Jazzy & Mumbos Thrift Store in Dilworth is the only thrift store with an animal gallery.
Photos of dogs, cats, rabbits, fish and birds line the west wall.
In operation for seven years, the store exists because owner Wendy Cowan once had to euthanize her cat because she could not afford to pay a veterinarian for emergency care for Mumbos. Even though she was regular customer, the veterinarian would not treat her injured cat without full payment upfront.
All store profits go to provide veterinary care, shelter and grooming costs as well as food. The store helps pet owners afford unexpected expenses.
Jazzy & Mumbos helps owners who can’t seem to make ends meet, often because of surprise or emergency expenses. Cowan has had people come to her worried about paying an electric bill or pet expenses; on Social Security or other income support and will take care of their pets before they take care of themselves; when the refrigerator is bare and they have no food for themselves or their pet, or buying gas to get to work or pet medication.
Life happens, Cowan says. One of the things she explains is that for many people, their pet is their life, their companion, their joy.
The pet care application at Jazzy & Mumbos asks what care is needed. She also makes sure the owner is responsible. An application must be approved first. The thrift store does not give money directly to people – the store pays the veterinarian directly. While they will help with the expenses, if the bill exceeds $500 or more the shop might arrange a fundraiser or have a special donation box at the store. Pet owners must participate.
Cowan has sponsored several fundraisers and applies for grants and in-kind donations to support animals. A customer appreciation day will be Sept. 10.
Donations to the thrift store make all of this happen. The little building at 123 Center Ave. E., Dilworth is packed wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling, with clothing and practical items.
On a recent day, the shop had a brand new $300 dress for $70 and guinea pigs ready for adoption. The shop had an Ethan Allen couch, dishes, glassware and clothing – 75-cent shirts, $2.50 pants, 10-cent kitchenware, Squirt stickers, memorabilia, fun stuff and a donation box. All the donations stay in the community. The most unusual item Cowan received was from a bachelorette party but she chose not to share what it was.
A donation of a western and an English saddle is coming soon. Everything is donated and there areno consignments. Anything they do not sell is recycled to another charitable group. Nothing is wasted.
The store is open Monday through Saturday with volunteers. The volunteer staff is “incredible. For the past and present I would like to thank Karen, Christine, Neil, Alison, Chris, Kajla, Nicole, Geneva and all the people from the CEP program and the Experience Works program, and Liza, too. This couldn’t happen without them.”
She and her husband have a hobby farm hosting a mustang, Shetland pony, three barn cats, two house cats, four puggles and a German shepherd.
She works at JSM Woodworks with a standard day starting at 4:30 a.m. and then going to Jazzy & Mumbos until closing at 6 p.m. She is usually at the store on Saturdays, too. They have two daughters and one son, one grandson and one grandchild on the way.
