A “dog bar” that offers free treats and bandanas for La Jolla’s furry residents has grown exponentially since its establishment in August.
“People tell people and then they come by [and say] ‘Oh, my friend … told me about it,’” said Bird Rock resident Vikki Oliver, who started it in front of her house. “For a lot of them, this is a destination for their dogs when they’re out walking.”
What started as a kind gesture and a means of using leftover fabric she used to make COVID-19 masks during the pandemic has turned into a canine community center. Along the way, Oliver is improving the quality of the bandanas she makes and is forging quality connections with her neighbors, she said.
Since October, requests have grown from 50 bandanas to nearly 250, Oliver said, and recently totaled 10 in one day. She’s adopted a sturdier embroidery process — “although no one has come back and said ‘Hey, this fell apart’” — and a name for her service, Bird Rock Bones and Bandanas.
She takes orders on a sheet of paper at the dog bar where owners write their dog’s name, gender and size.
Each new bandana now features a label, and many of them are hand-tailored to her canine customers. Oliver organizes the collection by gender, season and personality.
“I … try to envision the dog,” Oliver said. “A lot of times I’ll see the dog and I’ll sort of coordinate the fabric with that dog.”
Recently, a neighbor visited with three dogs — Coco, Mousse and Betty. To accommodate each, Oliver made a coffee cup bandana for Coco, used brown fabric for Mousse and went with a Betty Boop theme for Betty.
Another dog, named Taco, was given a hot sauce and taco theme.
Two unused pieces of fabric are intended for “Peanuts” characters and Chip and Dale. Oliver said she’s waiting for a beagle to stop by for the “Peanuts” fabric, in honor of Snoopy.
One of her goals with the customized bandanas is to inject humor and beauty into her work, she said.
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As the dog bar’s popularity has grown, so has Oliver’s support from the community. Some residents have offered dog biscuits to help stock the bar, while others have offered discounted fabric.
More importantly, she said, it has enabled her to make more connections with people in her neighborhood. She was invited to have coffee with a couple of neighbors and routinely has extended conversations with folks who stop by.
She even has seen repeat dog customers, among them Captain Butters, Theo, Spock, Olive, Finnigan and Rufus.
She has a thick stack of papers full of requests. The latest page she left outside is nearly full.
“I don’t have a dog here, but I thought this was amazing,” one note read.
“You’re the best! We love stopping by on our weekend rush,” another said.
Oliver has no plans to dial back the dog bar, saying she wants it to last for years and continue to be free.
“Hobbies are good,” she said. “I’ve always liked crafts and art and that sort of thing. But I’ve never really had an opportunity to do it until now.”
One of Oliver’s goals is to place a stronger emphasis on We Saved a Puppy, a San Diego-based organization that provides care for stray animals, largely in Tijuana. Oliver took in her dog, Harley Quinn, six years ago after she was found wandering the streets of Ensenada in Baja California. Oliver’s friend Brian Bovenzi, founder and chief executive of the organization, rescued Harley.
Oliver places pamphlets for We Saved a Puppy alongside the treats and bandana sign-up sheet and is a bookkeeper for the group. She aims to place a QR code at the dog bar to encourage people to donate to the organization.
For updates on Bird Rock Bones and Bandanas, visit @birdrockbonesandbandanas on Instagram. ♦
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