Owner Jana Nicol opened the boutique in September 2003 after noticing a growing trend in these specialty stores. For Nicol, spoiling her pets is a pastime that began for her in childhood.

“Ever since I was 9 years old I have always had a coat for my dogs,” said Nicol, whose first dog as a child was a cocker spaniel named Tag-A-Long. “We’ve always been this way, we’ve always been crazy about our pets.”

Gone 2 the Dogs offers everything from the traditional leash and collar to strollers, Christmas ornaments and edible goodies like Cannoli or Poodle Pie.

“The dog treats are a lot of fun,” she said. “I try to go through a licensed baker who specializes in dog treats, or one that I work with.”

Today, Nicol, who lives in Lansing, is the proud mother of two dogs, a shih tzu-yorkie mix named Tori and a border collie mix named Xena, and a cat named Sebastian.

Nicol said she was able to rescue Tori from a shelter thanks to donations from her customers.

Incorporating her lifelong love of art, she also sells her own one-of-a-kind items like handmade dog clothing. Nicol makes everything from coats to dresses, even taking custom orders. She also does dog portraits for loving owners.

Her latest project is a twist on the dog bed for the travel-savvy pet. She has been collecting mid-20th century suitcases from friends to turn into pooch beds.

Nicol gets items from all over the world, while also supporting other small businesses.

“I try to buy local whenever I can,” she said.

It is these unique items that makes her business stand out, said Halen Foster, a friend of Nicol who volunteers at the store on Friday’s when Nicol isn’t in.

“She carries a lot of boutique things – everything that she has in there she has picked out,” she said. “She is an individual supporting other individual efforts.”

If there is an item a customer is looking for, they can always order it through Nicol, who even contacts her regulars when she finds items she feels their pets would enjoy.

“I think they appreciate the one-on-one, the customer service that you might not necessarily get at a chain,” she said.

And of course, the store is pet friendly.

“As long as they are potty-trained and on a leash,” Nicol said. “We have a ‘You pee on it, you pay for it’ policy.”

Wary owners can even let their dogs off their leash outback. Behind the shop is a fenced-in yard, where customers’ dogs can play with Tori and Xena. The yard also be used to host dog parties.

“I want her store to gain business because she is not a chain. She is an individual owner and Old Town is full of individual owners and I just want to support that effort and I will do what I can do to help her out,” Foster said.