Haggar the Old English sheepdog works seven days a week, meeting and greeting clients (he especially likes the ladies), while Scooter the Lhasa apso-Shih Tzu mix periodically lifts one of his napping eyes.
Their human companions — Keith Burke and Gregg Fox, owners of Cathedral City furniture store Stray Dog Designs — wanted jobs that would let them bring their dogs to work. With backgrounds in design, furnishings, and visual merchandizing, they opened Stray Dog Consignments in 2005 in Palm Springs. When they moved the business to Cathedral City to attract a valleywide clientele, they expanded their emphasis to new furnishings (classic and modern), now stocking only select vintage pieces on consignment.
Burke and Fox aim to offer “medium-scale, medium-priced” furniture and accents that have been popular with space-conscious clients furnishing second homes or condos. “We love multifunctional furniture,” Fox says. “We have a 60-inch bamboo round table that converts to a 60-inch square and doubles its seating.”
But what’s most interesting about these dog lovers and their store is the fact that Stray Dog Designs donates a portion of its proceeds to The Friends of Palm Springs Animal Shelter. “We believe all animals should live in comfort,” Burke says. Animal Control Officer Hugh Wright confirms that their donations are working toward rebuilding the shelter that dates to 1962. “They are helping us get closer to our goal,” he says.
Back at the store, in-house designer Nancy Rogers brings in Daisy, her Shih Tzu. Rogers has been working in the area for nearly 20 years and makes full-service house calls for clients looking for professional assistance with paint, flooring, lighting, and furnishings.
Haggar, Scooter, and Daisy enjoy company at Stray Dog Designs. Visitors can bring their own dogs in while they shop.
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