THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JUNE 30
COMPANIONS
Lawrence animals find home
AMELIA ARVESEN
news@kansan.com
Some of the familiar greeters at a few downtown businesses roam around on four legs and have a bit of extra fur on their faces.
They are the cats and dogs of Massachusetts Street and though they can't speak for themselves, their owners know their stories well.
Whether they're curled up on top of a stack of records, darting behind bookshelves or pacing in front of a window, they receive attention from customers in the form of ear scratches.
"I think it gives it more of a home feeling especially to pet owners to walk in and see a calm animal in the environment," Amanda Eck, a client care attendant at the Lawrence Humane Society, said.
She said most animals crave attention and when employees decide to bring them to work, and it makes for a happier place to be for both the people and animals.
Love Garden
It can be challenging to flip through records when a cat is sprawled across the top of the crate.
It's something customers have come to expect when they visit Love Garden, said Katie Ashmore, the store's record buyer.
The record store at 822 Mass St. is the home of two eight-year-old male cats — a blonde tabby named Mickey and a dark tabby named Sam — who lounge all day. They've claimed napping nooks around the store.
Ashmore said most recently, Mickey has managed to squeeze his overfed body between CD slots; he sits like a human in a Lazyboy chair. Sam can usually be found on top of the dollar record crate.
They're spoiled, pampered and dotted upon being in such a public place. They even have their own Instagram account, @lovegardencats.
With music playing from open to close, Ashmore said the cats have gotten used to the sound.
"Some music is louder to them and I can tell by the way they move their ears, but I think they're pretty good at tuning it out," Ashmore said.
At night the employees cover the shelves with blankets to prevent the cats from clawing at the records, but they're usually ready for another nap after their long workday.
To make up for Mickey and Sam's lack of energy, two dogs prance around looking for someone who will throw them a ball.
They belong to the owners of Handbuilt Productions, housed above Love Garden. Yuba, is Dalton Paley's golden retriever and border collie mix and Remy is Austin Paley's English shepherd.
Yuba, the dog to frequent downstairs the most, is named after the Yuba River in California where Paley's friend found her. He said he's convinced she has nine lives after she survived a 30-foot plummet.
"She bounced right back up and was like 'What?' " Paley said.
Ashmore said she has nothing against the cats, but Yuba makes for the better companion.
"Katie builds her beds turns on the space heater ey said." This is Yuba's fa the room now."
The Raver
Independent bookstor Raven are made compl or two.
Heidi Raak, the book said some people come the two cats named after writers Ngaio Marsh Hammett.
They tend to be more than mysterious, and I cause a certain level of they knock over book counters.
"It's amazing to me he its paws and rear end flip the screen on the co said. "You have to hit, at the same time to do
They make for great starters, and that's how know many of the regu
She said most people cepting of the furry gr often overhear people them in baby talk.
"It's a welcoming thin little creatures who a Raak said.
Ernst & Son H:
Anyone who visits Hardware becomes friend. She's a six-year lish Lab and the eyes of the store,
Aaron Lamer, her brought Sadie to work