WHERE'S THE PAW-TY AT? Tri-Paw'd Pet Care owner and operator, Crystal Louden, just released the first list of fido-friendly Valley spots, which she has personally curated, of what will hopefully be a series of lists.

Tri-Paw’d Pet Care is not your average animal services stop, but that’s what has made it a favorite in the Chippea Valley. Thanks to its owner and operator Crystal Louden, a local veterinary technician, the well-loved biz – snagging first place for Best Pet Boarding/Sitting among Volume One readers in our Best of the Chippewa Valley 2022 poll – grew out of a genuine love for taking care of animals, big and small, tri-paw’d or not, and is now sharing pet-friendly Valley spots.

The travel-to-you pet care service began nearly 10 years ago in 2013 when Louden began caring for a few people’s pets, her top-notch care soon became a flourishing small business. After graduating from Globe University with a degree in veterinary technology, experience working at various local clinics, and actively volunteering at the local humane association for nearly a decade, Louden’s love for animals is backed up by education and on-the-job experience.

Sullivan, the three-legged dog. (Submitted photo)

Tri-Paw’d Pet Care’s unique name has its own story as well, coming from what Louden calls her “once-in-a-lifetime dog,” Sullivan, who passed years ago but continues to be one of her biggest inspirations.

Sullivan was surrendered to the clinic Louden worked for at the time and had broken his left front leg, which ultimately needed surgery, and ended with the decision to amputate. Afterward, Sullivan continued a happy pup life as a tri-paw’d cutie. Lovingly, Louden nicknamed him “Tripawd,” and the name stuck, for both him and the current small biz.

Alongside her string of wide-ranging services for both cats and dogs and exotic pets, such as nail trims, daily visits, overnight stays, mid-day walks, and more, Louden has recently been hard at work creating dog- and pet-friendly lists for the Valley area. Her latest comprehensive list focuses on dog-friendly shopping spaces in the area and was posted online on Aug. 4 to an outpouring of comments and appreciation. 

The list covers sports and hobby stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Passion Board Shop, auto care and home shops like Advanced Auto and O’Reilly Auto Parts, pet supply shops like Tropic Waters and Petco, home and office stores like Hobby Lobby and Midwest Home Supply, and an array of spaces under the “Other” category, including DSW Shoes and The Local Store. 

Louden reached out and spoke with each and every store on the list to clarify their guidelines on allowing dogs, and found a common list of guides for all: All dogs must be sociable and friendly around others, must always be kept on a leash, and more. While some of the shops have their own specific guides – “small dogs only,” “only on the outdoor patio,” etc. – more than 40 stores are on the list, which is pretty cool for all our dog-lovin’ Valley folks. 

Tri-Paw’d also emphasized that the safety and happiness of the community is first and foremost, including bringing furry friends into shared spaces. Louden said respecting the staff and policies of their stores, plus every pet and their handlers is uber important too. 

“We are so grateful to be a part of this absolutely amazing community,” Louden said. “As Eau Claire and surrounding areas continue to grow, we are excited to see that our social pets are being more and more accepted as well. For so many of us, our pets are family, and it means a lot that they can be safely included.”

Louden is currently working on more lists too, including pet-friendly restaurants/bars, beaches/parks, hotels, landlords, and more. She also hopes to curate a list of locally-made pet products.

Keep up with Tri-Paw’d Pet Care Services on their Facebook page and website (tripawdpetcare.weebly.com) to see Louden’s future comprehensive fido-friendly Valley lists, and pictures of the furry friends she cares for.