspetshop.com

Thanks Mike, Frank and the rest of the staff at Vinny’s! As a token of our appreciation for your support in THK, the Store of the Month rewards you with 20% off your next order.

Kait & John Seyal, along with their therapy dogs, Max & Grace, will be walking from Lewes, Delaware to San Francisco, California in hopes of sharing the power of pet therapy with those in need. They’ll leave for their adventure in March 2012 and will make stops at hospitals, retirement homes, schools, and anywhere else a wagging tail and slobbery kisses are welcome. Both Max and Grace were rescued as adult dogs from their local rescue and Kait and John hope to bring awareness to adult rescues, who are generally overlooked at shelters.

“Max and Grace are living proof that a rescue dog can truly accomplish anything with some direction, patience and love,” says Kait.

The Honest Kitchen is a natural choice for life on the road as it’s lightweight and easy to transport – plus Max and Grace love the tasty, human-grade goodness. You can follow John, Kait, Max and Grace along their journey on their blog, www.dogblogusa.com.

We wish them a safe and fun trip across the US!

December 31^st

Remember that fireworks, party poppers and balloons can be very startling to pets who aren’t seasoned party-goers. Reassure and confine your pet appropriately to help reduce stress. He might appreciate a nice juicy marrow bone to help take his mind off the festivities – and consider leaving a music CD or iPod on tonight if he’ll be home alone – the TV and radio will likely have the sound of yet more fireworks and startling noises on the countdown to midnight. Here’s wishing you and your animals a healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year!

December 30^th

Make time to rest. Exercise is excellent of course, but over-stimulation during the holidays can be a real bother, especially for younger pets who are easily jazzed up. If your pet tends to get ‘wired tired’ and excessively amped up with all the comings and goings of the holiday season, try to spend some quiet time together to get some much-needed R&R. A gentle walk in the fresh air followed by a snooze on the couch might be just what’s needed to get behavior back on track.

Young dogs in particular, need planty of rest during the busy holidays.

December 29^th

Take a hike! Heading out to the trails in your local area is a great way to explore natural habitats and benefit your health, plus spend quality bonding time with your hound – and it’s usually free of charge, too! At this time of year, many of us are far too sedentary but taking to the great outdoors can help to get the heart pumping, relieve holiday stress and burn a few holiday calories too.