Doggy Bag Lovingly Caters to Four-Leggers
By Chris Manson April 10, 2003 Issue

If only humans had it so good. The Doggy Bag is your best friend’s dream come true, with an owner who genuinely cares about pets’ well being.

“We’re not your typical pet store,” Jodi Ketchersid, the shop’s proprietor said. Jodi is co-owner of the Doggy Bag along with husband Bill and her brother Dr. Jim Stevens. “Bill and I both graduated from law school. I didn’t want to be a lawyer. I wanted to be a dog bakery owner,” she said. Bill’s full-time job as a tax lawyer limits his time at the shop, but Jodi appreciates him taking care of the books.

The Doggy Bag has been open for almost a year, and it’s the only store of its kind. “Half of our store is a boutique with things you can’t find anywhere else. The other half is a holistic health food store for pets,” she said. The goodies sold are all natural—free of preservatives and by-products.”

Ketchersid and her staff have also played a large role in acquainting the petless with new four-legged friends by arranging adoptions with such groups as Canine Rescue, Greyhound Rescue and Feline Friends of Destin. “Every weekend we have puppies, dogs and cats up for adoption,” she said. Other organizations the Doggy Bag works with are Kitty Haven and Pet Welfare. “I think we’ll start doing ‘meet and greets’ with Golden Retriever Rescue, too. There are so many groups, it’s amazing.”

The adoption process is different for each organization, but Ketchersid said that the chief concern in screening applicants is ensuring that the new additions will be spayed or neutered and taken care of if they get sick. “Most of the people who come in to adopt an animal have good intentions,” she said.

The Doggy Bag’s friendly employees include Vickie Gatliff--an active member of Canine Rescue—and a couple other ladies who work part-time. “They all have different backgrounds, but they all love animals,” Ketchersid said. She complimented the staffers on their willingness to foster animals that are up for adoption.

Ketchersid’s background in animal rescue efforts date back to her college days, when she did volunteer work with the Tuntagonda Wildlife Refuge. Today she serves as vice-president of Feline Friends, happily noting that the group “started rescuing dogs when I got involved.”

Along with Bill and three children, Ketchersid shares her home with golden retriever Murphy, her Chesapeake Bay retriever Mia (pronounced Maya), two cats and a horse. Okay, the horse doesn’t actually live with them…

“We moved here when I was pregnant with our third child. I wasn’t interested in working, but I wanted to do something fun, something with animals, something that would give me some freedom. I don’t know how this ties in with the law, but I do have a marketing background,” she said.

In addition to the Doggy Bag’s rescue and adoption slant, pets and their humans will find a wide variety of gift items, toys, dishes and even dog sunglasses. And, of course, treats.

“We’re the only pet bakery in Destin that bakes on site, the only one that carries assorted brands of dog food. Our dog food doesn’t contain corn, which is a big filler in most brands. It’s not bad for them, but it’s not digestible. My Chessie is actually very allergic to corn, so that’s how we started figuring things out,” Ketchersid said.

The Doggy Bag can even whip up a special custom birthday cake made with tasty chocolate substitute carob, yogurt, bananas and peanut butter. Most of the recipes have been trial and error over the past year.

“My dogs are the official taste testers. There used to be this thing that you always feed your dog the same thing.” Now veterinarians recommend varying your dog’s diet. Ketchersid’s primary reference is The Whole Dog Journal, what she calls “the bible,” or “Doggie Consumer Reports. We tend to follow their likes and dislikes for food.”

The shop is also happy to offer free delivery of food to Destin residents once a week. The look of the Doggy Bag is also fetching, with local artists’ work prominently displayed.

Ketchersid said the first year has been a success and refers to her local customers as the Doggy Bag’s “bread and butter.” Radio, TV and print advertising helped lure pet lovers into the convenient location in the Barnes & Noble shopping center. The store’s website, www.DestinDoggyBag.com, allows customers to order food by e-mail. In addition, a list of pet-friendly accommodations has been provided for vacationers.

“It’s been rewarding, but a lot more work than I expected. But when you like something, it’s not really work,” she said.

(Top)