You live a stylish and progressive lifestyle, and your pet companion should too! That's the thinking behind Pussy & Pooch, THE Ultimate Pet Destination where convenience meets community in a design-forward social experience for pets and their people.
Located in downtown Los Angeles, Belmont Shore, and downtown Long Beach, Pussy & Pooch is an innovative and unique pet lifestyle boutique geared toward modern pets and their owners. A neighborhood oasis offering a colorful and interactive social setting, Pussy & Pooch features distinctive, yet moderately priced high quality products, services, and everyday essentials with a focus on healthy nutrition and green living for pets.
Our unique retail concept brings a playful and edgy twist to the traditional pet store experience by fusing traditional boutique amenities with exclusive modern luxuries like the one-of-a-kind Pawbar®, where hip pets can "walk-up" to the in-store pet cafe for nutritious raw-food meals, as well as enjoy a day at the spa in the Bathhouse, cruise the aisles of the Meat Market featuring premium organic, raw, dehydrated and traditional pet food, and much more. The Pethouse pet Boutique offers a mix of products geared toward the modern dog and cat including eco-friendly toys, natural treats focused on health and wellness, organic grooming and spa products, stylish beds and carriers, chic fashion and accessories, as well as pet necessities and pet supplies including all-natural litter, biodegradable "pooch" bags, clean-up spray, and natural vitamins and supplements from top brands for all of your day-to-day needs.
Savvy pet parents know that the well-being of their four-legged companions encompasses much more than just conventional care. The team at Pussy & Pooch is dedicated to providing a thoughtful and interactive experience for you to learn about, and benefit from, distinct products and services fashioned for today's chic pet.
The founders….
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Janene Zakrajsek, Petreprenuer
Zakrajsek is a Petrepreneur and owner of Pussy & Pooch. Prior to becoming a Petrepreneur, Zakrajsek was a marketing professional specializing in content management and communication strategies, as well as direct response and online initiatives. She started her career in graphic design for an accessory manufacturer and skewed into fashion, having joined FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in a marketing capacity. Her knowledge and experience in different aspects of design, retail, and visual merchandising (from graphic design and exhibit display to customer service and retail buying) brings a powerful blend of creativity and business savvy to her business endeavors. She is frequently quoted in the media and a guest speaker at industry events. Zakrajsek and her husband founded Pussy & Pooch in 2007 and reside in downtown Los Angeles with their dog Jaxxon, and rescue cats Minx, and Nadja.
Robert Gaudio, Owner and Food & Beverage Manager, PAWBAR
Gaudio's entrepreneurial nature, passion for pets...and love of snacks...makes him a standout candidate for the Pussy & Pooch Pawbar Food & Beverage Manager. He enjoys the social scene inside P&P and feeding the dozens of pets that visit daily. A marketing veteran with over 15 years of traditional and online media experience, Gaudio is frequently asked to speak at national conferences on the subject of Online Marketing. In addition to being an owner of P&P, he was a founder and partner at MEA Digital, a top 50 interactive marketing, strategy and services firm. Gaudio puts his marketing expertise to work growing P&P's online presence, including its social network "the Hydrant" and online store. A native of Toronto, Canada, he received his MBA from the University of Miami, enjoys the warm weather of Southern California, but remains true to his roots with a deep love of hockey - and his wife, Janene, of course...
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The inspiration…
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Cosmo, Chief Barking Officer (retired)
Cosmo (as in Kramer) could bark like a horse, but we never told him he was NOT that big - he had a Napoleon complex. When this Jack Russell was not barking orders at whoever would listen, he spent his days dreaming of Scoobie snacks and of being a DJ. He dutifully performed his responsibilities as the official Pussy & Pooch Mascot by greeting everyone, maintaining the in-store hydrant, and performing tricks for treats. He retired in 2009. |
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Bailey, Chief Napping Officer (retired)
Bailey always thought he was a Super Model, who preferred sleeping and preening to anything else that was b-or-ing. Purring until the very end of his struggle, he now spends his days poised into a perfect and permanent snuggle. Retired in late 2007 just as P&P launched our first location, Bailey continues to inspire our passion for natural animal nutrition, health and wellness.
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Frida, Art, Fashion, & Design Director (retired)
Frida (as in Kahlo) had a keen appreciation for the arts and was often seen socializing with artists and the urbane in the Bailey Gallery. A true fashionista with an obsession for shoes and designer handbags, she lived large on leather... whatever the price. This moderncat Mascot gave her howl of approval on all matters of in-store style from window displays to product merchandising...a rare breed indeed. Retired in 2011 after launching our Meow Mingle cat socials, the White Lion lives on in spirit. |
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Minx, Chief Scratching Officer
Minx is a regular shadow-chasing-Super Hero who never met a piece of cardboard that she didn't like. Her senior status is characterized by maturity and stability. Working from the home office she's a techie, she loves computers and speakerphones and keep things running smoothly. She spends her days off scratching in between napping and leaping off tall counters...
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Nadja, Chief Fitness & Wellness Officer
Nadja just may have been a Russian gymnast in a former life. She has the sleekness of panther and the agility of a tree monkey, earning her the nickname 'panther-monkey'. Only her hearty appetite for fresh meaty meals slows her obsession for daily workouts, hunting, and acrobatics. |
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Jaxxon, Chief Counselor
Treat Bar Specialist and Pethouse Ladies' Man Emotionally available and ready to welcome you with hugs and licks, Jaxxon's role P&P is to greet you with love, melt you with sad eyes, and guide your selection at our Treat Bar-- glass jars, brimming with savory treats-- he willingly volunteers to sample and taste to ensure your pup's satisfaction. A tad insecure by nature, he looks for any and all opportunities for a smooch, heavy petting, or whatever humans (and big, black hairy dogs) are willing to dole out. If you've got a bully breed, don't be offended.. You're just not Jaxxon's type. |
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Mia, Chief Tree Dweller
Chief Tree Dweller and Security Supervisor Mia works mostly from the P&P Home Office where she keeps a watchful crossed-eye from above on the entire Internal Staff from several high observation points. In the evening, she makes her rounds patrolling the external perimeter for intruders, aka crickets and such, that attempt to make their way inside from the garden terrace. She delights in stalking. Mia takes her responsibilities seriously so that we can all stay focused on important P&P matters, ironically she is most often the one caught stealing with her paw in the treat jar. |
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