Something for the little ones
MANILA, Philippines - Have you ever seen a dogloo? Can you sort of guess what it could be? I consider myself an extremely clued-in kind of guy, but the sight of one of those dome-like things stumped me. It also made me smirk a bit. I mean, a dogloo? To quote Barney Stinson, “This is so going in my blog!”
Being surrounded by igloo-shaped dog houses (“Warmer in winter, cooler in summer,” says Google), among other fascinating treasures, wasn’t so much of a stretch since I was in Bow & Wow. Owned by the same folks that gave us Healthy Options, it’s a place where detail-oriented pet owners can help themselves to stuff they never imagined they would need but suddenly can’t live without. The Shangri-La branch, their flagship, has been around for two years while another one opened in Greenbelt 5 in October.
“Our clients are passionate about their pets. They want to treat their pets the way they would treat their children — spoil them,” shares Romy Sia, the brains behind the operation, as we stroll past a carpet-covered kitty condo. “You can say that Bow & Wow is the Healthy Options for dogs and cats.”
‘Pet care, only better’
Extending his company’s vision of a healthier world to include furry four-legged creatures, Romy has taken a 360-degree approach to Bow & Wow. First, he made it a point that everyone in the store — from sales associates to store managers — are pet owners.
“It’s an employment prerequisite,” he tells me. “Most, if not all, of them are veterinary medicine graduates.” This step in the hiring process adds more integrity to the chain since clients are guaranteed professional advice. It’s hard and rather unwise to fake something when the lives of beloved animals are at stake.
Next, Bow & Wow really does stand by the products it sells. It seems like a given, but it’s still reassuring to know that some business owners are willing to go the distance to back their brand up. For Romy, a cat lover, it involved helping himself to some feline-friendly food. “Tiki Cat is human grade and it doesn’t have a strong scent or flavor.” Note to self: Must try with whole wheat pasta and grape tomatoes.
Last and most important, Bow & Wow would rather you adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter than buy either from a pet store. I noticed a ring binder by the cashier and it had profiles of critters in need of a loving home. The store also produces The Bow & Wow Times, a free bi-monthly newsletter with information about pet allergies, vaccination basics and exercise. If you’re really hardcore, DVDs of Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, are also for sale. When they said their motto was “Pet care, only better,” they sure weren’t lying.
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Bow & Wow is located at level 5, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City. Tel. 638-3372. And at lower ground Greenbelt 5 Phase 2, Ayala Center, Makati City. Tel. 501-3681.
