"Old dogs, eccentric owners and 'fur baby' movement combine for pet stroller's moment in the sun.
Nancy Jelenic doesn't go anywhere without Mr. Pickles and Georgy Girl.
As the name of her Yaletown store — Barking Babies — suggests, Jelinec thinks of the Chihuahua and Yorkie as her "dog children." She takes them everywhere: work, hairdresser, grocery store.
More often than not, she puts them in a carrier she holds on her chest. It makes them more mobile and helps hide them in places where they're ... ummm ... less than welcome.
The carrier is one thing, Jelenic says. But a pet stroller?
"Not yet," Jelenic says frankly. "I own the store. I'm just not there yet."
Old dogs and eccentric clients
Let's be honest. This story is based on a completely unscientific observation.
Nevertheless, the facts are irrefutable to anyone with a brain and the slightest access to Instagram: we've hit peak pet stroller. And cats are getting in on the action.
Jelenic first noticed them when she lived in Japan. More recently, she's seen an increase in companies carrying pet strollers at trade shows. As for customers, they come in two different types."
