I loved the idea of a store pets feature for the November/December issue from the moment we discussed it. I’ve always been an animal person – anything furry, feathery or scaly captures my heart! Numerous pets have touched my life, providing joy, comfort and unconditional love.
   And the animal community is awesome, with pets frequently creating friendships and opportunities between strangers. Indeed, while putting this story together, I had many meaningful conversations; received invitations to be hosted if/when I visit a particular city; and had multiple offers to send my cat, Katniss, a gift.
   That’s one of the many benefits of a store pet – it creates an instant connection with customers, many of whom have their own adorable fur babies and feel an immediate bond with you. Numerous owners told me their store pet has absolutely helped close sales.
   So enjoy our celebration of your pawsome mascots! Of note: we received a ton of submissions and tried our best to include them all. For space, we were unable to run multiple pics of a single pet, but I’ll be posting extras on social media. And if you weren’t included – not intentionally, of course – please resubmit! I’d love to do a round two in an upcoming issue