RE I GNING

A place for responsibly-chosen unique gifts and pet necessities.

Where else can you add a little whimsy to your home, pamper your pet and feel good about where your money was spent? At Reigning Cats & Dogs and Kindness, every product is carefully curated to support a cause near and dear to owner Monica Chernin’s and her customers’ hearts.

Behind every homemade treat, hand-crafted collar, whimsical earring and humorous t-shirt is a story and a purpose. Jarred candles support animal rescue. Collar and lead proceeds minister to Dogs on Deployment. Yak milk chews support fair trade workers in Nepal building a better life for themselves. T-shirts fund the rescue of puppies in Ukraine. All globally responsible while providing delight to the heart and mind and pleasure to both you and your bed.

Kindness was added to the store name two months ago to express its mission to empower people worldwide and here at home. Elegant hand-crafted collars are woven by women in Africa and Mexico. Dazzling one-of-a-kind jewelry from Jewish artisans reflect faith and blessing. Proceeds from the purchase of exquisite earrings help prevent deforestation in the Amazon. Watercolor pet portraits feature the personalized work of local artists.

Customers don’t get lost in the aisles of unique treasures but are drawn into conversations perusing the eclectic range of products, balanced between fun and serious. Tea towels displayed beside compostable doggie waste bags. Shampoos and carpet cleaners alongside garden art and quirky craft creatures.

Pet owners and pet lovers — even those without pets — will find something of interest and curiosity inside the boutique. Reigning Cats & Dogs and Kindness was voted best in customer service, a testament to the friendly, helpful staff that lend a hand to anyone who may walk through their doors. The resident shop cat may even give you a nod as well, a post she enjoys as a welcome change to her former life as a stray. The store is proudly listed on Safe Space Alliance for the LGBTQ+ community and welcomes anyone and everyone, whatever their political or religious views.

“We are more alike than we are unalike,” reads the last line of Maya Angelou’s poem entitled, “Human Family,” which reflects Chernin’s view of humanity.

Environmental kindness is reflected in the store’s eco-friendly products. Most are organic, pesticide free, manufactured in solar plants or made with recycled ocean-bound plastics. Packaged jerky treats are sustainably sourced in the USA, and some made right here in Culpeper.

Of course, pampering pets is front and center. A bulk treat bar welcomes pet-owners as they come in, offering healthy and, in some cases, homemade biscuits, Yak Milk Chews and cookies.

The store carries Annamaet brand pet foods, from a family-owned manufacturer in Pennsylvania, whose pet foods are corn, wheat and soy free.

Whether you have a dog, a cat or just love animals, you will find Reigning Cats & Dogs and Kindness a fun and welcoming place to shop. Stepping into this unique boutique will make you feel good about giving back to the community and the world.

Lindsey, Lisa, Diane and Autumn look forward to your visit.

Reigning Cats and Dogs and Kindness is located at 107 E Davis St, Culpeper, VA 22701.