The votes are in! We asked you to choose your very favorites in the pet world, from the groomer who makes your canine look like a million dollar dog to the cat toy that drives your feline wild. We’re proud to present your favorites and shine the spotlight on some of Indiana’s very best.

Best Place for Agility/Instruction

Winner

Humane Society of Indianapolis
7929 N Michigan Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 872-5650 • IndyHumane.org

Runner-up

First Friends K-9 Training
12401 Reynolds Dr, Fishers
(317) 842-4199 • FirstFriendK9.com

Other Favorites

Canines In Action
For the Dogs
Indy K-9 Kollege & Grooming
Pawsitive Partners Dog Training Center

Best Vet Practice

Winner

Broad Ripple Animal Clinic
6225 Broadway St, Indianapolis
(317) 257-5334 • BRACPet.com

Runner-up

Downtown Veterinarian
542 E 11th St, Indianapolis
(317) 972-1111

Other Favorites

Michigan Road Animal Hospital
Paw Patch Veterinary Hospitals
Swengel Animal Hospital
Woodland Animal Hospital

 

Best Vet

Winner

Dr. William Neumann
Broad Ripple Animal Clinic
6225 Broadway St, Indianapolis
(317) 257-5334 • BRACPet.com

Runner-up

Dr. Kurt Phillips
Woodland Animal Hospital
269 W Carmel Dr, Carmel
(317) 844-2696 • WoodlandAnimalHosp.com

Other Favorites

Dr. Kristen Allen/ Eagle Creek Animal Clinic
Dr. Rick Arnold/ Pet Pals Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Kerry Sweeley/ Carmel Clay Animal Hospital
Dr. John Swengel/Swenger Animal hospital

 

Best Holistic Vet/Practice

Winner

Dr. Cindy Baker
Bargersville Veterinary Hospital
4247 N State Rd 135, Franklin
(317) 422-9536 • BargersvilleVet.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner?
I am honored and surprised!

How long have you been in your profession?
Seventeen and a half years. I graduated from Purdue University in 1990. I started Bargersville Veterinary Hospital in February 2003 and have been working with acupuncture for 6 years.

What drew you to this career?
I don’t remember ever not wanting to be a veterinarian. I started thinking about it in grade school and began working for vets in middle school.

What do you like best about your job?
The animals, the diversity, the people, including my team, and the medicine. But best of all, it’s seeing a positive outcome. I enjoy rescue organizations like Sheltie Rescue of Central Indiana and Putnam City Humane Society, that help abandoned pets.

Any crazy stories to share?
Once, a dog ate pea gravel on Thanksgiving! We thought someone must have poured turkey broth on the gravel and he thought it was a treat. Anyway, the next day, he came in very sick. After surgery, though, he did very well!

Do you have any pets at home?
Yes! I have 10 dogs, nine cats, three horses, two mini donkeys, two sheep, and two goats.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
I find more people wanting alternative and integrative approaches to their pets’ health such as acupuncture, nutritional therapy, herbs, and rehabilitation therapy. Also, people are more willing to go the extra mile to keep their pets healthy, and then treat and recognize pain and illness and address those issues. —Kristina Buen

Runner-up

Dr. David Brunner
Broad Ripple Animal Clinic
6225 Broadway St, Indianapolis
(317) 257-5334 • BRACPet.com

Other Favorites

Dr. Rachel Anderson/Animal Medical Center
Dr. Tim Fleck/Nobelsville Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Elizabeth E. Pantzer/Holistic Veterinary Services of Indiana
Dr. Julie Towle/Pet Pals Veterinary Hospital

 

Best Cat Food

Winner

Hill’s Science Diet
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Runner-up

Iams
(800) 675-3849 • Iams.com

Other Favorites

Eagle Pack
Friskies
Nutro
Solid Gold

Best Cat Treats

Winner

Greenies
(866) GREENIES • Greenies.com

Runner-up

Pounce
PounceCat.com

Other Favorites

Purina Whisker Lickin’s
Tartar Shield
Whiskas Temptations
Zuke’s

Best Cat Toy

Winner

Mouse toy

Runner-up

Catnip

Other Favorites

Ball
Cat Dancer
Laser pointer
Plastic milk jug rings

Best Pet Supply Store

Winner

Petsmart
Various locations
Petsmart.com

Runner-up (Pet Supply Store)

Pet Supplies Plus
Various locations
PetSuppliesPlus.com

Other Favorites (Pet Supply Store)

Feed Mart
For the Love of Dogs
Petco
Speck’s Pet Supply

Best Dog Bakery

Winner

Stacey and Scott Petcu
Three Dog Bakery
844 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 466-1646
444 Massachusetts Ave
(317) 238-0000 • ThreeDog.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner?
We are thrilled and very excited. We take great pride in what we do and our mission is, “To fresh-bake the greatest, tastiest, most-wholesome dog treats in the world and get them to as many dogs as possible.” We also are very happy that the readers are the ones that cast the votes that made us the winner. Customer service is our top priority!

How long have you been in this field?
We are going on our eighth year in business at our Broad Ripple baker. Our bakery on Mass Ave has been serving the dogs of downtown for four years now.

What drew you to it?
We both have a love and passion for dogs and knew we wanted to be in a business where we could cater to their needs and aid in their health. We also wanted to provide our customers with a fun environment in which they could bring their dogs and have a wonderful experience.

What is your favorite part of the job?
Meeting all of the great dogs and getting to know them and their [people] on a very personal level. It’s hard to have a bad day when you see dogs and dog lovers all day long!

Any crazy stories to share?
We had two customers have a pretty heated argument over the last available Colts jersey in their dogs’ size around Super Bowl time last year. It was the last one in the store and they both grabbed it at the same time. Not pretty!

Do you have any pets at home?
We have three dogs including Jasmine, a 16-year-old Lab/Boxer mix, Copper an 8-year-old Vizsla, and River, a 5-year-old Lab. We also have a cat. Kody is our 15-year-old domestic Shorthair.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
People have become more aware of the quality of treats and food they are feeding their dogs—especially with the recent recalls. We are happy to provide the dogs of Indianapolis with an all-natural, no-salt, no-sugar, no by-products, no artificial preservatives alternative to commercial treats. Our food is slowly baked and includes all American-made, human quality ingredients including chicken, cranberries, blueberries, garlic, eggs, sage, and flaxseed. —KB

Runner-up

For the Love of Dogs
5537 E Washington, Indianapolis
(317) 375-8592 • LoveOfDogsADogBakery.com

Other Favorites

Auntie Leila’s Pet Salon and Barkery
Bone Appetit Bakery
Healthy Hounds
Purrs & Gurrs

Best Pet Photographer

Winner

Ed Rudisell
Gypsy Bear Pet Photography
8645 Chateaugay Dr, Indianapolis
(317) 885-5833 • GypsyBear.com

Runner-up

Wipe Your Pawz!
5510 Lafayette Rd Ste 210, Indianapolis
(317) 217-1772 • WipeYourPawz.com

Other Favorites

Laura Breece/Laura Breece Photography
For the Dogs
Janet Payne/Janet Payne Photography
Carl Saathoff/Portrayal Studios

Best Overnight Boarding

Winner

Tender Loving Pets Doggy Daycare
717 N Capitol Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 631-DOGS • TLPetsDoggyDaycare.com

Runner-up

Barkalounge Doggy Daycare
5555 Elmwood Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 788-8551 • BarkaloungeDaycare.com

Other Favorites

Club Canine Doggie Daycare
Good Dog Hotel and Spa
PetAgree (Danville)
Tail Waggers

Best Doggie Daycare

Winner

Tender Loving Pets Doggy Daycare
717 N Capitol Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 631-DOGS • TLPetsDoggyDaycare.com

Runner-up

Barkalounge Doggy Daycare
5555 Elmwood Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 788-8551 • BarkaloungeDaycare.com

Other Favorites

Club Canine
PetAgree (Danville)
Tail Waggers

Best Pet-Friendly Outdoor Café

Winner

Café Patachou (multiple locations)
(317) 202-0765 • CafePatachou.com

Runner-up

Plump’s Last Shot
6416 Cornell Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 257-5867

Other Favorites

Chequered Flag Café
Lazy Daze Coffee House
Ritter’s

Best Groomer

Winner

Nancy Martin, owner
PetAgree
(317)745-1334 • PetAgreeResorts.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner?
What a thrill to be selected for this award! We are all very excited and grateful to your readers for their confidence in us, and their appreciation for the love and care we give to our work. Thank you all for this honor!

What drew you to grooming?
We all feel blessed to make our living working with pets; the rewards are beyond measure. Some of us come to the profession through our parents who were also stylists, others through the veterinary or pet shop backgrounds. Others knew interacting with pets was their calling and began with PetAgree as kennel and daycare attendants, eventually training as bathers, preppers, and grooming stylists. The common thread is our love of pets.

What is your favorite part of the job?
There are numerous outstanding aspects of grooming. First and foremost, of course, is the opportunity to interact with pets. There are no dull days! Each pet has her own personality and is unique to work with. There is great satisfaction in designing and sculpting a look for each pet and making their day at the spa a pleasurable experience.

Do you have any pets at home?
Each one of us includes our pets as family members. We have dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, birds, fish, and a pet mouse. Home isn’t home without our “kids”.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
The industry has made tremendous strides in the 40 years I have been involved. My mother began grooming in our garage on a table made by dad, using a pair of clippers, brush, comb, scissors, Prell shampoo, and her imagination. We now have on-going advanced training conferences, and a plethora of products and equipment available to give a more professional and complete salon experience. Additionally, attitudes about the importance of pets have evolved. Forty years ago most dogs and cats were viewed simply as animals, now we consider them beloved members of our families.

Runner-up

Auntie Leila’s Pet Salon and Barkery
50 N Madison Ave, Greenwood
(317) 888-6266 • AuntieLeilas.com

Other Favorites

Dogs In Suds Mobile Grooming Salon
Kristie Humphrey
Paws and Claws
Platinum Paws

Best Pet -Friendly Bar

Winner

Plump’s Last Shot
6416 Cornell Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 257-5867

Runner-up

Old Point Tavern
401 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 634-8943

Other Favorites

Bourbon Street Distillery
TD Alibi’s
Upland Brewing Company
Water’s Edge Pub & Eatery

Best Dog Walking/Pet Sitting

Winner

Fussy Felines and Pampered Pooches Too!
60 West Habig Rd, Indianapolis
(317) 780-2287 • FussyFelines.com

Runner-up

Downtown Doggie
(317) 828-7672 • DownTownDoggie.net

Other Favorites

EK Errands Express
Furever Home Pet Care
The Pet Company, Inc.
Purrs and Gurrs

Best Dog Food

Winner

Iams
(800) 675-3849 • Iams.com

Runner-up

Eagle Pack
(574) 259-7834 • EaglePack.com

Other Favorites

Hill’s Science Diet
Nutro
Purina
Solid Gold

Best Dog Treats

Winner

Milk-Bone
MilkBone.com

Runner-up

Three Dog Bakery
844 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 466-1646
444 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 238-0000 • ThreeDog.com

Other Favorites

Bil-Jac
Greenies
Iams
Tartar Shield

 

Best Dog Toy

Winner

Kong
(303) 216-2626 • KongCompany.com

Runner-up

Tennis ball

Other Favorites

Chuckit!
Nylabone
Squeaky Toy
Tricky Treat Ball

Best Dog Park

Winner

Eagle Creek Bark Park
5900 N High School Rd, Indianapolis
(317) 327-7110 • EagleCreekBarkPark.org

Runner-up

Broad Ripple Bark Park
1610 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 327-7161

Other Favorites

Four Paws Bark Park
Humane Society of Indianapolis
Paul Ruster Bark Park
Pierson Bark Park

Best Dog Leash/Collar

Winner

Gentle Leader Headcollar
(888) 640-8840 • GentleLeader.com

Runner-up

Lupine Collars & Leads
(800) 228-9653 • LupinePet.com

Other Favorites

Bamboo
Earthdog
Leather
Martingale collar

Best Trainer/Training Class

Winner

Brad Phifer
Humane Society of Indianapolis
7929 N Michigan Ave
(317) 872-5650 • IndyHumane.org

Runner-up

Jackie Pondy
Barkalounge Doggy Daycare
5555 Elmwood Ave, Indianapolis
(317) 788-8551• BarkaloungeDaycare.com

Other Favorites

Josh Dinkel/Humane Society of Indianapolis
First Friends K-9 Training
Warren G. Patitz/Doggone Connection
Kera Slowitsky/Club Canine Doggie Daycare