Critters Corner is a delight to those who love animals
Exotic birds are shop's specialty
By Shari Kaplan
Whether its customers' best friends are of the furry, feathered, finned or even scaled variety, Critters Corner truly has something for everyone.
The name of Los Gatos' only full-service "pet shop" belies its size, which takes up two storefronts of a busy strip center and fills every bit of space with an array of pet paraphernalia, as well as some pets.
Critters Corner is owned by Los Gatans Glenn Ferreira and Trish Krajewski. They are definite animal lovers who share their lives with three dogs, including China, a pop-eyed pug who often visits the store; three cats; one bird and two horses. The couple opened their Los Gatos store a few months ago, after 20 years in South San Jose.
Their specialty is exotic birds and every conceivable cage accessory, toy and food. The birds come from select breeders who hand-feed the babies to make them more sociable and trusting. Krajewski and Ferreira then supply the finishing touches in the "weaning" process. Parrots, parakeets, lorikeets, macaws, conures, cockatoos, cockatiels, canaries, lovebirds and finches are among the store's available avians.
"The cockatiel is a nice 'starter bird,' " Krajewski says. "They're not as noisy or as large as parrots; the males can talk; they're pretty; and they're good with all members of the family."
The aquatic area carries freshwater and saltwater fish, from common goldfish and tetras to exotic African cichlids and Chinese fighting fish. Accessories, tanks and foods are nearby. Even bullfrog tadpoles can sometimes be found here.
The dog and cat area mainly stocks leashes, collars, toys, beds and edibles. There is also a roomy cage for kittens--many of which came as a "surprise" to their owners. Critters Corner sells the kittens not for profit, but at a price that covers their temporary food and supplies. All kittens must belong to the people who bring them in, must be at least 8 weeks old and must be free from fleas, ticks or contagious diseases. Owners dropping off kittens sign a waver to this effect. Krajewski and Ferreira also examine them. In the future, Critters Corner may team up with the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley to offer certificates for free or low-cost spaying or neutering for kittens purchased at the store.
There is even a section where rodent fans can purchase hamsters, rats, guinea pigs and the fluffiest of all rodents, chinchillas. Although rabbits are not rodents, they're in this area, too. The section also stocks food, toys and bedding for small animals. Ferreira and Krajewski breed many of the rats and hamsters themselves; the rabbits come from Los Altos and the guinea pigs from San Jose. "I like to know where they're from and who's breeding them," Krajewski says.
The store's reptiles include corn snakes, leopard geckos and bearded dragon lizards, which are kept on a counter behind the cash register. Within a month or two, Krajewski says, their reptile corner will be in full swing. Arachnids such as tarantulas and scorpions will soon find their place here, too. The couple also have plans for a turtle pond and a koi pond, from which visitors can select prospective pets in a more natural setting.
Critters Corner also offers clipping services for reptiles', rabbits' and guinea pigs' toenails and for birds' toenails and wings. Bird boarding is available with advance notice, emphasis on advance, Krajewski says, since this service gets extremely popular during vacation times.
Critters Corner is at 15545 Los Gatos Blvd. For more information, call 408.402.9660 or visit www.critterscorner.com on the Internet.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
