Business’ best friend

Leash on Life isn’t a pet store, it’s a pet supply store. The distinction means a lot to its owners. “We made a commitment that we would only sell supplies,” Laurie Smith said one recent afternoon. “We would never ever sell any animals in the store. That’s an important thing for us.”  Ms. Smith and […]

Leash on Life isn’t a pet store, it’s a pet supply store. The distinction means a lot to its owners. “We made a commitment that we would only sell supplies,” Laurie Smith said one recent afternoon. “We would never ever sell any animals in the store. That’s an important thing for us.”  Ms. Smith and Julie Phye carry pet food, toys, grooming aids, and other supplies at Leash on Life — not live pets. They opened their first store in Iowa City in 2005, adding a North Liberty location eight years later. To avoid supporting dog-breeding farms, like the Riverside operation where 131 puppies were seized in August, they offer would-be dog owners an alternative. “I’d send them to any of the local shelters or rescues in the area,” Ms. Smith said. “That’s the only places we recommend.” Leash on Life’s owners and some of their customers have been helping Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center care for the puppies removed from overheated, unsanitary conditions. “It’s just heartbreaking to see that,” Ms. Smith said. “It’s also heartwarming to see how the community responds. As an independent owner, we have the luxury to be part of the community as well.” That community includes the two-thirds of American households that own pets, according to a survey by Forbes Advisor. Dogs, in 65.1 million homes, are more popular than cats (46.5 million).

Gourmet treats

Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022, with the average dog owner spending $730 a year. In the Corridor, that spending supports everyone from individual dog trainers to pet supply shops to gourmet biscuit maker Woofables, which employs 50 at its 10,000-square-foot Coralville bakery. “For the last two years we’ve been on the list of fastest-growing businesses in the Corridor,” said Laura Taylor, who with her husband Alex Taylor bought Woofables in 2010. “When I look at the past 13 years, we’ve averaged 25% growth every year, a nice, steady increase.”

While Woofables ships its treats to retail stores nationwide, Kaitlyn's Pupcakes delivers to customers within 40 miles of Kaitlyn Taylor’s Tiffin home and via her canine food truck. “My mom and I had done cakes and cupcakes for friends, but it was always kind of an idea to have a cupcake truck,” said Ms. Taylor, who’s not related to the Woofables owners. “This truck came up for sale, and we said, ‘What if we did this for dogs?’”   Ms. Taylor takes the “pupcakes” truck to the Tiffin off-leash park and to farmers’ markets in Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids.

Meeting the need for socialization and training

The COVID-induced isolation of 2020 boosted canine adoptions nationwide, followed by a corresponding increase in animal surrenders as some new owners gave up on their pets. That effect appears to have included the Corridor. “The vast majority of people who adopted while quarantined in 2020 have become great pet owners,” Mike Battien, Cedar Rapids public safety communications specialist, wrote in an email. “That said, there is a corresponding trend of surrenders due to owners of COVID-era adopted dogs no longer being able, or willing, to properly care for them.” Owners surrendered 154 pets to the city shelter in 2021, after just 45 such placements in 2020, according to Mr. Battien. Iowa City’s shelter took in 596 dogs last year, 200 more than in 2020.  Adoption and intake numbers at Cedar Valley Humane Society remained consistent over that period. “We normally see around 2,000 animals a year in our shelter, and those numbers have remained pretty consistent until this summer, when adoptions have slowed down,” Lonnie Viner, CVHS executive director, wrote in an email.  Pets and their people have been adjusting post-COVID, according to Dr. Grace Zhang, associate veterinarian at Animal Clinic Inc. in Iowa City. “Maybe we’re dealing with a little bit of social anxiety in the animals as they adjust to more people around,” Dr. Zhang said. “People are having more awareness now about socializing with their dogs, because they were home all the time, and now they’re not.” “Now that people are going back to work in the office instead of working from home, they are seeing more behavior issues,” said Michael Albee. Working from his southwest Cedar Rapids home, he’s specialized in in-home training since 2015 as A Better Dog 4U. The return of vacation travel brought dogs back to boarding kennels. “People started going places,” said Jason Meyers, owner of Bed & Biscuits Boarding Kennel. “The big thing about that was socialization with the dogs, because a lot of them hadn’t been anywhere. It was a little bit of a challenge with some of the dogs, just getting them socialized.” Mr. Meyers’ parents opened Bed & Biscuits in the early 1990s, carving an acre and a half out of their family farm near Central City. That allows a big, grassy yard for dogs staying in its 50 kennels.  “People love bringing their dogs up to us, because most of the other kennels in town don’t even have any outdoor space,” he said.  Dog trainer, Mr. Albee, said he’d like to see more pet-friendly public spaces to help dogs get accustomed to being around strange dogs and people — places like a properly-managed restaurant patio.

“We see a lot of dogs regularly, almost every day,” said Kimmy Riemer, general manager of LP Street Food in Cedar Rapids. “I have three dogs, so I bring them here for the socialization.” “If there any aggressive dogs, we will ask them to leave because we don’t want anyone to have any issues,” Ms. Riemer said. Dogs and their owners can improve social skills at off-leash parks in Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Iowa City.  “Dog parks are great for that,” said Jennifer Shaddox, vice chair of KPCOLA, a Cedar Rapids nonprofit formed in 2001. Group members help maintain the parks. “We designate that area for dogs that need to be socialized,” said Ms. Shaddox. K9COLA is working with city staff to develop another facility at Jones Park in southwest Cedar Rapids. Dog ownership reflects owner demographics:  According to Forbes, about a third of pet owners are millennials born 1981 through ’96, with Gen Xers (born 1965-’81) making up 24 percent of pet households and Boomers 24 percent. “Most people are pretty well prepared,” said Dr. Zhang. “We do our best to educate people when they get a new puppy and they haven’t had a puppy for a long time.”

A shortage of veterinarians

A nationwide shortage of veterinarians may make it a challenge to find a doctor for the family pet. “We’re producing more vets than ever before, yet there’s still a shortage,” said Dr. Randy Wheeler, executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.  “It’s pretty much in every sector of our profession,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, dean of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Large and small animal, rural and urban, specialties such as radiology or surgery.” ISU’s veterinary program, one of 33 nationwide, enrolls about 160 students yearly, Dr. Grooms said.  Most students enter the four-year program after three or four years of undergraduate study. “Some of those are retired and have an active license or are only working part-time,” said Dr. Wheeler. “The cost of education impacts maybe where people take jobs, but I don’t think it’s driving the shortages,” said Mr. Grooms. “The major driving things are just increased demand for veterinary services. (Owners are) willing to spend more money on their pets.”  It’s especially difficult to find emergency treatment for sick or injured pets. “In Iowa City we don’t have a 24/7 facility,” said Dr. Zhang, noting the Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails Veterinary Hospital has an on-call number and lists Sunday hours for emergency care. “We’re trying our best to accommodate those urgent-care cases for our clients,” Dr. Zhang said. “But we don’t have full capacity, and we don’t have the staff.” The state board listed 650 registered veterinary technicians in January, more than double the 236 in 2006. But job-related stress takes a toll, according to Randy Ackman, Kirkwood Community College professor of animal health technology. “Burnout and compassion fatigue are a hurdle,” said Dr. Ackman. “The average shelf life of a vet tech is five years. Most people that leave the field cite either inadequate pay or not getting to use the skills they were taught.” Currently, 38 students are enrolled in Kirkwood’s program, which graduated 15 students this spring and 27 in 2022, Dr. Ackman said.