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 Silicon Valley’s very best.

Best Place for Agility/Instruction

Winner

A Dog’s Life/Cecilia Saleme
1249 Birchwood Dr, Sunnyvale
(408) 747-1111 • RunEmRagged.com


How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner for Best Agility Instructor?
I’m very excited and very flattered to have been chosen. I know that the votes came from readers and from students, so I’m definitely honored that they think so highly of me.

How long have you been in your profession?
I have been in dog training for over 18 years. It’s been my full-time profession for three years. I’ve been teaching agility for about two years and also teach a variety of dog sports and other training classes.

What drew you to it?
Like most dog trainers, I was initially drawn to it by my love of dogs, but have remained in it because I realized that I love working with people as much as dogs. Many dog trainers don’t realize that the people are just as important as the dogs in our work!

What is your favorite part of the job?
My very favorite thing is when I see a person truly connect with his or her dog. I see the light bulb go on—both with the dog and the person—and from there on the relationship changes. To see a dog and [their person] moving together in synchronicity is one of the most beautiful things in the world to me!

Any crazy stories to share?
When I was 12 years old—before I’d ever heard of agility—I taught my Terrier mix to walk along the top of a short fence. He transferred that to jumping up and walking along the tops of fences, like a cat. Little did I know the problems this would cause with the neighbors!

Do you have any pets at home?
I have three dogs (a Border Collie, a Border Collie mix, and a Pyrenean Shepherd), two cats (Siamese mixes) and two rabbits, as well as three small ponds with goldfish.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
When I began, dog training was considered a hobby by most people. It’s been great to see this change, and to see dog training gain the respect that it really deserves. Today, dog trainers are getting certifications and higher education. It’s been wonderful to see this industry evolve and mature over the years.

Runners-up (tie)

Downtown Dogs
734 S 1st St, San Jose
(408) 287-2267 • DowntownDogs.com

Jump’n Java Agility/Anne Kajava
2601 Spring St,
Redwood City
info@jumpnjavaagility.com • JumpNJavaAgility.com

Best Vet Practice

Winners (tie)

Adobe Animal Hospital
396 First St, Los Altos
(650) 948-9661 • Adobe-Animal.com

Animal Care Center
16025 Vineyard Blvd,
Morgan Hill
(408) 779-4010 • AnimalCareCenterMH.com

Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital
1125 Merrill St, Menlo Park
(650) 325-5671 • MidPen.com

Runners-up

Cameron Veterinary Hospital
1285 S Mary Ave,
Sunnyvale
(408) 733-7501 • CameronVet.com

South County
Animal Hospital
15790 Monterey Rd,
Ste 500, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-6867 • SouthCountyAnimalHospital.com

Best Vet

Winner

Dr. John Quick/Animal Care Center

16025 Vineyard Blvd, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-4010 • AnimalCareCenterMH.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner for Best Vet?

I am honored. This selection is as much an honor to all my employees as it is for me. Without the support of an excellent and outstanding staff, I would not be able to accomplish much at all.

What drew you to your profession?
I was previously in the commercial film business as an editor. In that profession I began to feel spiritually empty. After eight years out of school I sat down and gave serious thought to what I should do with myself. I had grown up farming in Indiana, had a great love for animals, a desire to live anywhere I chose, and had a “feeling” for the desire to heal. All those feelings and events led me to choose this profession. It has been a good choice for me.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I love educating staff and clients. Sharing knowledge and seeing the light of understanding and growth go on gives me unending delight. I also love being in a field where I will never be able to “know it all.” Learning and teaching are just plain fun.

Any crazy stories to share?
I founded the local wildlife center and a group called Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy Services that does pet-facilitated therapy in the Bay Area. One of the most unusual things we have done is through the wildlife center. We developed a technique for raising orphaned bobcats where volunteers would dress up in a bobcat outfit, rub themselves down with plants and bobcat urine, and play silently with the kits for up to four hours per day. In this way we were able to teach them to hunt and be self-sufficient without becoming acclimated to people, thereby allowing successful release back to the wild.

Runner-up

Dr. Jane Johnson/Adobe Animal Hospital
396 First St, Los Altos
(650) 948-9661 • Adobe-Animal.com

Other Favorites

Dr. Mary Kate Cameron at Cameron Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Walt McCall at Campbell Pet Clinic

Best Holistic Vet/Practice

Winner

Dr. Sara Skiwski/The Western Dragon
4958 Yucatan Way, San Jose
(408) 265-4503 • TheWesternDragon.com

Runner-up

Dr. Janet Dunn/Scout’s House
506 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
(650) 328-1430 • ScoutsHouse.com

Best Cat Food

Winner

Innova/EVO
(800) 833-5330 • NaturaPet.com

Runner-up

Hill’s Pet Nutrition
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Other Favorites

Eagle Pack
Nutro

Best Cat Treats

Winner

Hill’s Pet Nutrition
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Runner-up

Zuke’s
(866) 985-3364 • Zukes.com

Other Favorites

Catswell
Feline Greenies

Best Cat Toy

Winner

Cat Dancer
(920) 426-4330 • CatDancer.com

Runner-up

SmartyKat Wild Streak Wand
(415) 721-7400 • WorldWise.com/smartykat

Other Favorites

Catnip
Toy mouse

Best Pet Supply Store

Winner

Anita Letje
For Other Living Things
1261 S Mary Ave, Sunnyvale
(408) 739-6785 • ForOtherLivingThings.com

How does it feel to be a Readers’ Choice Award winner?
Pretty darn good.

How long have you been in your profession?
Seven years.

What drew you to it?
Lunacy. No, actually it was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I had the name picked and an idea of what we would be selling before I finished grammar school.

Any crazy stories to share?
Not crazy per se, but along the lines of miracle stories. A lady brought her dog into the store for a harness fitting one day. The dog was very shy. As I was adjusting the harness, I noticed that the coat was dull and the skin was flakey. We started talking about food and she left the store with a doggie food upgrade. Less than a week later she stopped in with the pup. I almost didn’t recognize this animal. The coat was soft and shiny, but the most amazing change was the happy tail and outgoing personality!

Do you have any pets at home?
Yes. Over the years we’ve cared for ducks, chickens, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, hamsters, and birds. We just lost our kitty friend at 19 ½ years old.

How do think your industry has changed over the years?
I don’t think that it has. That’s what we’re here for. It needs to. We all need to be informed consumers. Nowhere is that more true than in the pet industry. You can waste a great deal of money on things marketed for your pet that is pure junk or worse, downright harmful.

Runner-up

Pets & More
4177 Hamilton Ave, San Jose
(408) 374-9722

Other Favorites

Animal Care Center
Pet Club

Best Pet Photographer

Winner

Karen Hudson/Family Tails Photography
1755 E Bayshore Rd, Redwood City
(650) 868-0019 • FamilyTails.com

Runner-up

Peg Jackson/Peg Jackson Photography
(408) 778-5957 • PegJacksonPhotography.com

Other Favorites

Jennifer Murray/Jennifer Murray Photography

Best Overnight Boarding

Winner

A Dog’s Life
1249 Birchwood Dr, Sunnyvale
(408) 747-1111 • RunEmRagged.com

Runner-up

Doggie Style Daycare and Overnight Boarding
(408) 776-8169 • DoggieStyleDaycare.com

Other Favorites

Animal Care Center
Downtown Dogs

Best Pet-Friendly Outdoor Café

Winner

Poppy’s Fish, Poultry and More
30 E Third St #120, Morgan Hill
(408) 778-3200

Runner-up

Coffee ‘N’ More
100 S Murphy Ave #1, Sunnyvale
(408) 245-1900

Other Favorites

Bill’s Café
Blue Rock Shoot

Best Groomer

Winner

Lisa Coleman/A Dog’s Life
885 Commercial St, Palo Alto
(650) 494-DOGS • DogsLife.biz

Runner-up

Jessica Soria/Animal Care Center
16025 Vineyard Blvd, Morgan Hill
(408) 779-4010 • AnimalCareCenterMH.com

Other Favorites

Le Pooch Grooming
Petsmart

Best Pet -Friendly Bar

Winner

Rock Bottom Brewery
1875 South Bascom Ave, Campbell
(408) 377-0707 • RockBottom.com

Runner-up

The Loft Bar and Bistro
90 S Second St, San Jose
(408) 291-0677

Other Favorites

Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub
Three Degrees Restaurant and Bar

Best Dog Walking/Pet Sitting

Winner

Dog Duty
(408) 559-1333

Runner-up

Home Alone Pet and Plant Care
1350 Magnolia Ave, San Jose
(408) 287-5841

Other Favorites

Critter Care of Silicon Valley
Super Heroes Pet Care

Best Dog Food

Winner

Innova/EVO
(800) 833-5330 • NaturaPet.com

Runner-up

Hill’s Pet Nutrition
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Other Favorites

Flint River Ranch
Nutro

Best Dog Treats

Winner

Hill’s Pet Nutrition
(800) 445-5777 • HillsPet.com

Runner-up

Zuke’s
(866) 985-3364 • Zukes.com

Other Favorites

Dogswell
Pup-peroni

Best Dog Toy

Winner

Kong
(303) 216-2626 • KongCompany.com

Runner-up

Nylabone
(800) 631-2188 • Nylabone.com

Other Favorites

Jolly Ball
Premier Busy Buddy

Best Dog Park

Winner

Morgan Hill Dog Park
MorganHillDog.org

Runner-up

Shoreline Dog Park
MVDP.org

Other Favorites

Los Gatos Creek Dog Park
Watson Dog Park

Best Dog Leash/Collar

Winner

Lupine
(800) 228-9653 • LupinePet.com

Runner-up

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

Other Favorites

Martingale
Max Pawfection

Best Trainer/Training Class

Winner

Maria Cecilia Saleme/A Dog’s Life
1249 Birchwood Dr, Sunnyvale
(408) 747-1111 • RunEmRagged.com

Runner-up

Nancy Weller/A Dog’s Life
1249 Birchwood Dr, Sunnyvale
(408) 747-1111 • RunEmRagged.com

Other Favorites

Downtown Dogs
Pat Rhode/Pets In Need Canine College

Best Dog Bakery

Winner

Five Paw Bakery
Multiple locations
FivePaw.com

Runner-up

Three Dog Bakery
335 Saint Mary St, Pleasanton
(925) 426-3364• ThreeDog.com

Best Doggie Daycare

Winner

A Dog’s Life
1249 Birchwood Dr, Sunnyvale
(408) 747-1111 • RunEmRagged.com

Runners-up

Doggie Style Daycare and
Overnight Boarding
(408) 776-8169 • DoggieStyleDaycare.com

Downtown Dogs
734 S 1st St, San Jose
(408) 287-2267 • DowntownDogs.com

Other Favorite

Animal Care Center