Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1536903
wbjournal.com | June 30, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 3 Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi- weekly, 24x per year, including 4 special issues in May, September, October, and December by New England Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are available for $84.00. For more information, please email circulation@wbjournal.com or contact our circulation department at 845-267-3008. Advertising: For advertising information, please call Mark Murray at 508-755-8004 ext. 227. Fax: 508-755-8860. Worcester Business Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and in general does not return them to the sender. Worcester Business Journal 172 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester, MA 01604 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal WBJ A division of: Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wbjournal.com Managing Editor, Eric Casey, ecasey@wbjournal.com (real estate, manufacturing) Staff Writer Mica Kanner-Mascolo, mkannermascolo@wbjournal.com (health care, diversity & inclusion) Contributors Sloane M. Perron, Giselle Rivera- Flores, Emily Micucci, Livia Gershon Photographers Matt Wright, Edd Cote, Christine Peterson Research Director, Stephanie Meagher, smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin, hmartin@nebusinessmedia.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin, kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Art Director, Mitchell Hayes, mhayes@wbjournal.com General Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Senior Accounts Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Accounts Manager Timothy Doyle tdoyle@wbjournal.com Human Resources Manager, Tracy Rodwill, trodwill@nebusinessmedia.com Director of Finance, Sara Ward, sward@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Clerk, Rae Rogers, rrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Event Coordinator, Patty Harris, pattyh@wbjournal.com Director of Audience Development and Operations, Leah Allen, lallen@nebusinessmedia.com Business Office Assistant, Nicole Dunn, ndunn@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com President, Tom Curtin tcurtin@hartfordbusinessjournal.com TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 6 Central Mass. In Brief 8-19 FOCUS: The Dog Edition 8 Ruff times Rising costs of living and petcare are forcing shelters to adapt to the increase in pets needing a home. 10 More than just a pet As dog attachment rises post-COVID, Central Mass. businesses are adapting to the needs of their four-legged clientele & their owners PETS OF WB J 13 The dogs of the Central Mass. business community • Worcester Red Sox's Bark in the Park • Julianne Hertel's 200 foster companions • Dr. Eric Dickson's 3 dogs, 2 cats & 9 horses • Michael Myers' Kelly Pup • AiVi Nguen's parking lot dog • Austin Furniture's 100-pound mascot 18 List: Animal rescue organizations 20 Movers & Shakers 21 Opinion 22 Shop Talk: Dogtopia Kira Beaudoin's cat Idgie Kira Beaudoin's cat Willow Mica Kanner-Mascolo's dog Beau Timothy Doyle's cat Oliver Kris Prosser and her dog Finley Mitchell Hayes' dog Papa Sara Ward's cats Daisy & Dotty