we’re just living in it!

from Manayunk Magazine | Summer 2023

Backstage at Venice PerformingIslandArts Center

By Alexandra Cohen, Photography by JPG Photo and Video

Manayunk is a haven for dog lovers. With its picturesque streets, cozy cafes, and scenic trails, this community offers a unique lifestyle that is perfectly suited for our furry friends. From the moment you step outside, the streets are alive with the sound of barks and wagging tails. You’ll see dogs of all shapes and sizes, happily exploring the town with their owners. It’s no wonder why Manayunk has become a go-to destination for pet parents.

Owner of The Animedic, Dr. Jennifer Jones, has seen every and all dogs of the Manayunk community. The veterinary practice has turned into a safe space for the animal community of Manayunk. Having a caring vet is normally a number one priority on an animal owner’s list. Having one so close by and that cares about your pet, is even more important. While a majority of veterinary clinics have turned corporate, The Animedic is a local, woman-owned and operated veterinary hospital that supports the local town.

Dr. Jennifer Jones goes into details about the office practices.

“We really focus on kindness towards the animals. We use a special method of handling called ‘Fear-free’ which utilizes lots of treats such as cheese. We use gentle restraint methods, quiet voices, and come down to the level of the pet. All this results in making them less stressed and more happy, for a much better visit! We encourage pet owners to stop in anytime for a ‘friendly desensitization visit’ with love and treats. This way, when their actual appointment arrives, the pet has positive feelings towards the office and staff.”

At The Animedic, the doctors truly go above and beyond for all animals in need. From scanning a lost dog for a microchip to spreading the word about missing pets, the team is always ready to help. And it’s not just about providing medical care - Dr. Jones and her staff are always available to offer advice and support to pet owners in the community.

For Dr. Jones, being a part of the Manayunk animal community is about more than just providing veterinary care. It’s about building a culture of care and compassion for all animals, and creating a safe and welcoming space for pet owners to connect and support each other.

One of the most popular pet duos in the neighborhood is Harold and Toblerone, better known as Harry and Toby. These pups are experts on the Manayunk Dog Culture and share their adventures on their popular Instagram account, @lifeofharryandtoby. One of the places these two highlight are the popular trails and parks that surround Main Street. Manayunk has multiple opportunities for the pups to adventure around. We are lucky to have the Manayunk Bridge Trail that looks over beautiful Main Street and crosses right over to Montgomery County. Immediately upon entry to the park, you know it’s a place for dogs! There is a bin filled with sticks for your pup to grab one for their walk, and to leave a new one to a new friend along with water bowls. The bridge entrance is large, offering space for bikes, pedestrians, and dogs of all kinds to enjoy.

An important part of the Manayunk Dog Culture is the respect each dog owner has for one another and their pup’s space while they are utilizing the trails and open spaces. Pet parent of the duo, Anna, emphasized the relationship of the overall dog community.

“Even though they’re both reactive, we haven’t had issues with any of the other dogs and most of the owners understand that things happen. They even offer to help us train and everything. The fact that there are so many dogs here means that they can have friends that they see repeatedly, which builds the relationship and it’s good for them because they have their own little doggy friends too.”

What other business district can your dog have their own friends? None other than Main Street Manayunk! One of the popular places that you may see some of the dogs on Main Street directing their parents to is the sweet smell of the Pet Friendly Dog Bakery and a “pawty” going on that no one can resist.

Pet Friendly Dog Bakery, located right at 4324 Main Street, is a dog bakery offering pet friendly baked goods, locally sourced treats, and a variety of toys and apparel for your dog. Another unique attribute to the bakery is the space for dogs to be able to roam around. With a huge indoor play room, and a backyard that backs right up to the Towpath - this allows a safe space for dogs to play safely with one another.

Owner Stephanie Pobihuska Johnson - throws a variety of different parties throughout the year in this fun play area. Whether it’s a holiday themed party for the pups to dress up or a safe space for the same breed to roam around, there is something for all dogs. Steph has also seen incredible friendships in the Manayunk Dog Culture form and met at her

“There are a couple of people who met here who are going to be in each other’s weddings,” Steph recalls. “It’s become a whole family event. I’ve met puppies and now they’re full grown dogs, some have adopted a second dog or even had kids! I am just so happy and

Manayunk is lucky to have this bakery. Not only for the service and space, Steph ensures almost all products are sourced locally and are healthy for the animals. Between herself and the baker, Hakeem Moore - who also owns a bakery for both pets and parents, I Want Moore Bakery - collaborated ideas to create the beautiful and tasteful treats. And Steph ensures that each of the treats are safe for the dogs, as she usually takes a bite for herself. Supporting a local small business that supports other local small businesses is such a great

Another expert in this matter is Loki the Husky! You can’t miss this huge scruff ball trotting down Main Street collecting treats from each business and accepting lots of pets and compliments. Loki has learned that not just the pet stores carry treats, but a few of the other special businesses enjoy participating in the all year round trick-or-treating.

One of his favorites being Chloe’s Corner! Whether there is a line or not, Loki knows which window to order his very special pup cup from and walks right up passing the long line! From there he takes his trots from store to store picking his favorite treats. He knows that The Emporium by Lady Holiday does not only carry jewelry, but some really tasty jerky treats. From there for a lighter treat, he will stop at Latitudes and Longitudes to grab

Another store that treats Loki like a king is City of Paws. While frightened at first by the dryers in the back area, the store employees made him feel welcomed, and he also soon with endless jerky, cookies, and treats was all he needed to know that it was going to be a daily stop.

City of Paws, located 4167 Main Street, is a full service pet store. This business is passionate about providing high quality nutrition and supporting the local community by answering any questions regarding pet care.

City of Paws has another unique feature that is sure to delight pet parents - self-wash tubs that make bath time a breeze. Located in the back of the store, these large tubs are perfect for dogs of any breed, and can be booked online for convenience.

Once you arrive, City of Paws provides everything you need, from shampoo and condi tioner to brushes and towels. And when bath time is over, there’s even a comfortable space for customers to dry their furry friends.

Gone are the days of struggling to squeeze your stinky pup into your tiny bathroom. With City of Paws’ self-wash tubs, both pets and their parents can enjoy a stress-free bath time experience.This is a practice to allow comfort for both the dogs and humans. The business believes in ensuring every animal has a loving and safe home and all their practices and products align with that belief.

“We are a force-free company,” General Manager Michael Dugan said. “We do not sup port or practice any training that uses negative reinforcement. We believe you know pets should be getting the best of life, and negative reinforcement does not contribute to that.”

Along with supplying pet parents with knowledge and products to provide a safe home, they offer a variety of adoption events for both cats and dogs, because even cats are loved and valued on Main Street. They work with the amazing shelters including Home at Last, Philly PAWS, and an organization that focuses on smaller dogs, Tiny Paws Rescue.

One lucky pup that was adopted after their mom Jessica moved to Manayunk is Willow the cattle dog mix.

“I rescued her actually a few months into moving to Manayunk,” Jessica said. “I always had dogs, but when I was living in Manayunk, I was like, everyone has a dog! It was my first time out of college and living in my own space where I didn’t have one as well. And it’s just such a great community to have an animal. So that inspired me to go out, just kind of go for it. So I rescued her from Justice Rescue.”

Not only is Willow a rescue, but her mother continues to advocate for the dogs in Philly that do not have a home. She noticed while walking Willow around the neighborhood and bringing her to the local events, people were falling in love. During the pets and introduc tions, people would actually ask if she was up for adoption.

Jessica knew this would be an amazing way to rehome other dogs in need. So she took on some foster dogs. Shadowing the same experience with Willow, she has been able to introduce fosters to their forever home. At points some fosters do not get adopted for months. Taking one to the 2022 StrEAT Food Festival introduced her foster who had no applications, to having three different applications submitted. While Main Street is not an official adoption center, it is very clear you may stumble upon your next furry best friend.

Manayunk’s trails and stores are an important part of the dog culture here in Manayunk for the dogs and parents to socialize. While there are many dog-friendly restaurants, none are made specifically for dogs.

That’s why the brand new Bark Social has opened up at 3720 Main Street. Bark Social is the first social park for dogs and their humans. There are memberships available to purchase, or the dogless humans can go on their own to enjoy beverages while dotting on

Dog parents do not need to worry about their pup because all of the parks are monitored and clean. All dogs must submit an up-to-date vaccination record, and throughout the park there are ‘Bark Rangers’ monitoring for the more aggressive dogs.

“So the idea is to bring community amongst people that love their dogs and love to get out and have a good time,” Chris Rubacha, Director of Marketing, emphasizes. “That’s our mission: to bring the block party everywhere we go.”

If you’re looking for the perfect place to raise your four-legged furry child, Manayunk is the ideal neighborhood. With its beautiful natural setting, pet-loving residents, and pet-friendly businesses, there’s no better place to call home.

At the heart of Manayunk is Main Street, a vibrant and bustling hub of activity that’s home to some of the best pet-friendly businesses in the area. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a bite to eat with your furry friend, stock up on the latest pet supplies, or enjoy a leisurely walk through the neighborhood, Main Street has something for everyone.

And when you’re ready to explore the great outdoors, Manayunk has plenty of trails and parks where you and your furry friend can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery. From the picturesque Towpath along the canal to the lush greenery of Pretzel Park, there’s no shortage of places to explore and play.

So if you’re looking for a pet-friendly community that’s full of life and excitement, look no