Pets provide LGBTQ San Diegans love, companionship and so much more. To set out on a discovery of what dogs and their owners can do in and around the neighborhood, my Jack Russell Terrier-Chihuahua mix pup, Ollie and I decided to make a doggie day of it and run around town to see what we could discover on our four and two legs.
Our first stop was to visit Unleashed by Petco, which has a cool neighborhood vibe with friendly staff, located on the edge of Mission Hills and Hillcrest. We checked out their pet photo booth which includes a free color print of pets with their owners. The store also frequently offers special events, including its affordable vaccinations clinic, Vetco, a canine good citizen’s certification class as well as holiday pet costume contests and puppy playtime. Ollie played with several other dogs as we roamed through the aisles and met other Hillcrest and neighborhood dogs and their owners.
After our snapshot, we headed over to the new San Diego Ward Canyon Dog Park in the Normal Heights neighborhood. While the park is technically ‘interim,’ it does offer a 20,500 square feet off-leash fenced facility with separate large and small dog areas including fences, benches and of course pet waste dispensers.
Councilmember Todd Gloria said, “District Three is home to many healthy pets that need secure spaces to exercise and run free with their owners. My constituents in Mid-City collected over a thousand signatures and strongly advocated for a dog park in the community, so I fought to include funding for the off-leash space at Ward Canyon Park in last year’s budget and was proud to have it constructed and opened earlier this year.”
In July of this year, Dexter’s Deli opened its doors on 30th Street, just south of University Boulevard in North Park. It is now home to the area’s newest natural dog and cat food store. Everything from frozen treats and cakes to fresh raw diets are offered. Ollie was thrilled with the organic cupcake he got to devour along with the huge selection of toys, accessories and pet clothing.
LGBT community member and Dexter’s Deli owner, Tori Rosay shared, “Our pets don’t care about politics, Democrat, Republican, gay, straight. Their default emotion is joy. With our store, we take it up a notch for people who want to do the very best for their loving pets, without it costing a lot more.”
Toward the other end of North Park, at the corner of Mississippi and University, Ollie and I visited one of the newest neighborhood veterinarian clinics, Bodhi. Housed in the building that once was the home to private men’s club, the Mustang, we found staff that were kind and well-informed who treated us both like family. The modern facility offers a calm and inviting atmosphere to reduce pet anxieties and offers compassion and excellence at every stage. Services include emergency care, vaccinations, nutrition, end of life care and much more.
Bodhi Hospital Administrator Dr. Ann Eliopulos said, “We provide unique, caring service to the creatures who unconditionally love us and accept us when others may not. Bodhi honors the bond between all people and their pets. Like them, we do not discriminate. We are a proud part of our community.”
Onward back into Hillcrest, Ollie needed some quick grooming, so we visited with native San Diego and LGBT community dog groomer Victor Montes, owner of Canine Lodge & Spa on Park Boulevard, half a block south of University Avenue. Opened in 2002, Victor’s canine clients count in the hundreds as he trims and styles pups with nothing but the finest detail and cuts. Commenting on his work and passion, Victor said, “I Love working with dogs and love being in the gay community.”
Not content to just groom, Victor has ensured his puppy clients look great for special events like San Diego Pride, saying, “We do cotton candy pink hair with Egyptian tassels and false eye lashes. And have even dyed their hair in Pride colors!”
Now that we have journeyed throughout mid-San Diego and the neighborhood, it was time for some puppy socializing while I went for some adult beverages, so Ollie insisted on going to Fido and Co. Canine Country Club in the heart of Hillcrest on University near The HUB, so that I could grab a couple cocktails at one of the nearby drink establishments. Before the drinks began to flow, we ran into Elle and her foster dog Fredo, who was so busy playing and running around, we could barely keep up with him.
Elle said about Fido & Co., “They hold private events for dogs and owners. They just did a Pride party with a platform out in front of the business with about 75 pet owners as they watched the parade with margaritas and Jell-O shots. It was a charity for the Pug Rescue of San Diego County.”
They offer affordable daycare, overnight boarding and pet sitting, all with concierge service. Elle added that, “My dogs are excited to arrive and love to socialize here. It’s amazing!”
The San Diego community offers many resources, parks, events and services to keep both dog and owner busy and having fun all weekend. Our adopted pet families bring joy and even more diversity into our lives and community. Added to this, living in a city that offers perfect weather almost every day of the year means that San Diegan pets live and love among the best in the world.
