Naperville carpet store sponsoring pet adoptions
Dogs and carpets don't always mix.
Muddy footprints. Clumps of hair. The occasional, you know, accident.
But all that will be set aside Saturday when animal-lovers who visit one Naperville store will be able to both adopt a new four-legged friend and pick out some carpet to protect against pet stains in a single stop.
The unlikely combination is being sponsored by Russell Martin Carpets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in its parking lot at 633 N. Washington St. It's the first such event in the store's 59 year history.
“For us, dogs are life,” Business Manager Kate Moeller said about employees at the family-owned store. “Dogs often come into our showroom and say ‘hi' and pick up a tennis ball. That's just a normal part of life for us.”
Rescue dogs from Dog Patch Pet & Feed in Naperville and Just Giants rescue in Oswego will be available for adoption. The event also will include face-painting for kids; temporary fur tattoos for pups; information about dog training, nutrition and health care; a used shoe drive; a food cart called Natz Dogs selling what else but hot dogs; and carpets for sale in the showroom.
The carpet that triggered the idea is a type of nylon fiber called STAINMASTER PetProtect, which is available beginning this year in at least 30 carpet products from brands including Dixie, Masland and Tuftex, Moeller said. A warranty on PetProtect carpets guarantees that if a professional carpet cleaner can't remove the appearance of a pet stain, STAINMASTER will pay to have the carpet replaced.
With the launch of new PetProtect carpets, the company asked if stores such as Russell Martin would host pet-themed events to celebrate. The answer at the Naperville shop was an enthusiastic yes.
“We all have rescue dogs here, so it's very much a natural tie-in,” Moeller said.
The free event will go on rain or shine and families are welcome to bring their own dogs, especially since Moeller will be bringing hers, a bluetick coonhound named Maddie and Maddie's mom, Contessa.
For those who like big dogs, Just Giants will bring several of its foster dogs, said Michaelene Majestic of Oswego, the rescue organization's founder and CEO.
“Their sheer size is very, very impressive,” Majestic said.
Just Giants rescues and rehabilitates dogs whose breeds are deemed “giant,” such as Great Danes, mastiffs, St. Bernards, Bernese mountain dogs and Irish wolf hounds. Sometimes, owners have to give up these animals because they simply grow too big.
“A lot of time the giant breeds, they start out as very small, cute puppies at 10 pounds, and by six months, they're 100 pounds,” Majestic said. “It's very difficult to control a dog at that age, let alone that size, if training is not done immediately.”
At Saturday's event, a dog trainer and two North Naperville-based dog walkers will be on hand to answer questions.
Moeller said Saturday's event is focused less on carpeting and more on offering an alternative to buying dogs from pet stores that may come from so-called “puppy mills.”
“We definitely are firm believers in the rescues,” Moeller said.
If You Go
What: Pet adoption event
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Russell Martin Carpets parking lot at 633 N. Washington St.
Cost: Free
Info: rmcarpets.com or (630) 961-1312