Barks In The Zoo

If you've walked by the store recently, you may have taken notice of our newest window installations... if not, we recommend you high-tail it over to the Oakwood Plaza to see these in person! There was no small amount of work that went into this beautiful installation. Kaila Elders, the incredibly talented artist and pal to Barks In The Zoo, originally designed this piece in 2022 shortly before we took over Bark's 5th Avenue. We knew we were ready for a brand redesign to usher in a new era for the business and space, and she delivered this incredible illustration. Not only is it playful, but it's welcoming, and most importantly- it's just plain joyful (the true essence of a dog). What's even better? Themes from lots of the neighboring businesses in the plaza are given a nod throughout (community, amiright?) Once we were ready to get these beautiful designs in the windows, Bear Sign Company worked tirelessly to coordinate with the city to get permitting squared away to use this design for permanent window vinyl. After lots (and we mean LOTS) of conversation with the city, it was apparent window vinyl was not in the stars for us due to code restrictions. We knew absolutely nothing of the process and they helped us navigate through the city by-laws with such kindness (and patience). After realizing window vinyl was not in our future, we began to brainstorm other ways we could still use this design, only to come up short. We are many things, but artists we are not. We are however, lucky enough to know Chafe and Anne of @weirderwonderland! During one of their visits into the store, we mentioned our predicament and showed them Kaila's design- the gears began turning, and this project was set in motion. Chafe kept all the whimsy and joy of the original design, but made it usable for our retail space. What is simply a mural to the passerby, turns into functional shelving on the inside of the store, showing off lots of product that historically had nowhere to go. Our br

Come check out our new selection of toys from Lambwolf Collective! Hatcher kindly agreed to show us all how much fun the snail is to play with :)

We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled dog programming to bring you some very important information! This one is long, but we hope you take a few minutes to read through to hear about what's going on with Barks and our neighbors in the area. ----- It will come as no surprise that construction season is right around the corner. Unfortunately, this ​one is going to hit a little differently due to the nature and duration of the work going on around us. While many of the ​upcoming projects entail some sorely needed improvements, it won't be without some growing pains for the businesses in the area. We are one of those businesses.​ **Details on the work being done at the end of this post** ​Luke and I have been so humbled by the outpouring of support we have seen​ and felt since taking over Barks in May of 2022. We have continued to serve so many of the regulars that shopped here over the years, and have been lucky enough to meet a whole lot of new pets and their people. With that said, we need that same vigor and enthusiasm to remain during the next few months while we weather what is likely to be a quieter season that we would've hoped for. ​Support comes in all shapes in sizes so... what does ​that mean to you? It could ​mean ​attending the adoption events we will be hosting this summer (even if you're not in the market, puppy snuggles are free!), attending the garage sale we'll be hosting (the same time as the Winchell sales!), stopping in for a quick treat on your way to the park, buying your dog or cat food with us (if you don't see it on shelf, remember we can special order almost anything), getting your dog groomed in our salon (that includes nail trims too​!) And...if you're a neighbor who wants to support but doesn't have a furry friend at home, we are a great place to get a gift for the animal lover in your life. We suggest making a day of it​! ​Stop in to Wild Birds Unlimited for some feed for your backyard, swing