A tribute to Pete

Back in Perth, whenever I walked Maki (our dog) past Pete’s store, she would rush right in looking for Pete with anticipation and excitement. Then Maki would sit patiently, on her best behavior waiting for Pete to reach into his tin full of dog treats and get her reward.

Pete knows the names of all the dogs in the neighborhood and where most of the dogs live because he delivers dog food to some of the dog owners who are too old or do not have their own transport to carry the 10kg bag home. Sometimes Pete may forget the name of the owner, but all was forgiven for two reasons.

One, we dog owners couldn’t ask for a better compliment when our dog’s name is remembered. Two, Pete knows the real customer he is supposed to please. We love going to Pete’s because he knows everything there is to know about dogs. The free advice on dog care, training and the latest pet related happenings are priceless comparing to the tiny purchases for Maki along the way.

Every four weeks, Maki would have her grooming session, to which Pete would always add the final touch of a snazzy stylist; a different color of ribbon on each occasion. Pete’s business closed early this year, as the property owner decided to increase rental to a ridiculous amount. Here was a party thrown by dog owners surrounding Beaufort Street to farewell Pete. They say the mark of a great business is whether or not the community will miss you when your company disappears. It leaves a hole in the heart of Maki, Pepper, Louis, Muffin, Pippen, Lucky (the list goes on and on) and all their human companions, each time we go pass Pete’s, which has now been turned into a trendy real estate company.