Pet-Friendly Small Businesses to Support on Small Business Saturday

Posted by Jessica Roberts

As every Yorkie knows, it can be hard for the little guys to compete with the big fellas. Small businesses play a vital role in our community but often struggle to survive against national and global chains. Fortunately, there’s Small Business Saturday! This shopping event sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday encourages consumers to shop local. In honor of pet-friendly small businesses across the country, we’ve dug up seven places where you can bring Fido to spend your hard-earned bones this November 30.

Fill Your Trunk in Manayunk

Philadelphia, PA
“Thanks fur the cookies.” Photo by Facebook.com/PetFriendlyDogBakery

Shop mom and pop with your dog by your side in Philadelphia’s charming Manayunk neighborhood on Small Business Saturday. You’ll find a unique gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list, including your pooch. Get 15 percent off at City of Paws Pet Care, where you can find precious pet essentials like posh bow ties, enriching toys, treats and more locally sourced products for all the dogs and cats you love. For the humans on your shopping list, stop in at pet-friendly Spectrum Scientifics to find unique and quirky gift items before rewarding your furry shopping companion for his patience with playtime at the Pretzel Dog Run at Manayunk Park.

Finally, warm up with a coffee beverage while your mutt indulges in a free organic treat at the shop all the local dogs are wild about, Pet Friendly Dog Bakery. Fido will get a bonus cookie for free if you spend $20 or more on Small Business Saturday, which won’t be hard to accomplish as the bakery also sells a full line of doggy accessories. Enjoy your treats at the indoor dog-friendly lounge on the lower level, where you can watch the pet channel and chill with your furry friend.

You can stay local in Philadelphia, too. The charming Conwell Inn, a set of 19th-century brick townhomes, welcomes four-legged guests for an additional pet fee of $40 per stay.

Find Southern Charm at Mast General Store

Southeastern United States
Find local pet goods over yonder. Photo by Facebook.com/mastgeneralstore

If y’all are in the southeast this Small Business Saturday, bring your furry debutante to shop at Mast General Store. A southern treasure, Mast General prides itself on providing locally sourced products to its community and to visitors. All 10 Mast General Store locations welcome genteel pups to shop the widely varying selection of goods and goodies, many of which are made in the region. Here you can find everything from outdoor gear to fried chicken cookbooks, buckets of old-fashioned candies and gifts for the dog lover in your life.

While you're here, give your furry best bud a little taste of southern cookin' with a bag of Barley Bones. These homemade and high-quality treats from Chattanooga, TN come in traditional flavors like Biscuits & Gravy and Chicken & Waffles, and are made with spent barley from area breweries.

Shop Small and Sip Big With Your Dog at Community Beer Co.

Dallas, TX
Too cool to shop big. Photo by Facebook.com/communitybeer

Community Beer Co. is a pet-friendly craft beer taproom in Dallas, TX that doubles as an event space. Its annual celebration of Shop Small Saturday brings together more than 50 local makers, small businesses and artisans. Your pup will happily get in on the shopping action by choosing stylish pet supplies from Dallas-based Dixie Goods Company and top-quality, preservative-free treats from La Barkeria, while you enjoy a delicious craft beer and nosh on local food truck fare.

Stay at the pet-friendly Aloft Dallas Love Field, located just 2 miles from Downtown Dallas.

The Small Super Store That Hosts a Dog Walk

Omaha, NE
Proud to shop small. Photo by Facebook.com/Imaginariumsuperstore

Bring your furry friends, support local small businesses, get your steps in and complete your holiday shopping all in one day! Omaha's largest and coolest antiques and collectibles store, Imaginarium Super Store, will be hosting its annual Small Business Saturday Dog Walk. Imaginarium is the place to go for unique finds like rare records, vintage furniture, toys, clothing and trinkets beyond your wildest imaginings. Stop by the store to pick up a map of other local spots within walking distance that welcome canine shopaholics. Refreshments for pooches and people will be provided.

Imaginarium Super Store is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 30. The Nebraska Humane Society will be visiting the store from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a Pet Adoption Wagon, and Santa Paws will stop by for pictures from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

If you’re both tuckered out after all the walking, wagging and spending, check in to a pet-friendly vacation rental like this Stylish Historic Home in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha.

Win Large Prizes for Shopping Small in Flagstaff

Flagstaff, AZ
“The only thing I do ‘small’ is shop.” Photo by Sally

Downtown Flagstaff is partnering with Local First Arizona to reward those who shop small in “The City of the Seven Wonders.” For each purchase at a participating local business, you’ll receive a sticker in your passport. Shop at five local businesses (or spend a combined total of $250) to be entered into a drawing to win prizes ranging in value from $25 to $300. Your lucky pup can join you to shop at the following pet-friendly small businesses:

  • Buy food and treats for the health-conscious hound at Olsen's, northern Arizona’s “Healthy, Holistic Pet Food and Treat” store.
  • Shop for mountain chic boutique women’s clothing at Sage Brush Trading Company, where your pooch gets pets, head scratches and a bowl of water.
  • Visit Bookmans Entertainment Exchange, a cool place to hang out with your main mutt and find used books, music, movies, video games and musical instruments.
  • Buy or rent supplies for your adventures with Fido at Peace Surplus, a full-service ski store and one-stop-shop for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Laugh it up at Black Hound Gallerie, a quirky shop in the heart of downtown Flagstaff specializing in sarcasm and clever quips on stickers, shirts, novelty items and dog bandanas.
  • Sit and sip with your canine barmate at Hops on Birch, where Fido can watch you enjoy a craft beer or kombucha.

Although you don’t have to be present to accept your prize if you win the drawing, don’t rush your time in Flagstaff. Book a pet-friendly cabin at Arizona Mountain Inn and Cabins and check off one of your pup’s bucket-list items with a visit to nearby Grand Canyon National Park.

Shop Local in the Shop Local Capital of Chicago

Chicago, IL
Jameson loves Danger and shopping local. Photo by @chicagoweddingphotography

Dubbed the “shop local capital of Chicago,” the Andersonville neighborhood is known for its proud Swedish heritage and eclectic boutiques. Home to more than 300 local businesses, the neighborhood welcomes customers on two legs and four to shop small with them on November 30. Andersonville was voted Chicago Reader’s Best Overall Neighborhood of 2019, and Fido will certainly agree with the decision after checking out these local, award-winning pet businesses:

When you and your pooch need a break, refuel with a hearty lunch at Hamburger Mary's. If it’s too chilly to eat on the pet-friendly patios, get your sammies to go and walk back to your apartment rental at Andersonvillevr.

Shop the “Dotte” in Wyandotte

Wyandotte, MI
Meet the Clauses at The Vintage Market Home. Photo by The Vintage Market Home

The town of Wyandotte, 11 miles downriver from Detroit, is well-known for boutique small businesses, pop-up holiday markets and charming restaurants, making it an ideal place to visit on Small Business Saturday with your bargain-hunting hound. In addition to hot chocolate and raffle tickets, welcome stations set up throughout town will be handing out “Downtown Dollars,” gift certificates redeemable at participating Wyandotte businesses.

Once you pick up your swag bag of “Downtown Dollars,” take your canine companion to Studio 416, a pet-friendly hair salon, beauty shop and antique store, where select items will be buy three, get one free. Professional pet photographer Shutter Mutt will be on-site at the salon to take portraits of pooches for $25, which includes three digital files of your glamour girl or guy.

After Fido’s photoshoot, head to The Vintage Market Home. This chic, flea-market-style shopping experience is home to more than 30 local vendors, including Sadie Jane's dog collars and accessories and Dog Gone Delicious Dog Treats. On Small Business Saturday, there will be 20 additional vendors set up in the parking lot of the market, along with free mimosas, giveaways and raffles. The Vintage Market Home is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Wyandotte Small Business Saturday will be held from 9 a.m to 11:30 p.m. on November 30. Rest your paws in nearby Detroit at a cool vacation rental like the Detroit Loves You Airbnb or at the four-star iconic landmark, The Siren Hotel.


Traveling for the holidays? Wherever you’re going, find pet-friendly businesses large and small on BringFido's services and activities sections. You can also check out the American Express Small Business Saturday map to learn if your favorite local pet-friendly small business is a registered participant.

Which pet-friendly local business is your pooch begging to visit this Small Business Saturday? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by SolStock.