The secret lives of Mid-Valley shop pets: Meet the cats and dogs of local businesses

Perusing the aisles of a local shop, you hear the soft jingling of a bell. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot a fluffy tail. Almost out of nowhere, a furry pal is at your feet.

Around the Mid-Valley, small business owners are more than happy to show off their shop pets.

Here are the stories behind cats and dogs that have become fixtures at three local shops.

Sparky and Smoky

If you stop at Apples to Oranges in Silverton, you may find a cat or two slinking around the shop.

Sparky is a tuxedo who mostly likes to lay down and quietly pads around the shop. Smoky is an active gray and white cat who craves constant attention.

The craft store is owned by Laurie Carter, who opened it at a different location in 2013. She and her husband, who died last year, moved into the apartment above the current location in 2018.

Sparky is 11 and is usually active in the early afternoons by the entrance or snoozing in the shop. He enjoys being pet and almost never mews.

Smoky was adopted two years ago and is still under an "apprenticeship" with Sparky, Carter said. Comparatively, Smoky is extremely sociable and demands constant attention. He loves being a pet and is curious about everything.

The cats wander or settle in among the displays of yarn, needle felting, wooden model sets and puzzles throughout the shop.

During quiet afternoons, Carter sometimes has to take Smoky upstairs to the apartment because he's too distracting. He will often slink over her keyboard, look up at Carter and paw and mew loudly.

Regulars will come into the shop to see the cats, who are amenable to being held and given kisses. If not snuggled in the arms of a patron, you can find Sparky in a bowl of yarn or Smoky staring at something.

Carter runs an Instagram page for Sparky, which you can follow at @sparkytheshopcat. For more on the shop, check out Apples to Oranges' website, applestooranges.net.

Address: 204 E Main St., Silverton

Eddard

Walking into Tony's Kingdom of Comics and Collectibles in Keizer, look to your left and you'll find a fluffy gray and white dog in the corner. This is Eddard, who has been the store "guardian" for the last 11 years.

Eddard, 11, is an Australian shepherd, who nowadays is a bit too spoiled by treats, dog and shop owner Tony Grove said. Prior to Eddard, Grove would bring Mushu, also an Australian shepherd, to the store. Compared to Mushu, Eddard is more energetic and yappy, he said.

Grove got Eddard as a puppy from a farm south of Salem. Since just a few weeks old and able to be held with one hand, Grove has taken Eddard to work every day.

Eddard has become more treat motivated over the years as regulars and patrons are able to give treats provided by the store.

Eddard usually bumbles around the shop with an eye on the door or on Grove, and is often in the corner snoozing.

Sometimes if he doesn't get enough attention, Eddard will let out a sharp bark, but it isn't threatening, Grove said. The bark is just "a warning" and a prompt for Grove or whoever is around to give him more attention. If he does bark more, he's usually asking for treats. Grove keeps treats in his pockets at all times for Eddard.

Grove said before you give him a treat, you should make Eddard demonstrate a good behavior. You can ask Eddard to sit, bring either of his paws to shake or lay down. His piercing blue eyes will constantly be on the treat if you show it to him.

Eddard enjoys belly rubs and playing with toys also found in his corner. If you'd like to play with Eddard, you can join the regulars who come in to pet him. Grove said many of them say it's the highlight of their day or week.

For more info on the store and Eddard, visit the store's Facebook page.

Address: 3856 River Road N, Keizer

Rose

Salem's most well-known shop pet is Rose, who lives at the Book Bin.

Rose is an orange tabby, and is the downtown store's mascot, who often is difficult to find. She's been a part of the store since she was a kitten, brought on to follow the original Corvallis store's example of having a resident cat.

Books and cats go together and create a cozy atmosphere, manager Ryan Kent said.

Rose can be "elusive" and often not visible. Not even the staff typically know where she is.

Rose has rarely left the store. She once went outside and was bewildered by the sights and sounds.

She has a "feisty" personality but is typically a sweet cat. She spends a lot of time roaming around, but typically is pretty hidden. Rose has favorite people and enjoys affection, but is not always welcome to being pet by folks she's not familiar with.

People have found it to be a challenge to find her when they come in, Kent said. Throughout the year she'll rotate spots around the store. For the winter she's typically on the stairs because it's warmer, he said.

Rose is familiar with her name and pays attention when staff call her, but she won't always come out. If staff pull out a treat, she's more willing. Kent said folks should not come in and give treats to her, as Rose has allergies.

If you'd like to visit Rose or learn more, check out the website, bookbin.com/salem-book-bin.

Address: 450 Court St. NE

Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemily.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Apples to Oranges, Book Bin: Secret lives of Salem-area shop pets