Wild Canadian salmon, succulent duck, grass-fed, antibiotic-free, free range lamb – no, this is not a list of menu items at The Capital Grille, it is just a sampling of what Lyn Blecharczyk expects you to be feeding your dog – and for good reason. “A good quality raw meat diet,” recommends Blecharczyk, with low to no fillers, including grain, is ideal for optimal pet health.
When she and sister Ruth Blecharczyk first opened the doors of Psychic Kitty at South County Commons in South Kingstown more than three years ago, they weren’t sure how Rhode Islanders would take to the state’s first holistic pet store. Turns out, concerned pet owners are looking for quality cuisine in lieu of mass manufactured store brand kibble. Animals, explains Blecharczyk, are natural carnivores, thus a healthy raw diet mimics their basic biological “in the wild” eating habits.
The Blecharczyk sisters are committed to promoting a raw-based diet for dogs and cats, offering restaurant quality meats to pet owners while taking the time to consult with their customers on their recommendations for each individual furry friend. Though there was a tragic ending for more than 100 pets in the U.S. during last year’s mass pet food recall, where tainted chow from China made its way to American supermarket shelves, the silver lining of the debacle, says Blecharczyk, is that pet owners took an increased interest in what they were actually feeding man’s (and woman’s) best friend. The gourmet-market-like section at Psychic Kitty boasts brands like The Honest Kitchen, which produces natural, human grade food, Primal Pet Food and Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, among many others. Fresh refrigerated, canned and “just add water” pet food varieties are available, as are selections for specialty diets, including wheat- and gluten-free.
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Five Star Service
If you love your pooch, but hate his little backyard gifts, have no fear, Pet Butler is here! Based in Warwick, Pet Butler proudly bills itself as “#1 in the ‘#2’ business.” For more information or to get the scoop on having pets but never smelling them, check out www.petbutler.com. Here you will be able to fill in your poop information, such as the last time you scooped and how many pets you have. To give you a quick idea, if you have one dog and live in a single family home it could cost you $56.33 a month for a weekly visit, $82.33 for biweekly, and $75 for a one time visit. If you mean serious business, look into Pet Butlers’ other services, such as the odor eliminating deodorizer for $14, parvocidal disinfectant spray on lawn for $20, or if you can manage the stench yourself, scoop the poop and have it removed twice a week for about $6.25. Pet Butler will travel to your home, regardless of zip code. Call 1-800-738-2885 to set up your first visit and enter the realm of feces-free pet owning.
–Haley Gerstein
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To read more, pick up a copy of August's So Rhode Island.
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