The grocery store in the Finnish city of Tampere even has an official golden retriever who tests out dog treats and shares the results in Instagram videos.
A ‘su-paw-market’ in Finland is welcoming canine customers, with specially-adapted carts which allow dog owners to bring their pooches grocery shopping.
The Kesko grocery chain in the city of Tampere has introduced the “Koirakärry” – dog cart – as a way to welcome in more dog-owning customers at one of its stores, where usually only service animals would be permitted inside the aisles.
“The idea is already used in some countries, but not in Finland, and we have a lot of dog owners nearby,” explains Matilda Tistelgren, who has been operating the supermarket with her partner Joona Pesonen since the spring.
“We have a golden retriever ourselves, and if we go out jogging with the dog and forget something from the store, we don’t want to go home, leave the dog, then have to return to the store ourselves, we want to be able to take the dog with us,” Matilda tells Euronews.
The carts have a dog bed in the bottom, and a clip for leads or harnesses, with owners encouraged to pick up their pups and put them inside – although a future version of the cart might include a small ramp so the dogs can walk in unaided.
Since taking over the management of the supermarket in Tampere’s neighbourhood Kissanmaa – which funnily enough translates as “Cat’s Land” – Matilda and Joona have introduced other pet-friendly innovations.
The couple’s own retriever Tove appears on Instagram with ‘Tove Tastes’ videos where she samples different dog treats.
“Our customers love it,” exclaims Matilda. “In this part of town we have a lot of dog owners and that means a lot of dog customers too, and we already have a lot of hairy regulars,” she adds.
Hanging by a Miracle Thread: The Emotionally Charged Saga of Rescuing a Dog, Unveiling Its Vulnerable Core, and Reigniting the Flame of Life.
It’s truly remarkable how resilient dogs can be in the face of adversity. Allow me to introduce you to Hope, a little warrior rescued by Deepika Srivastavva in Gurgaon, India. Hope was discovered as a tiny puppy with her insides hanging out, abandoned and defenseless.
Imagine her plight – just 20 days old, separated from her mother, and left in an area inhabited by territorial street dogs. They attacked her, leaving her on the brink of death. Thankfully, she was found in time and rushed to the hospital, where a life-saving surgery was performed to mend her injured stomach.
Today, Hope is a thriving 4-5 months old, living up to her name with incredible resilience and potential. Despite not being involved in her initial rescue, Stray Dog stepped in when no one in India was willing to adopt her. Returning her to the streets was not an option, as she lacked the survival skills necessary.
“We’ll be standing by this brave girl until we find her a new home. Although she appears physically healthy, we had to postpone her spay surgery due to the challenges she has overcome,” shares her rescuer and foster parent.
According to them, Hope is not just physically resilient but also remarkably clever and affectionate. She’s learned to walk on a leash and is crate trained, proving that even after a tumultuous start, love and care can transform a life. Let’s join hands to ensure Hope’s journey continues towards a brighter, happier future.
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