A friend of the four-legged says goodbye to Boca Grande
Some people who come to Boca Grande make a big impact on many, then fade into anonymity when they leave. That might be how Jane Moyer, former owner of Island Dog Boutique & Supply Co. wants it to be, but that is not going to happen on our watch.
Jane has always had a soft spot in her heart for the four-legged who walk the earth, particularly dogs. She worked hard to keep the needs of her clients met when it came to anything from nutrition to grooming to find the perfect outfit. Many would come to her store in the Railroad Plaza, not only for their basic pet needs but to just meander around and look at the vast array of unique items that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Jane is a bit of a “dog nutrition whisperer,” who has devoted much of her time in the last few years to learning the ins and outs of what it takes to keep a dog healthy. One of the biggest rewards of owning the shop, Jane said, is to see a dog walk in that is suffering, and to see them later on with a shiny coat, a happy smile and a new “leash” on life.
Jane said the primary reason she ended up in Boca Grande was because of one of her Boston terriers named Penny – a special one who she calls her “heart” dog. After her father died in 2009 she brought her daughter to Sarasota for their first Thanksgiving without him. When she saw how much her daughter enjoyed being at the beach, playing in the sand and the beautiful November weather, she decided to buy a second home here.
Jane found a nice, new house in Rotonda Lakes with a private, quiet location. It was exactly what she was looking for.
“I knew I wanted to come back and unwind from my demanding career every few months,” she explained. “Every time I would come visit the house and drive to the beach, I dreaded going back home. So I decided to list my house for sale in Pennsylvania and move here permanently. Call it a mid-life crisis or whatever, but I left everything just to come here for peace and quiet, and to kind of start over. I wanted and needed a slower pace.”
Jane had been working at an extremely high-stress job as a controller for a wholesale/retail food distributor: She was simply burned out.
“It took two years to sell my home up north, so when it finally sold I thought I would take six months to a year off to figure out what I wanted to do with next phase of my life, once I got to Florida. Little did I know what lie ahead.”
Jane had grown up in rural Pennsylvania and loved animals, although she wasn’t allowed to have any. What a change she made when she came to Florida. She now has Kevin Amherst Wigglesworth (a Boston terrier), Harvard (also a Boston) and Miss Betty (a very elderly chihuahua).
Jane slowly closed her shop over the past couple of months, opening by appointment only or on certain days, until one day she simply didn’t open again. The spot is now owned by a dog grooming business (more on that in another edition of the Beacon).
Now Jane is looking foward to spending time with Kevin in the pool, pursuing some business ideas and just traveling around, seeing the sights. She will miss her loyal clients who became her friends, she will miss the island, but she is tired and ready to go into semi-retirement.
“I’m ready for some time off,” she said. “Thanks to everyone who helped to make Island Dog so successful, and so many thanks to those who love their animals as much as I love mine. I will miss you all … but it’s time for me, Kevin, Harvard and Miss Betty to move on to new adventures.”
