Some of you might know - if you follow us closely on the Facebook page - that I live in a rural area (southern translation: out in the COUNTRY), in the county just south of Richmond, Virginia. All total, the last 16 years of my life. My life - with a family that's included several cats and dogs. And you know what?
(Heads up: shouting ahead.)
I had NO IDEA UNTIL LAST WEEK that the local Tractor Supply Co.® - that I pass by when I drive my kids to swim practice, except it was obstructed by a McDonald's, so I didn't KNOW it - has a GIANT SECTION DEVOTED TO CATS AND DOGS! It's like a regular store with a pet supply store in it - NOT just for farmer types!
OK, I knew Tractor Supply Company had a pet section - and a farm animal section, truth be told - BUT NOT that they carry several PREMIUM dog and cat food lines, like Merrick, that I already feed my pets! I've been driving like 10 miles out of the way EACH WAY to get to a store all the way in the city! FAIL!
They also carry toys and cat litter and flea and tick meds and beds and fountains and collars and leashes...doggone it!
But enough about my shopping shortcomings...
I have a question for you: Do you live in the "country" and have pets and a local Tractor Supply Company (abbreviated TSC) store?
You don't know whether you have a local TSC store, like I didn't? OK, please check the store locator at the top of the home page. I'll wait.
Well, GO SEE INSIDE IT! You can even take your dogs (obviously)! (Cats, too, but only if they like being leashed in a store with people and possibly dogs and chickens. In the spring. On second thought, call the store about their cat policy in spring.☺)
You'll notice (because it takes up almost half an aisle, for both dogs and cats) that there's a brand of premium food called 4Health™ that you most likely never heard of. That's because it's new, made (in the USA of wholesome ingredients) for and sold exclusively at Tractor Supply Company stores - and at a VERY reasonable price. (SCORE!) There's a whole line - for both dogs and cats, of different life stages and varieties, and in wet and dry formulas. Plus treats! (Reminder: AFFORDABLE.)
Do you think I'll be trying 4Health brand? With as many critters as I have to feed, you bet I will!
Alright, pardon my changing the subject, but I need to tell you something else about TSC: They are HUGE supporters of rescue ** and community pet wellness.
Yep! See all that pet stuff (including not just food and treats, but cat litter, cat and dog toys, kitten milk replacement and organic catnip) I've loaded into my cart?
The company gave me $100 to use to buy a gift basket for a local rescue! We gave all that stuff away! To the Prince George County Animal Services and Adoption Center, just a few miles down the road from the store!
Here's what my loot looked like after I got it into the "basket" (a steel tray that I found in the porcine aisle, in other words, it's a serving bowl for pigs☺). I think it'll make a fine water bowl for dogs, though.
Oh wait, I forgot to add the card I made!
Did you think I was gonna do this without cat representation?☺ My "helpers" were Bertie and Maddox (collarless).
I have a special nook in my heart for this shelter - not only because it seems they take in more stray adult cats than any other shelter around - and work tirelessly to get them adopted out - but because my baby girl, Frances, is one of their former residents*. ☺ And my mess of a ginger tabby, Bobby Flay O'Fish, was rescued off the side of a road in Prince George County. And although he didn't make it to the shelter (because I kept him), I have NO doubt in my mind that if he had, they would have taken excellent care of him.
I hope the sweet animals in their care this holiday season thoroughly enjoy the items we donated on behalf of Tractor Supply Company.
Speaking of sweet animals in their care, meet Calvin!
I met him in the fur when I delivered the goods. He's a 7-year-old pitbull with a load of love, patience and plenty more life to live. He came right up to the kennel door and wiggled politely (licking my hand) as a stroked his muzzle though the bars. He loves to play with other dogs and does not bother the kitties. Why he's been a resident at the shelter since July is a puzzle to shelter staff (and me). Here is his profile on Petfinder.com. If you have it in your heart to share, Calvin, his fans at the shelter and I would appreciate it. Maybe we can get this sweet boy into a loving home before the holidays!
But hold up, I mentioned before that TSC supports both rescue AND local pet wellness. So, imagine my surprise to learn not only that they have this huge pet section, but that every few Saturdays, they offer an onsite dog and cat wellness clinic called PetVet!
Heck, yes, they do! Right at my local store! I looked it up right here! (Perhaps they offer a PetVet clinic at your local store, too!)
So. Who's gonna go check out her local Tractor Supply this week? Are you surprised to learn they carry so many things for pets?
* Frances was originally admitted to the Prince George County Animal Shelter, but was subsequently transferred into the care of my local no-kill Richmond SPCA, from whom I first fostered and then adopted her. Frances was about 2 years old at the time and had not been spayed prior to her shelter stay. She was also shut down from fear (which makes it even more the miracle that two shelters cared enough to save her life).
** In addition to making their stores available for local rescues to hold adoption events and fundraisers, Tractor Supply Company awards $25,000 annually in grants - through a social media contest - to 10 deserving organizations. They've also partnered with DogForDog® to sell their DogsButter and DogsTreats in their stores. DogForDog donates (pound-for-pound) to shelters for every purchase made.
Follow Tractor Supply on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for the latest deals and updates...
...like this! They're doing PET photos with Santa at my local store! How sweet!
Happiness BONUS! Look who visited a Tractor Supply in Georgia recently! Squeeee!
