Kirby's Fremont

Our Most Distinguished Citizens, or Going to the Dogs (and Cats)

By Kirby Lindsay

Max and his bone (I don't recommend borrowing it!) at Loud Music Company.

Today Max, a 9-year-old boxer, guards Loud Music Company, but he is anxious to befriend everyone. The sign on Rob Skinner's place of business, "Dog In Shop," understates just how much dog there is. Max accompanies Rob nearly everywhere and Rob is designing ear protection/headphones for Max so he can even tolerate low frequency noises and sit in on Rob's band rehearsals. At Loud Music, Rob repairs and sells instruments, while Max sits in the window and watches the comings and goings of the 7-Eleven across the street. Rob likes having a dog because "he forces me to be responsible. I have to be on my best to tend to his needs."

Coletter gazes from her perch at Bark Natural Pet Care.

Bubba, a 5-year-old Staffordshire-Terrier mix, is neither as large as Max nor as overwhelmingly friendly. In fact, Karen Mountain admitted that "some days he 'says' he doesn't want to go (in to work)" at Bark Natural Pet Care. Those days he stays on his chair at home. Otherwise you can find him examining passerby on the sidewalk or visiting with Colette and MushMouth inside. These two cats live in the shop and interact with customers, or watch them from high perches or inside a display case where they have beds.

Customers often drop in the store, just to visit their favorite furry friends, and many peek in the windows at night to see the cats playing. It was reports from customers of mice dining on dog biscuits in the bakery case that prompted Karen to offer the cats a home. There hasn't been a mouse about the building since.

Ophelia scolds owner Lisa Gayton at Twice Sold Tales.

There isn't a mouse problem at Fremont's Twice Sold Tales, either. And birds had best beware. Ophelia, who has been a shop cat for all of her four years, hunts flies as well. She also practices yoga and bowling, and drinks Odwalla SuperFood to keep in shape. "She is a round, and well-rounded cat," proclaims Lisa Gayton, the shop's owner. Ophelia also leaps on to the window ledge, then cries for Lisa's help to return. Lisa has two cats at home, but Ophelia may see more of her. "I spend more time here than at home, if you don't count sleep."

Ophelia is a very friendly cat, willing to curl up on any lap that appears. She also enjoys her other animal friends. Recently Ophelia spent an afternoon playing with the tail of Salome, a chow dog.

For Sam, a purebred Labrador, and Hugo, a mixed breed, playing with canine friends, Cash, Jake and Zack, is part of the work day. The offices of Flip Builders, Inc., are located in a small house that can get very cozy between 19 employees and five dogs. Dave Wheeler decided to get a dog after enjoying the other dogs and knowing "I could bring him to work and see him all the time." Plus, all day Hugo, 8 months old, exercises with the other dogs, and enjoys the outdoors in the small front yard.

Hugo and Sam pose at Flip Builders, Inc.

Sam, at age 3, has experienced the drawbacks of an office, where new things always need examining. When the mailman accidentally dropped his canister of pepper spray Sam, ever on the alert, picked it up for him and punctured the can with a tooth—gaining a mouth full of pepper. Dave, unsure what to do, took Sam in a headlock into the bathroom and sprayed him down—an exercise Sam ALWAYS detests. Dave left to get Sam's papa, Matt Brown, and a co-worker called the vet. Sam was unwillingly getting his mouth sprayed with more water when Matt returned. "He seemed to be saying, 'If you only knew what I have been through,'" Matt recalled. Of course, Sam bounced back quickly. Later that day when Matt carried the ruined spray can to the trash, Sam eagerly bounded over to investigate what neat new toy he had.

"No lack of entertainment," summed up Matt's feelings about having the dogs in the office. Certainly his opinion is in the majority. A casual straw poll gave names of 20 businesses in Fremont that have pets, plus, many businesses, like Frank and Dunya and Rain City Video, who enjoy and give treats to visiting animals. Fremont the cat was not the first pet to provide a little love and entertainment at work, and I am glad to see how many more animals thrive in the work environment. After all, the Fremont community has always embraced citizens of every background, even those who might walk on all fours.

Some of Kirby Lindsay's best friends are animals, although watering her 72 houseplants is enough responsibility for her for now. If you have questions about Fremont, you may write to her c/o The Seattle Press or e-mail to fremont@oz.net.

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