Supermarket in Finland welcomes dogs, with special carts for canine customers

The grocery store in the Finnish city of Tampere even has an official golden retriever who tests out dog treats and shares the results in Instagram videos.

A ‘su-paw-market’ in Finland is welcoming canine customers, with specially-adapted carts which allow dog owners to bring their pooches grocery shopping. 

The Kesko grocery chain in the city of Tampere has introduced the “Koirakärry” – dog cart – as a way to welcome in more dog-owning customers at one of its stores, where usually only service animals would be permitted inside the aisles. 

“The idea is already used in some countries, but not in Finland, and we have a lot of dog owners nearby,” explains Matilda Tistelgren, who has been operating the supermarket with her partner Joona Pesonen since the spring. 

“We have a golden retriever ourselves, and if we go out jogging with the dog and forget something from the store, we don’t want to go home, leave the dog, then have to return to the store ourselves, we want to be able to take the dog with us,” Matilda tells Euronews. 

The carts have a dog bed in the bottom, and a clip for leads or harnesses, with owners encouraged to pick up their pups and put them inside – although a future version of the cart might include a small ramp so the dogs can walk in unaided. 

Since taking over the management of the supermarket in Tampere’s neighbourhood Kissanmaa – which funnily enough translates as “Cat’s Land” –  Matilda and Joona have introduced other pet-friendly innovations. 

The couple’s own retriever Tove appears on Instagram with ‘Tove Tastes’ videos where she samples different dog treats.

“Our customers love it,” exclaims Matilda. “In this part of town we have a lot of dog owners and that means a lot of dog customers too, and we already have a lot of hairy regulars,” she adds.

Desperate Puppy Trapped in Slaughterhouse, Pleading for Help with Heartbreaking Eyes

Meet Toby! This story began with a heartbreaking photograph that broke our hearts. Toby was bound and wrapped in a bag, his eyes filled with terror and misery. His life was hanging by a thread, with the fear of execution just minutes away. We realised we needed to move quickly.

We rushed Toby to the vet since his condition was critical. Toby’s ordeal had rendered him paralysed, a defence mechanism, a desperate attempt to protect himself from the horrors of the world. He had clearly lost trust in humanity, and his initial check found no broken bones. The idea of crushed nerves was investigated, but one thing was certain: Toby had suffered greatly.

Toby was extremely resilient despite his pain and terror. He never complained, silently suffering the trials that life had placed upon him. Toby, like any other dog, deserved a chance at a normal existence, in our opinion.

The road to recovery began with acupuncture, and Toby surprised us by being unusually calm and cooperative. The tiny angel gradually began to trust us, and his true beautiful nature began to come through.

Today, Toby exudes happiness. While his walk remains difficult, his eyes tell a different story – one of joy, resilience, and unexpected optimism. His left leg has steadily grown stronger, allowing him to lift his body and take the first steps towards a brighter future.

Many people have been following Toby’s growth, and one generous woman gave him a wheelchair. It was an exciting time for Toby as he relished his newfound freedom. He now runs everywhere, a testament to his tenacity.

But Toby’s adventure does not end there. He continues to undergo acupuncture treatments and benefits from swimming therapy. Every day, he lives a life full of happiness, love, and caring.

It’s hard to believe that just four months ago, Toby’s life was in jeopardy. He might not have lived to see this day if fate had been one minute later. Toby’s story is a testament to the power of kindness, resilience, and second chances. He is a living reminder that every being is deserving of love, care, and the chance to live a life of happiness and purpose. Toby, you genuinely deserve all of the world’s love.

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