Second Hand Nose is not just a new thrift store, it's a new concept. Sales will benefit the local A Paw and a Prayer dog rescue, and as part of a certified 501(c)3, purchases will be tax-deductible. The store will also unleash other animal services at its 2605 Banks Road location.
Groomers will likely be on-site weekly so people and their pets can upgrade their look simultaneously. Some of the rescue's approximately 600 dogs adopted out each year will also be on-hand.
East Hamilton area residents Ruth Smith, left, and Judy Butterfield are opening a new thrift store to aid their nonprofit dog rescue A Paw and a Prayer."It's going to be a unique thrift store because there will not only be clothing and housewares like everywhere else has, we're also going to have some adoptable dogs on-site," said co-owner Ruth Smith. "People can do a little thrift shopping and a little dog shopping at the same time."
She and partner Judy Butterfield are still looking for donations before the store's May 12 and 13 grand opening.
"Anything you wouldn't mind using in heaven," Butterfield said of the selection. "We don't want it to be nasty stuff. It's going to be higher-end clothing and furnishings, knickknacks, collectibles; we've got some antiques in there and things for dogs."
The rescue receives dogs from all over the Southeast, many from puppy mills, hoarding seizures and over-breeding situations. Once received, the animals are groomed, spayed/neutered and treated for heart worms, mange and parvo or given amputations if necessary, said Smith.
"We have to put money into them," she said. "The dogs we get are many times matted and unsocialized; they've been in a cage for five or six years."
To that end, they will also offer Rent a Pets at the store. For a small fee, people can take a dog home for a day or two, which not only helps the person see if a dog is right for them, but also helps the dog adjust to people.
"If you like it, great. If you don't, you spent a lot less money than you would," said Butterfield.
Smith added that it could be a great fit for widow/widowers and grandparents looking for something to do with their visiting grandchildren.
Despite their previous bad situations, the dogs adjust well, according to Smith and Butterfield.
"When you get them into a home, the shyest dog will be friendly and happy within two days," Butterfield said. "The nice thing about dogs, and something I find so significant and important, dogs have short memories."
But Smith said they don't paint a rosy picture to get people to take the dogs.
"We're not trying to ice the cake to push them, because we want them to be in forever homes," she said. "We want them to make this animal part of their home. We always encourage them to make sure they're ready."
Despite the fact that they adopt out more animals from the Petco on Gunbarrel Road than any other Petco in the Southeast, their return rate is very low, they said - less than 1 percent. They do allow people a two-week time frame in which to return a dog and get most of their money back.
Because they work so extensively with the animals, often keeping dozens in their own homes, they can help pair people with pets, and provide useful information about the dog.
"If we think they're good with kids, housebroken, an alpha dog, we're able to gauge that a little more than if they just went to a shelter and said I want that dog behind the window," said Smith. She added that people can let them know what kind of dog or qualities they're looking for and when they come across it they will alert the person.
"My Internet was down for five days. When I got back on I had 875 messages. Most of those were postings for different dogs that people were trying to find somebody to take them," said Butterfield.
Foster homes are always needed, which entails taking care of the animal and making it part of the family for at least a week. At that point they are brought back to be adopted. If not, foster families can choose to take the dog for another week.