In a cruel twist of fate, the owner of the beloved Naperville institution that has helped find homes for dogs for almost 50 years needs salvation himself. This week Dog Patch Pet & Food on Ogden Avenue will close its doors for the final time as Greg Gordon faces bankruptcy.
“There’s a lot of fear and terror in not knowing what’s next,” he admitted to me in his once vibrant store, now with shockingly empty shelves. “I feel guilty. It’s overwhelming, I still feel I have let everyone down, not just the animals but the customers and my staff.”
The outpouring of love from the community since the news broke last month has touched Gordon deeply.
“Customers have either been sad or angry, but generally the response has been remarkable,” he said. “People have been calling our staff to offer them jobs so most will have one by the time we’re done. I’ve been humbled by other pet store owners; they’ve been really kind. It still hasn’t settled with me yet.”
Gordon admits that while the pandemic had a huge effect on his business, they were in trouble before that. They lost 20% of their business during months of lane closures on Ogden Avenue.
“Then COVID swallowed any income we took,” he said. He tried desperately to work with his bank, but it was finally time to admit defeat.
“I tried to refinance but it was not going to happen. Once that became clear the only thing to do was to close,” he said.
Dog Patch has held a place in the hearts of Naperville pet owners for decades. Gordon says they’ve placed thousands of dogs over the years. He and original owner Craig Allen would drive hundreds of miles to collect pups from reputable breeders before switching to rescue animals only in 2010.
“We never supported puppy mills,” he said. “If you go to a responsible breeder who cares, that’s perfect, but for pet stores who want you to be able to choose one of several dogs, well, they need a supply,” he said.
His relationship with Allen was key to his getting involved in the business, he said.
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“Craig was the first person I met in Illinois when I came here in 1985,” he said. “At the time his store was near the old Kmart and I went in to buy food for my hamster.”
They moved to their current site in 1997, but then Allen suffered a series of heart attacks before finally passing away in 2010.
“I was at the hospital at 3 a.m. on the night he died but back in the store at 5 a.m.,” Gordon recalled. “It was what he would have wanted. We were open the rest of the day, but everyone had to step back at some point because they were crying so hard.”
Dog Patch may have homed thousands of dogs over the years, but some hold special memories for Gordon. He’s taken home four cats and two dogs himself, including his three-legged canine Abner.
“It’s an occupational hazard,” he said. “When I saw Abner, I knew he had to go home with me.”
Sadly, it’s not love at first sight for all dogs.
“One dog, Rocky, was especially hard to home,” he said. “He was a big black Shepherd with red eyes who was out of control. He looked like Satan and was very angry. We had to use a dog catching pole to get him in a crate, then we took him next door to our vet who gave him a shot to calm him down.”
After that, Rocky worked with a trainer who was able to change his behavior.
“Some dogs just need a chance; some are damaged too much but it’s not the dog’s fault. They’re just doing what dogs do,” he said. “Generally, people have unrealistic expectations, but in the end Rocky found a great home with a kid who needed a dog.”
Dog Patch has always taken care to make the right matches.
“We’ve always been careful where our dogs go,” Gordon said. “I think everyone believes they can do it but there is work involved. We really wanted to make it a good experience. Shelters are not pleasant places; they can be scary. They’ll make you want to take all their dogs home or none.
“It was always fun here. We wanted to make it user friendly, less traumatic. We were the only place kids could come and play with rescues. It was good for the dogs to learn how to socialize.”
Gordon recalled one couple who told him at 78 years old they’d been told by a shelter they were too old to adopt a dog, even though they walked three to four miles a day.
“I told them to pick one,” he said. “He’s lived a great life ever since. I still hope someone will let me adopt a dog when I’m 80 because that will keep me alive.”
Leaving the store, I passed the pen where my Havanese dog, Daisy, and I first met almost 11 years ago. I remember how shy the tiny pup was at first, but quickly warmed to us. I remember Gordon explaining that toys are meant to be destroyed by dogs because that’s how they play and that if you own a Havanese, you’ll laugh at least once a day for the rest of their lives.
That’s the real reason why Dog Patch has been so loved over the years. It’s because when you take home a pet, it’s personal. You’re adding to your family but you also become part of the place from where you got them.
I wish Gordon all the best in whatever the future holds for him.
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved from England to Naperville in 2007.