Goin’ to the Dogs moves to new digs

Goin’ to the Dogs… Cats too!

459 W. Washington St.

Contact: 360-681-5055 or Gointothedogs101@gmail.com

Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

With a chance to reach more people, Goin’ to the Dogs… Cats too! made a big move late last year.

Melinda Olson, who purchased the dog food and supply store in Nov. 2016, and shortly thereafter added cat food and supplies, just opened on Dec. 7 last year in new digs in the City of Sequim at 459 W. Washington St.

Olson, a Sequim-native, said she moved from US Highway 101 by Carlsborg Road largely to increase visibility.

“Here we have slower drive-by traffic and by the time people were turning and saw us there they were looking to see what the (traffic) light was doing,” she said.

The pet supply store now sits near the southeast corner of Washington Street and Fifth Avenue.

“In this location, everyone can get here whereas at the last place there was concern for crossing the highway,” she said.

It also holds slightly more space too, Olson added.

The change in scenery hasn’t changed her vision though to help locals feed their dogs and cats better.

“The concern is growing with more and more people looking for more transparency from food companies,” Olson said. “People care about ingredients and quality recommendations.”

What that entails in the store includes any and everything for dogs and cats including freeze-dried, canned, raw, kibble and dehydrated foods along with toys, beds, flea treatments, food source supplements and more. She also hosts a community resource section for locals to connect with groomers, veterinarians, fence builders and more.

Olson said larger chains may carry a few of the smaller manufacturers like her but they don’t have the staff power or know-how necessarily to teach pet owners how to use them.

Goin’ to the Dogs… Cats too! offers only all-grain free foods, which Olson said pet owners must transition slowly into if a first-time buyer.

“(Dogs and cats) run the risk of getting sick without using correctly,” she said. “You have to ease into it.”

Olson said following the move, she continues to build up her all-natural food inventory with new items coming in frequently each week.

Along with a wide-variety of foods, the store offers a veterinarian-quality scale for pet owners to weigh their dogs and cats. They can also participate in a weight loss program to track success with exercise, treats, etc, all to accompany any veterinarian’s recommended program.

With the move from Carlsborg, Olson finds her business closer to more competition, but she says she’s looking for ways the businesses can work together.

Olson said she refers people to Bonita’s Pet Supply if they don’t offer what she sells, and they do the same. She also plans to connect with new owners of Best Friend Nutrition, where she worked for 12 years before purchasing Goin’ to the Dogs.

At the core of her business, Olson said she feels like she’s doing something positive for the community advocating for pet health.

“There’s nothing like having four-legged family members,” she said.

For more information on Goin’ to the Dogs… Cats too!, call 360-681-5055 or email Gointothedogs101@gmail.com. The business is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Look for the business on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/melindaolson2/

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Goin’ to the Dogs… Cats too! now offers more space in the City of Sequim with new inventory coming in frequently, said owner Melinda Olson. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash