Sarah, Jeff, Earl and Trooper in front of their pet store, Sea Paws.
Unexpected Treasures at the Beach
There’s nothing I enjoy more than sitting on the shore at the beach listening to the ocean waves with the sand between my toes.
This past May I spent a week with friends and family in Atlantic Beach, NC, at the resort, A Place at the Beach III. We enjoyed an oceanfront condo with onsite activities such as ping pong, putt putt and a water slide.
One morning Charlotte Huntington, Betsy Safrit and I walked about a mile down the beach to the pier. Once there we noticed two surfer dudes surfing. We had a good time watching them, showing our approval with thumbs up.
After about an hour we began walking back down the beach to our condo. On the way we saw two beautiful dogs walking with their owner. They were so cute, I asked if I could pet them. After saying it was okay, Jeff Vaughn, their owner, then explained that Earl and Trooper were rescue dogs. He also shared that he and his wife, Sarah, own a pet store in Morehead City. Morehead City is just across the bridge from Atlantic Beach.
Jeff went on to explain that he and Sarah recently moved from Greensboro, leaving the world of finance behind. They chose Morehead City because Jeff had fond memories visiting his grandmother as a child in the waterfront community. To him it felt like coming home.
Once the decision was made to move Jeff and Sarah began to think about what they wanted to do. Since Earl has stomach issues they decided to open a pet store that carries healthy choices of dog and cat food.
During our conversation, Jeff invited me to visit Sea Paws and I’m glad I did. In the store I saw not only dog and cat food, but also items made by local patrons with a dog and cat theme. In addition, there were items that are a good fit for animal lovers at the beach and their pets. For example, items such as life jackets for dogs and toys that won’t get waterlogged or sink are part of the inventory. My children’s books have dogs as the main characters, so I’m happy to say Sea Paws now carries them as well. My latest book, Tired of Being Obedient, has tips for training dogs in the back.
This just goes to show you never know what unexpected treasures you may find at the beach. If you’re ever in Morehead City, stop by the pet store, Sea Paws. I’m sure Earl and Trooper and of course, Jeff and Sarah will be glad to see you. Check out their website at, www.seapaws.org. In addition, Sea Paws Facebook page has daily updates of pets that need adopting in the surrounding area.
Do you have a favorite pet store? What makes it special? Leave a comment below, message on Facebook or email dicysm@yahoo.com.
Thanks,
Dicy
www.dicymcculloughbooks.com.
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