Summerlin store takes all-natural route for pet food

photos by Marlene karas/ViewLeft, Catherine Dalinis, owner of Scraps for Pets, 1930 Village Center Circle, Suite 4, talks about plans for the store, which has scheduled its grand opening for Saturday. Right, employee Lindsay Lott talks to Dalinis? golden retriever Yogi, Aug. 14. photos by Marlene karas/ViewLeft, Catherine Dalinis, owner of Scraps for Pets, 1930 Village Center Circle, Suite 4, talks about plans for the store, which has scheduled its grand opening for Saturday. Right, employee Lindsay Lott talks to Dalinis? golden retriever Yogi, Aug. 14. Advertisement

First-time visitors often enter Scraps for Pets and ask, "What's the best food you carry?"

The common question gets an oft-used reply at the natural dog and cat food store-- it depends on the animal.

So, expect to be asked questions, all designed to learn more about your pet, its habits, activity level and its needs.

"A lot of conversation goes on the first time you come in,' " said Catherine Dalinis, licensee operator. "In talking with people, they'll say things offhand, like, 'Oh, my dog threw up after I gave him that' -- things they didn't even know were important."

The store is at 1930 Village Center Circle, Suite 4. It had a soft opening on May 31 and plans its grand opening on Saturday. The opening will include a raffle, drawings throughout the day and giveaways.

The store prides itself on stocking only all natural, human-grade food, Dalinis said.

Metal racks hold the various dog food brands. They include California Natural, Active Care, Halo and Great Life. Cat food brands include Spot's Stew, Instinct and Felidae. The foods are baked at low temperatures in order to retain nutritional values. There's even a back freezer with raw food.

Labels on the bags often have exotic ingredients -- buffalo meat, acai berries, parsley and sea bucklethorn. Just as important as what they do contain, is what they don't contain, Dalinis said.

"No fillers, no soy, no corn, no wheat," she said.

To further the intent of the store, a holistic pet nutritionist, Leith Henry, is on the staff.

"If you come in and tell me that your pet has renal failure, that will eliminate some of the foods that we carry," she said. "You'll want things lower in phosphorous, lower in protein. It's also important to know the source of the protein. You want a whole meat source."

Perhaps no pet food shop is complete without four legged representation. Scrap's mascots are two rescued dogs -- Kona, a black Labrador retriever mix, and Yogi, a golden retriever.

Scraps uses a dog bakery out of New Mexico, Kool Dog Kafe, to supply special treats, cakes and cupcakes for canines marking special occasions. Treats include doggie yogurt, bones and beef jerky. For cats, there's Three Baked Mice to take them to catnip heaven.

Frisbees, chew toys, kitty toys, bedding, jeweled collars and water-proof ones are available at the store. Backpacks allow Fido to hike alongside his owner.

Dalinis, who ran her own graphic design business for many years, decided to open the store after her cat got sick. The veterinarian told her one thing, and the founder of the Scraps brand told her another.

"I took a leap of faith," Dalinis said.

Following the Scraps founder's advice, like adding pumpkin to her cat's diet, her pet recovered, Dalinis said. After that, Dalinis decided to educate herself more on natural pet food, a quest that led to opening the Scraps in Summerlin.

Scraps is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call.243-0004. The store also has a Web site under construction at www.scraps4pets.com.