Feeding pets of all varieties and breeds with the highest quality food and treats has been a priority of Sisters Feed and Supply since 1997
Owner Fred McCaulou has been the proprietor of this one-stop feed emporium and animal mercantile for 15 years, stocking his store full of good-eatin’s for everything from frogs and lizards, ferrets and felines to ponies and puppies.
Many of us feed our pets much better than ourselves and Sisters Feed’s shelves are loaded with the top premium and super premium brands for dogs and cats like Innova, Acana, Orijen and Instinct, made devoid of by-products, cheap fillers, artificial additives or questionable ingredients.
“One of the great things about being in business in a town the size of Sisters is you get to know your customers and get plugged into the community that way and become acquainted with all their pets,” said McCaulou. “Between Christine and me, we know the names of quite a few of our client’s pets.”
Employee Christine Cole has been with the store for 14 years and you’ll be hard-pressed to toss her a question to which she has no answer. As a hobby breeder of heritage poultry and Netherland dwarf rabbits, Cole stays up to the minute with the latest news on animal nutrition, care and health on countless species of pets and animals, both common and uncommon.
“When a customer comes in I usually tell them that the nutrition you give your pet is going to reflect the overall health of the pet and can seriously influence the longevity and quality of life it has,” she said, cuddling a tiny black rabbit.
“I try to keep up on the foods that contain the latest nutritional research and ones that follow more closely the natural diet a pet should have, rather than what is cheap and easy and traditional.”
To clothe your pet in style, McCaulou makes sure the walls are loaded with a complete selection of leashes, collars, collapsible water bowls, rugged toys, light beacons, brushes, pet beds, specialty harnesses and trail packs by local manufacturers like Ruffwear and Lupine out of New Hampshire.
Bushel basket bins offer a smorgasbord of natural pet cookies, bones and treats made with parsley, oatmeal, chicken and turkey. For bird lovers, Sisters Feed sells premium bird feeders, seeds and custom mixes for all varieties of feathered friends and American-made birdhouses by Woodlink for bluebirds, wrens and even a bat shelter to keep nocturnal visitors happy.
With the economy the way it is, people are also looking for alternative pets for busier families or people with limited space and disposable income. The small animal category is growing like bunnies on a beautiful day, especially with pets like rabbits, rats, chinchillas, hamsters, and lizards. Snakes, geckos and bearded dragons are hugely popular around the world and can be easily kept in apartments or bedrooms.
Recognizing not everyone can afford the highest quality brands of foods, the store stocks moderately priced foods like Diamond and Prairie that are still very high quality, yet remain a better alternative to a generic store-bought brand or ones found in warehouse depots like Costco and Winco.
“Since the time I first started there’s been a lot of scientific improvements and research into what’s known about animal nutrition and care.” said McCaulou. “Recently, there’s been a lot of focus on the quality of manufacturing and exactly how this food is made in the plants and that has changed the industry tremendously. For one thing, the customer is much more aware and informed and are looking for quality ingredients, things to address allergies in their pets, nutrition for an older dog with supplements like Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfates. They’re much more educated and know what they need to do to feed pets in a healthy way.”
Another goal of Sisters Feed is to provide everything from nutrition advice to training and making life with pets even more rewarding and easier. They also host low-cost vaccination days and spay and neuter clinics throughout the year for the convenience of their customers.
“Over the years we’ve seen some odd pet choices,” said Cole. “We get people with some strange animal companions, one who had a pet skunk named Carlos, another owned sugar gliders and even teacup pigs.”
“For me, it’s real satisfying when someone comes in and tells us their dog, cat or horse is doing well and is healthy based on something we sold them or suggested,” said McCaulou. “That’s the most gratifying.”
Sisters Feed and Supply is located at 102 East Main in downtown Sisters. 541-549-4151
