NoPoPaws

Great Life Now In Stock

2012-01-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

Our #1 Requested Food is now on NoPo Paws' shelves!

Great Life Performance Pet Products is an innovative pet food company focused on holistic nutrition. You will find no marketing gimmicks or label tricks on their bags. We love Great Life for their straight-forward approach to canine nutrition.

Great Life uses the very best ingredients they can find, including many organic options. But they don't stop there! Each piece of kibble is coated with Nutri-Coat, a freeze-dried raw food nutrient complex designed to provide the benefits of a raw diet in a convenient kibble form. In addition, their kibble is baked at a much lower temperature than most foods on the market, retaining more nutritional value for your dog's overall health.

We will also be carrying their Limited Ingredient and Potato Free line. As anyone who has searched your local pet store shelves for a grain-free, potato-free food knows, potato-free is hard to find. Eliminating potatoes from your dog's diet can benefit pets with cancer or a history of cancer as well as provide a low glycemic diet. This is a food we highly recommend for pets with diabetes. A Limited Ingredient diet is preferred for pets with digestive issues or other health concerns where an easily digestible diet can help improve health.

If you are interested in Great Life, stop by the shop or check out their informative website. We appreciate the wealth of health, product and manufacturing information available on Great Life's website.

Hurley Says...

2011-12-20T16:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays

2011-12-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

2011-11-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Thinking about adding a bit of raw to your dog's diet? Dehydrated & Freeze-Dried foods are a convenient way to add that bit of raw to your pet's daily diet. Just serve as a treat or food topper!

There are many known benefits of going raw. They include improved coat & skin health and increased energy. Raw has also been shown to eliminate allergy issues and help maintain a healthy weight.

Both Honest Kitchen Deydrated foods and Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Dinners are 10% off through the end of the month. Take advantage of the savings and add a bit of raw to your dog's diet today!

2011-11-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and you know what that means...SHOPPING! Support your local pet store this coming Holiday weekend by shopping with us. We'd love to have you!

Had your eye on a big ticket item in the shop? Got a few fur babies in your life? On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, receive 10% off your purchase of $50 or more and 20% off your purchase of $100 or more (discounts are not valid on food or clearance items).

And if you prefer to avoid the crowds on these two days, our sale is extended through Sunday, 11/27.

Happy Holidays! We hope everyone has a wonderful Turkey Day and that you and yours enjoy this Holiday Season.

Cheers,
Sarah

1st Annual Pet Food Drive

2011-11-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

Today marks the beginning of NoPo Paws' 1st Annual Pet Food Drive. Through the end of November, we are accepting pet food donations for The Pongo Fund.

The Pongo Fund is Portland's very own pet food bank. They provide free pet food for those in need - ensuring during this holiday season that no family has to sacrifice the quality of their pet's nutrition or worse, give their pet up due to finances. Here at NoPo Paws, we believe The Pongo Fund is crucial in keeping pets and the families who love them together in this tough economy. Every pet they are able to keep with its family is one less pet that may end up in the shelter system.

Stop on by to purchase a bag to donate to The Pongo Fund. And because we want our Food Drive to be a win-win for everyone this giving season, we are offering 10% off on your entire pet food purchase, including food for your own pet, if you purchase a 12 lb bag or larger. We also have a selection of clearance foods that are 15% off - if you donate one of these bags, you receive 10% off food for your own pet regardless of the size of the donated bag!

We will also accept cash donation as well as food donations not purchased here at NoPo Paws. The Pongo Fund asks that any food donated is in its original unopened packaging, is not expired and is corn & wheat free.

With your help this Holiday season, we can make a difference to pets in need!

Deconstructing a Good Dog Toy

2011-10-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

It's a request we hear often: "I'm looking for a toy my dog can't destroy."

Unless you're one of the lucky few whose pup treasures his or her favorite plushie, finding toys that last is a never ending challenge. And while there is really no such thing as an indestructible toy, by understanding your dog's toy drive you can make wise toy selections that result in longer-lasting toys.

Let's begin by talking about why we give toys to our dogs. Sure, sometimes they get a little bored and other times we just need them out from under our feet. But that's not the whole story. The toys we provide to our dogs should fulfill their individual need to chew, the level of their prey drive and, in the case of multi-dog households, foster social play. It is important to provide toys that challenge and interest your dog; rather than searching for that elusive indestructible toy. Here are some tips for finding a toy that's right for you & your dog:

1. Does your dog prefer to gnaw on toys or do they pick them apart? Gnawers are best satisfied with hard toys with a level of pliability to suit how strong of a chewer they are (harder for the most aggressive of gnawers). West Paw Design's line of Zogoflex toys, Planet Dog's assortment of durable balls & bones or the ever-present Kong are all toys that should both satisfy your gnawer and last a suitable time before a replacement is needed.

For the toy destroyer whose path of destruction lies in picking their toys apart, there are two routes one can go when selecting toys. First is to select a durable toy described above for gnawers but select one with a minimum of edges. For these types of dogs, the fewer edges for their teeth to start the shredding process will result in a longer-lasting toy. We recommend the Planet Dog recycleBall or the West Paw Design Hurley.

The alternative toy in this scenario is to select a toy that will challenge and engage your dog's toy shredding ways. That's right. I said engage. Cause if you can't beat them, might as well join 'em, right? Select rope & fleece toys that are tightly knotted in such a way that the entire toy will not unravel once the first knot is chewed through. Our favorites here at NoPo Paws include the locally made Pittador Pets line of fleece toys. The tight, thick knotting of these toys prolongs the life of the toy while satisfying your dog's need to shred.

2. To squeak or not to squeak. Most dogs L-O-V-E squeaky toys. The squeaker simulates the noise their prey would make in the wild, which is why these types of toys are often the first destroyed. If your dog is one to eviscerate their plush squeaky toys, a stuffing-free toy is one option to continue to satisfy your dog's prey drive by providing the squeaker but avoiding the mess, waste and destruction of a stuffed toy. In addition to stuffing-free toys, we also carry Dura Doggie's squeaky chew toy, the Beba. Of course, you can always provide squeaker-free toys, which will prolong the life of the toy for any dog whose destructive tendencies are provoked by the squeak.

3. Providing an assortment of toys may prolong the life of each toy. If your dog has one toy, one toy is all he/she has available to gnaw, tear apart or squeak to death. Their attention is focused on that toy until death do they part. But with an assortment of toys, your dog's attention can easily be divided between the toys, which will naturally enhance the life of each in turn. Many pet owners who successfully expand the life of their dog's toys also rotate toys.

4. Forget the chew, challenge the brain! Treat dispensing and puzzle toys are a great way to tire out, occupy and challenge your pooch. And many treat dispensers live a double life as great chew toys as well! We find these types of toys invaluable at getting both dogs & us through Portland's rainy season.

5. Has your dog lost interest in a chew toy? Initiating and participating in a play session with the forgotton toy and your dog, dabbing a little peanut butter on it - these are all tried & true ways to get your dog re-interested in an old toy. Even better if the toy is designed to hold treats!

6. For the multi-dog household, tug of war can be fun for you and the dogs. Selecting toys designed for tug play can prolong the life of the toy. We've got a myriad of toys that fit this description and these are the toys we often bring home to our own pack. A Cheerful Pet makes 6 feet of boiled wool tug fun in their Tugzee toy. This is a great tug toy for larger dogs while their Tugzees for Two offers the same fun on a smaller scale for our leetle friends.

7. Got an obsessive fetcher? Mix things up with Ruffwear's Turnup. This vaguely egg-shaped toy bounces erratically to challenge your fetch maestro. Or there's the Pittador Pets Rocket - a fleece & tennis ball combination that goes the distance and can finish play time off with a little game of tug.

No matter your dog's play style, we've got the toy(s) for you. And if you're unsure what toy is best for you, I'd love to discuss what would best suit you and your dog. Come on in!

Cheers,

Sarah

All About Kitties

2011-09-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

We are all about the kitties this week here at NoPo Paws. This past weekend, we completed construction on the new Kitty Corner shelving - now all of our cat food & supplies have their own very special corner in the shop. Take a look below and let us know what you think!

You may notice a few other "news" in this picture. That's right! We now carry cat scratchers. The Scratch Lounge is a recyclable and long-lasting cat scratcher. Its 3 sides allow your kitty to lounge while they scratch and provide double the scatching surface. All three sides of the scratcher are reversible, extending the life of this product!

The Cat Adoption Team dropped off their 2012 Calendars yesterday. 100% of the $10 purchase price goes directly to the Cat Adoption Team. They're a great gift for the cat lovers in your life and your dollars are going to one of the best cat rescue organizations here in Portland.

Our final addition to our kitty selection this week are the Felix Katnip Tree Company scratching posts.

These all-natural wood & sisal scratching posts are made here in Oregon using environmentally-friendly materials. With no toxic glues or carpeting, they are both safe and enjoyable for the kitties in your life. Cats prefer the rough sisal texture and natural wood base over cardboard or carpet scratchers as it closely mimics the surfaces they would scratch in the wild.

We're very excited now that the cats have their own special corner in our store. Dogs may get all the attention but we know who's in charge, right? That's why we're showing the kitties some love this month!

Hope to see all you cat lovers in the shop soon!

Cheers,

Sarah

Dog Days of Summer: Keepin' Cool

2011-08-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Summer warmth certainly waited until the dog days of summer to show up in Portland this year! With a few more days of near 90 degree temps in our forecast, keeping your pooch cool in this weather keeps 'em healthy and happy. Here's a few tips:

~ Ice cubes are your best friend. Drop em in their water dish to cool or give them directly to your dog as a treat. We are lucky here at NoPo Paws - our pups think ice cubes are THE BEST TREAT EVER. One crack of the ice cube tray and the pack comes a'running.

~ Replace water often. Dogs prefer to drink fresh water over a bowl of water they've been drooling in for the past 8 hours. Refreshing their water bowl often helps to encourage their water intake.

~ A fan of the treat-filled Kong? Try freezing peanut butter, treats, canned food, pumpkin or sweet potato puree in a Kong and tossing it in the freezer. Several hours your later, your dog will enjoy the cool, delicious treat.

~ Fill a bowl with water and place fresh veggie, fruit, toys or anything else your dog might like licking to the center to retrive. Freeze and remove from bowl. Best served outside on a hot, sunny day. Not only does this keep 'em cool but it can also entertain them for hours.

~ Make some homemade doggie popsicles. The interwebs is full of great recipes - just make sure you use natural ingredients and no sugar! We like this recipe at dogtime.com:

Pup's puddin' pops

A sweet treat for warm weather, your pup will find the texture of the puddin' pop deliciously intriguing. Great for stuffing in Kongs, too.

Ingredients:

32 oz. nonfat yogurt
1 large jar of apple or pear baby food
2 tbsp low-fat peanut butter
2 tbsp honey

Blend all ingredients together and freeze in either 3 ounce paper cups or ice cube trays.

~ Postpone the after-work walk until later in the evening when the temps have cooled down. Make sure to bring water on all walks in this hot heat!

The NoPo Paws pack enjoying some fun in the waves.

~ We're so lucky to have great water activities for the dogs so close to Portland. The NoPo Paws pack loves trips out to 1000 Acres, Lost Lake, Long Beach, Ecola State Park...the list goes on! If your dog loves the water, now is the perfect time to indulge that love.

However you decide to have some summer fun and keep your dog cool, we hope you enjoy this sunshine!

Cheers,

Sarah

Introducing Castor & Pollux Grain-Free!

2011-08-13T15:11:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that a few new formulas from Castor & Pollux, our local Portland pet food company, are now on our shelves. C&P recently added several grain-free formulas to their existing line of all-natural, high quality dog foods.

Organix Grain-Free Adult Formula

Finally! A dog food that is both organic and grain-free. Organix's Grain-Free Adult Formula follows the high quality, organic footsteps of the regular Organix line but in a grain-free formula. Besides using Organic, Free-Range Chicken as the main ingredient, this formula sets itself apart from other grain-free brands by using primarily Organic Tapioca and Organic Peas as its main carbohydrate ingredients rather than the standard potato/sweet potato combination found in most grain-free foods.

Natural Ultramix Grain-Free & Poultry-Free Salmon Adult Formula

This new formula from Castor & Pollux provides another high-quality option for pet parents whose dogs have poultry allergies. Salmon, a whole food ingredient, is the #1 ingredient and is bolstered by various fish-based protein sources. There is no poultry fat hidden farther down in the ingredient panel. Peas, potatoes & tapioca round out the top ingredients in this food to provide high quality carbohydrate sources. This is a great option not only for dogs with allergy issues but also is great in improving and maintaining a luxurious coat with its Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. As with all Natural Ultramix formulas, the new Grain-Free & Poultry-Free recipe contains real bits and pieces of dried fruits and vegetables - the same ones that can be found in grocery store bulk aisles.

We are proud to offer these exciting new formulas from Castor & Pollux. Whether you're looking for a new option for your allergy-prone pooch, or a grain-free and organic option, we guarantee that your dog will love these and all the Castor & Pollux products we carry.

Overlook Village Street Fair

2011-07-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

There's no doubt about it. I love the neighborhood we became a part of when NoPo Paws opened its doors. Overlook is a tight-knit, diverse & welcoming community. These are qualities that define Portland and Overlook is a shining example of everything that is great about this city. I appreciate how welcoming and supportive Overlook residents have been towards NoPo Paws and myself.

The Overlook Village Business Association hosts a Street Fair each year to showcase our neighborhood and this year is no different. On July 30th, we will be closing down N Killingsworth Ave between Concord (Lucky Lab Tap Room) and Greeley.

The fair is from 11am-7pm and will feature:

3 Music Stages
Farmer's Market
Kid's Corner
Doggie Costume Contest
Local Vendors
Great Food from our Overlook restaurants

Whether you're an Overlook resident celebrating your own 'hood or a Portlander who has yet to check out our little nook and cranny of Portland, our Street Festival is the perfect opportunity to check out these great Overlook businesses:

So mark your calendars - July 30th! - we hope to see you there.

Mississippi Street Fair Recap

2011-07-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic time at this year's Mississippi Street Fair. It was a successful event for us. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth! The best part of the Fair? Superstar Hurley stopped by in the afternoon and was the perfect puppy, saying hello to all the passersby. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day here in Portland - which helped draw an extra 20,000 folks down to Mississippi for an astounding 50,000 attendees! We'll definitely be participating in the Street Fair again next year.

Next up on our schedule? The Overlook Street Fair on July 30th. This year, the Overlook Village Business Association is closing down Killingsworth for the very first time. It promises to be a great event and we hope you can make it!

NoPo Paws Booth

This little guy insisted upon drinking out of the big dog bowl!

The Crowd from Hurley's POV

A Punk Rock Chinese Crested stopped by to say hello!

Hurley sneaking in a quick kiss. I would've kissed her too - she was quite pretty.

Who's the most adorable puppy in the world???

Hurley manning the booth

June Happenings: Summer's Here!

2011-06-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh...June. 20 more days until it's officially summer! We've got tons going on here at NoPo Paws to start this summer off right.

During the month of June, we, along with our neighbors at Overlook Corner, are having a School's Out for Summer Educator Special. If you work in the education field, any position at any level, please stop by one of the participating businesses listed below to enjoy a 10% discount throughout the month of June.

NoPo Paws isn't stopping with an Educator Discount. We know that teachers are one of many professions that our society depends upon. To recognize the service of all who enable us to enjoy our lives, we have joined with Home for Heroes to expand our Educator discount to all military service members, veterans, health professionals, fire fighters and police officers. If you are employed in one of these admirable professions, please stop on by any time during the month of June to enjoy your 10% discount - make sure to have proper identification on hand when you come in!

May marked our first full month in business and we are appreciative of all the Portlanders who have shown us their support. We truly believe that being a successful business means being a partner to our community and we have an amazing community of folks to partner with. We've loved meeting every single Overlook and Portland resident but most especially your dogs. I smile when customers ask me if it's OK to bring their dogs into the shop - the answer? OF COURSE! The best part of my day is meeting your dogs and they are always welcome. My goal has always been to make NoPo Paws an inviting space for dogs and their parents/owners. And I am thankful every day for joining such a welcoming and inviting community.

Beyond meeting our neighbors and celebrating a successful first month, we've also been hard at work getting our website up and running. The website will officially launch June 21st. In addition to being a great information resource for those interested in who we are, what we believe in and what we carry, you'll be able to purchase directly from us on the web. Best part? We'll be offering in-store pickups of your order if you're short on time to browse our selection in person.

With the beginning of summer, we enter flea & tick season and NoPo Paws just got all-natural flea and tick remedies in stock. We have shampoos & sprays to help keep those pests away! From citronella to clove oil to peppermint & tree oil solutions, we've got the natural remedy that will work for you. Don't forget to pick up a flea solution before hitting those outdoor spaces with your pooch.

We also received our Orijen shipment this past month. We carry their Adult, Puppy, Large Breed Puppy, Senior & 6 Fresh Fish formulas - we can also special order any of their other formulas or Acana. Stop on by to check out our selection of these and other all-natural premium brands.

This summer is shaping up to be an exciting one for us here at NoPo Paws. We will be at the Mississippi Street Fair on July 9th with our selection of eco-friendly and locally crafted dog products. We're also a sponsor for the Overlook Street Fair on July 30th. I am tickled that my neighborhood's street fair includes a doggie costume contest - how dog-friendly is that?

July also marks our addition of frozen raw foods & cat products. Stay tuned for more details as we work on our plans to add these product lines in early July.

Phew! As with every summer, it seems to fill up before it even gets started. We hope that your summer is filled with sunshine & fun and don't forget to stop by for your dog's summer supply needs.

Cheers!
Sarah

Hurley, Genius Puppy

2011-05-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

Our mascot, Hurley, has been hard at work here at NoPo Paws. It's not all fun and games in the store. He's actually got to learn some stuff! Here he is, hard at work learning proper manners.

Camping Season is almost here!

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

The recent arrival of Spring (finally!) here in Portland has me thinking 'bout all the fun summer activities we do with the dogs. #1 on my list is our camping trips in the Mt Hood National Forest. I can't wait for the first trip of the season. C'mon warmer weather!

Aaahhh....Mt Hood!

Our camping trips often involve driving as far as we can up the mountain roads away from all signs of civilization to give our dogs (and ourselves) the serenity that comes from not camping in a campground. They are free to explore the surrounds, find a stream to romp in and inevitably roll in something not so nice-smelling. This year, my kiddos (the furry kind, of course) will be sporting some new camping gear.

First on the list is The Beacon. I like to know where my precious pups are at all times and, though they don't wander far, it can be difficult to spot them once the sun sets. The Beacon is a safety light that clips securely to your dog's collar. The energy-efficient LED bulbs create a halo around your pup so that you always know exactly where he/she is. It's water-tight if you're adventuring near some H20 and the three-light mode allows you to distinguish between multiple dogs. We love The Beacon because it provides the sense of security this worry-wart of a doggie mom needs while being made by Ruffwear, an Oregon company with a true commitment to the environment (they were voted one of Oregon's Top 100 Green Companies in 2010).

The dogs will also be bringing their Mt Batchelor Pads to the campsite. Having a dog bed/blanket at the campsite is a must for our pooches once they tire from romping around. This uber-portable dog bed is designed for your outdoor adventures with a water and campsite debris resistant outer shell, thermal padding to protect against the cold ground and a soft recycled polyester fleece top for comfort. No more shaking leaves from the blankets! The best part of their Mt Batchelor Pads is that they are also great for travel and day trips. We bring these along when we take the dogs for a swim at the Coast. They've got a nice comfy bed to curl up on during the trip home and the car's upholstery is protected from our wet dogs! We love the Mt Batchelor Pad because it protects the car, provides a comfy bed for our dogs when they're tuckered out from our outdoor adventures, compacts into a light-weight bedroll with a carrying handle and features recycled polyester fleece. It's also made by Ruffwear.

The last item I will be packing up with their camping gear is Pal Dog's Healthy Pup System Set. This first aid kit for dogs come with all the essentials that may be needed post-romp in the woods. It's got Boo Boo Gel, which is formulated to sooth skin abrasions, cuts, stings, and bug bites; Ear Wash Gel, and essential First Aid supplies like gauze, wraps and cotton balls. Pal Dog uses organic botanicals in its all natural formulas and was one of Whole Dog Journal's 2010 Top Gear of the Year picks.

All of these products are available here at NoPo Paws and are highly recommended as part of any dog's camping essentials.

The Beacon retails for $13.00.

The Mt Batchelor Pad comes in 2 sizes and colors, Pinecone Brown and Forest Green. The Small (29" X 38") retails for $60.00 while the Large (36" X 48") costs $75.00.

The Healthy Pup System Set retails for $18.00.

We here at NoPo Paws hope that you and your dogs have a fantastic summer, whatever your favorite warm weather activities may be!

Planet's Best Friend

2011-04-20T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here at NoPo Paws, we like to call ourselves "Dog & Planet's Best Friend". With our Earth Day Opening just a few days away, I thought it might be high time to share a bit about how we've committed to the Planet's Best Friend portion of our motto.

Being environmentally-friendly in all that we can was a no-brainer decision as I began formulating plans for NoPo Paws. Bottom line: it's simply the right thing to do. What I discovered? It was remarkably easy to do and produced a storefront that truly feels like my home away from home.

The project started with a search for reclaimed wood. I quickly found Viridian Wood Products - their selection of reclaimed rustic wood was perfect for the store. I used their Jakarta tropical blend in the slat walls, window seat and "pyramid" fixture; their fishtail oak in the counter and window seat; and finally their spruce in the food shelving.

The Jakarta mix is a tropical blend of hardwoods originating from Southeast Asia. It arrived in Portland via cargo ocean transport where it was utilized in crating for steel railroad tracks. I fell in love with its rustic, varied characteristics immediately - I knew that this was the wood that I needed to be surrounded by on a daily basis.

The fish tail oak is also a by-product of shipping crates from the Port of Portland - I simply cannot say it better than the gentlemen of Viridian do on their website: "This is not the run-of-the-mill oak you grew up with!. It was the perfect compliment to both the Jakarta and the Doug Fir used in the Treat Bar and in the counter.

The Doug Fir tabletop and counter top were courtesy of Rich Mathis of Wood is Wonderful. Rich is located down in Sheridan and has an incredible passion for reclaiming materials. The beams that the tabletop and counter top were made from came from an old mill here in Oregon.

It was a pleasure working with both Viridan and Wood is Wonderful - their love of reclaimed materials is contagious.

Our light fixtures are also made from reclaimed materials - Jann of Lamp Goods utilizes vintage mason jars in these wonderful chandeliers and pendants. They are the perfect compliment to our reclaimed wood.

In addition to using reclaimed materials, we also used no and low VOC paints from ceiling to floor. Our paper materials (from print paper to shopping bags to shipping materials) are all made from recycled paper products. We, of course, recycle, reuse and re-purpose as much as we possibly can.

NoPo Paws is lucky to have found a location with some eco-credibility of its own. The building we are now part of has many eco-features, including solar panels that will generate approximately 30% of our electrical usage, a green roof, and greenhouse.

That is the beginning of the story behind "Planet's Best Friend" - I look forward to continuing to tell our eco-story.

Grand Opening Festivities

2011-04-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Grand Opening Week is here! The store is almost ready - we are putting the final touches together today.

We've got a lot going on this weekend in celebration of our opening.

10% of our sales on Earth Day, Friday April 22 and Saturday April 23 will be donated to World Vets in support of their rescue and relief efforts in Japan. If you haven't seen their Facebook album highlighting some of the rescues and reunions, it is worth a few minutes of your time. World Vets partners with local veterinarians to get supplies into devastated areas. With local partnerships, they have reunited many pets with their owners. Many of the uplifting stories that I saw reported after the disaster featured dogs - dogs protecting one another, being reunited with their owners, surviving weeks at sea on a pile of rubble - which, for me, highlighted the powerful connection between man and its best friend. World Vets is an organization that makes sure the medical help is there for the pets affected by these disasters and is a truly deserving organization. We are proud to support them during our Grand Opening.

We will also be giving away a Ruffwear Approach Pack to one lucky customer. . .errr . . . I should say visitor because no purchase is necessary to enter the drawing. Just come on by the store Friday or Saturday to enter. We love the Approach Pack for loads of reasons - it's made by Ruffwear, an Oregon company who also happens to be one of the Top 100 Green Companies in Oregon in 2010 and it's a high-quality pack that is perfect for dogs who are serious hikers - this pack will be there for many, many miles on the trail.

But we're not stopping there with our free giveaways - customers will receive a free pizzle with each purchase.

Our latest addition to the Grand Opening festivities is courtesy of local artist, Jill Mayberg, who has graciously donated one of her awesome prints to be auctioned off. All proceeds will be donated to World Vets as well. This print is called "I Love My Dog" and we love it!

If that's not enough to convince you to stop by, we are also throwing a Happy Hour celebration on Friday. Stop on by from 5-7pm to check us out, enjoy a few drinks and appetizers and get to meet many of the folks involved in making NoPo Paws transition from dream to reality.

We hope to see you this weekend!

A Sneak Peek

2011-04-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ready for a Sneak Peek?

It's been a busy month getting NoPo Paws ready for the world but I'm happy to report that construction phase is finally over! Tomorrow, we get to start arranging our fixtures, merchandising product and getting some artwork up on the walls. It is incredibly satisfying to see it all come together. Here are some shots of the work in progress:


Step 1: Sweep 10 years of dust off the ceilings.

Step 2: Out with the old lime green, in with the new


Step 3: Build! Build! Build! (That's Master Carpenter Dad)

A Peek at some of the finished products!

Opening Day is a week from Friday! And we've got something new to add to our Grand Opening festivities. Local Portland Artist Jill Mayberg has graciously donated one of her prints for an auction to benefit World Vets. Thanks, Jill!

Don't forget to come visit us next weekend and join in on the fun.

Coming Soon!

2011-04-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

NoPo Paws is coming soon! Our Grand Opening event is April 22nd and 23rd and, boy, do we have a lot planned for that weekend.

10% of Every Purchase on the 22nd and the 23rd will benefit World Vets' Relief Efforts in Japan. World Vets is an outstanding organization which is involved in providing veterinary services in hard-to-reach, third world and disaster-stricken locations around the world. You can check out their good work at worldvets.org.

Here at NoPo Paws, we pride ourselves on our commitment to providing a wide selection of eco-friendly dog products and supporting rescue organizations with our pledge to donate 10% of our profits. But we also like to have fun with our dogs and our selection of Outdoor and Active gear for dogs reflects that love of all things outdoors. To showcase our selection of these types of products, we are giving away a Ruffwear Approach Pack to one lucky customer during our Grand Opening Weekend. Come visit our store to enter the drawing (no purchase necessary!) and we will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 26th.

Great for Hiking!

Other fun happenings at the store on Grand Opening Weekend include a Free Pizzle with Purchase and Samples, Samples and More Samples. Did I mention that we will have loads of samples on hand?

We hope to see our Portland fans there! We are located at 2148 N Killingsworth in Portland's Overlook Neighborhood, just west of I-5.

The Grand Opening for our Brick & Mortar store is coming soon and so will our web launch. We are hard at work getting our site set up and plan to launch soon after our Grand Opening, so stay tuned!