Week of March 3, 2022
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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 15
Spa, market is pet project
‘Homeless Action Plan’ moves forward in south Denver suburbs
Animal lover’s business has caring customers BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Colorado is a big pet state, which is fine by Blake Gipson. An animal lover who moved to Colorado near the end of his 30-year career in information technology, Gipson opened his own pet-centered business in 2018. “I wanted to go from being a cog in the wheel in corporate America to being able to do my own thing and explore my creative side,” Gipson told Colorado Community Media. Owning and operating Garden of the Paws, a pet market and spa in Centennial, has allowed him to do just that. Although Gipson’s background wasn’t in retail, he knew what he did and did not want to do with his store. Gipson aspired to create a shop with a “Zen environment” that would help people care for their dogs and cats. He wanted something that was bright and airy, smelled nice and had a Colorado feel. Wide aisles, reclaimed wood trim and essential oils that circulate throughout the store’s 4,200 square feet created that “feel good” space Gipson desired. Garden of the Paws offers premium pet food with a holistic approach because Gipson said it’s what a lot of people in Colorado are looking for. “It’s the type of lifestyle that I try to live,” Gipson said. “And so I also want my customers, whose pets are like family members to them, to be able to purchase unprocessed, all-natural organic foods.” Garden of the Paws, located near the intersection of South Colorado Boulevard and East County Line
County to hire coordinator for Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan BYELLISARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Blake Gipson opened Centennial’s Garden of the Paws in 2018.
Road, makes an effort to carry toys, treats and pet food made by Colorado companies such as Bixbi, Boulder Dog Food Company and Suzie’s CBD. Gipson knows the importance of supporting local businesses, after all. Also available are grooming services, which makes up about 45% of the store’s business. Groomers work hard to make sure dogs are comfortable and don’t feel like they’re on an assembly line, Gipson said. They treat just one dog at a time. For pets with special concerns, the store sells supplemental therapies that can decrease anxiety, ease joint pain or improve skin and coats. His employees are trained to ask a lot of questions to help determine what an animal might need, Gipson said. They strive to work with customers to find a solution. Partnering with pet owners is paramount for Gipson. In fact, the best indicator of business success is new customers referred to the store by existing
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
COURTESY OF GARDEN OF THE PAWS
Garden of the Paws offers grooming services and carries pet food, treats and COURTESY OF GARDEN OF THE PAWS toys.
customers, he said. Although he didn’t know much about retail when he started the store, Gipson said his parents and SEE PET SPA, P19
Homelessness isn’t just a financial problem — it can be a life-or-death matter, statistics from the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office show. From January 2020 to January 2021, 17 people experiencing homelessness in Arapahoe County died of natural causes on the street, 22 died by drug overdose, and four died by hypothermia — a condition caused by exposure to cold temperatures — possibly made worse by substance use. “Experiencing homelessness on the street exacerbates chronic medical and behavioral health conditions that are costly to local governments and create lifethreatening results,” says the Tri-Cities Homeless Action Plan, a document that cited the county’s numbers on deaths. It’s one of the reasons why Englewood, Littleton and Sheridan are carrying out a plan to address homelessness in the three cities’ region. The early steps in the plan are unfolding as numbers continue to paint a picture of increasing homelessness in the Denver metro area, according to the most recent annual report by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative. The rise in homelessness in metro Denver is a trend that predates the pandemic but was likely worsened by it. SEE ACTION, P8
RISE OF THE MONARCHS
Scientists hopeful butterflies making a comeback P14