TODAY High schools to get new names - Canton Public Library

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9TAVT PHOTO IT PAUL HUUCBKANN
Want a cracker?: "Leonard," a 26-year-old parrot,
perches on the arm of Ken Kovacs.
Pet
project
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rfce Observer & Eccentric/ THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2000 (C)At
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STAFF PHOTO N PAUL EtuMcmum
Pet practices: Terri Bennett, the owner of Specialty Pets, discusses options for transporting a dog by airplane
with Jill and Brittany Smith, 10. Their dog, "Jacques," a 5-year-old Shitzu/Poodle mix, wasn't at all happy with
the caged carrier idea..
Animals as much a part of owner's store as the customers she serves
BY SUE BUCK
Staff WRJTKRftbtickAoe.homc-comin.net
R
owdy, an Airedale, greets customers
with his attention and a paw shake.
Leonard, a blue and gold macaw,
parrots his "Hello."
"Play ball," Leonard continues, systematically
shredding an empty paper towel
roll.
This is Specialty Pet Supplies, where
Owner Terri Bennett's own pets are as
much a part 'of the business as the customers',
It's a place where Rowdy, the
great-great grandson of Bennett's first
Airedale, retrieves a ball for tykes and
Leonard munches on a dog biscuit.
"Pets are personal," Bennett said.
The store, which has been in its present
location at Ann Arbor Road and Sheldon
since 1981, will move and re-open May 1
at 1449 Ann Arbor Road A a short distance
down the street in the V mer Jerry's
Bicycle building.
Bennett opened her first store in 1979
on Mill Street in Plymouth's Old Village.
"People shopping today were customers
then," Bennett said. "I started out in my
house in Redford Township, carrying supplies
for show dogs. We showed Bouviers
back then and we couldn't get any show
dog equipment. We had Doggieware parties
instead of Tupperware parties."
With no pet supply stores in Northville
or Plymouth, Bennett decided to set up
shop. "We have done real well," Bennett
said. "Most businesses have some competition."
Since then, Bennett switched to
Airedale ownership because the Bouviers
" were a little too intimidating for the
store," she said.
The new 9,OOO-square-foot building will
be about a thousand feet bigger, with
5,000 square feet devoted to retail products.
The rest of the building will house
warehouse and educational activities,
Bennett said.
Bennett has put up tents in her parking
lot for pet adoption of different rescue
breeds such as Great Danes, Greyhounds
and Airedales, as well as rescue animals
from the Anti-Cruelty Association. "Now
we have art area in the store where people
can come, where people can adopt pets,
and where people can be educated about
their care," Bennett said.
. Bubbles, a rescue dog Bennett adopted
from the Anti-Cruelty Association, has
nestled for nine years under the sales
counter, secure in a doggie bed. Bubbles
fteaae.ee FCTStOR£,Al2
• * I started out in my
bouse in Redford Township.
We showed Bouviers
back then and we
couldn't get any show
dog equipment We bad
Doggieware parties
instead of Tupperware
parties.'
Terri Bennett
—Store owner
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