Jun 28, 2009

Pa. florist crafts pet-safe bouquets, gift basketsBy Linda WilsonYDR.InYork.com

Pittsburgh, PA—Everyone who walks through the door to Kerry S. Kennedy’s shop is greeted by a dog named Lucy, because the florist is “pet friendly” in more ways than one.

The 30-pound black and tan dog never misses a day’s work at K. S. Kennedy Distinctive Floral, Gift and Gourmet in Pittsburgh.

Lucy’s breeding and background are a bit hazy because Kennedy rescued her from an abusive owner four years ago. The best guess is she’s part miniature pinscher and part beagle and about 7 years old.

Several months ago a customer asked if Kennedy could put together “pet friendly” floral arrangements because she had heard about a cat that died after eating flowers.

So he did some research and came up with a 10-page list of plants and flowers that are safe for cats and dogs.

“You can’t go wrong with roses. They are 100 percent safe for pets, and roses are my specialty,” Kennedy said. Lilies can be lethal for cats, and poinsettias and hydrangeas can be bad.

Some flowers, including pansies and iris, are what Kennedy calls “a bit suspect. You could probably eat them if you didn’t go overboard,” but such blooms are kept out of pet-friendly bouquets.

“I used to get five to 10 pet-friendly orders each month,” Kennedy said. “That has doubled through word of mouth.”

He also puts together, and delivers, gift baskets for pets. “Pet spa baskets” are filled with products from the Good Clean Dog company, including detanglers, shampoo and room aromatics. There are also baskets for people who are welcoming new puppies into their home.

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