The (not-so) secret life of Myers Park dogs
Plus: New report on effects of rising housing costs; Contract to be awarded for South End-uptown pedestrian bridge; Charlotte FC broadcaster to depart; Deadly Pineville police shooting
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Doodles, diets and dog degrees: What I learned while making a business of walking Charlotte’s posh pets
Palmer Magri and poodle-labrador mix Arthur take three required walks a day during Arthur’s stays at “Camp Palmer.” (Photo courtesy of Palmer Magri)
by Palmer Magri
Fresh out of college and needing to pay bills this summer while searching for a full-time job, I amped up a business I started while in school — dog walking in the exclusive Myers Park neighborhood.
It’s Doodle City in Myers Park, where the plentiful poodle breeds mix and mingle on walks with the likes of retrievers, spaniels and wheaten terriers. Some of the puppies cost more than a Gucci purse.
Being a dog sitter opened my eyes to the world of pampered pets, and in some cases, it caused me to check my own assumptions about these creatures and the people who own them. I started a full-time journalism job this fall, but I still dog-sit part-time. Here are some of the things I learned:
◼️ Doodles are king: Four of the five dogs I care for regularly are poodle breeds, which tend to be good-natured, obedient and loving. I’m sensitive to the fact that there are many dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted, but I can also see why people drop $2,000 to $4,000 on a built-in teddy bear and mild guard dog.
A poodle-labrador mix named Arthur is one of my frequent charges, and he stays with me for days at a time when his owners are out of town. Arthur’s only downside is that he howls when no one is around because he wants to be by someone’s side. Doodles truly are human-loving dogs.
◼️ Some eat fancy dog food (that I’m tempted to try): Kibble doesn’t cut it for some of the dogs I care for, like a 13-year-old doodle named Maggie who eats only refrigerated chicken tenders by the brand FreshPet. They go for $39.99 for a 4.5-pound bag at Pet Supplies Plus.
According to the packaging, the tenders contain protein-dense farm-raised chicken, eggs and amino acids “that support lean muscle and a healthy weight,” along with antioxidant-rich carrots and spinach to support healthy digestion. Maggie prefers hers cold with cheese sprinkled on top.
Could you put this on a plate and trick a human into eating it? Probably. Have I been tempted to try it once or twice? Um, yes.
◼️ Paws vs. pacifiers: Dog owners can be as protective as parents—and in my experience, sometimes even more so.
Myers Park dog owners often like me to do a meet-and-greet with a new dog sitter days before a potential dog-sitting job — almost like an interview to see if I’m a good fit with their dog. Interestingly, no parent has asked me to meet their human child before babysitting for them.
During a get-to-know-you meetup with a new dog and its owner, I learn about the dog’s routine, see their favorite sleeping spot and get tips on the best way to walk them to ensure they get a chance to do their potty business.
And speaking of potty routines, many owners love for me to keep a log of when their dog makes a No. 2, and report back. I can’t recall any parent ever asking me to keep those kinds of records.
◼️ Kardashian-style at-home grooming: In the Myers Park neighborhoods, it’s not just the well-coiffed women who have hairdressers showing up at their doorsteps — the doodles and other designer dogs have them, too. In some dog households, mobile grooming vans show up every few weeks to wash and fluff fur and trim nails.
Arthur’s stylist is a woman named Olivia Davis, who started her dog grooming business, Galloping Grooming, 30 years ago for elderly, aggressive and disabled dogs and cats. Her prices range from $55-$100 depending on the animal (more than I spend on my own haircuts). Olivia comes every two weeks to groom Arthur and other pets in the neighborhood.
Growing up, my childhood dog would spend six hours at the groomer on grooming days, but with the salon in your driveway and no waiting, Fido can be freshened up in under two hours.
◼️ No lazy mornings at ‘Camp Palmer’: One of my dog-sitting clients affectionately refers to my overnight dog-sitting sessions as “Camp Palmer” — and sometimes, dog-sitting is a lot like running a summer camp.
Some dog parents urge me to keep their dogs’ wake-up, walk, sleep, play and potty schedules exactly as they are when they’re at home.
Last summer, I dog-sat at the home of two beautiful golden retrievers, both with a highly detailed itinerary outlining their daily routines. At the owner’s request, I set my alarm for 6:30 a.m. to ensure I’d be up for their morning walk before the heat cranked up.
However, when morning came, the duo didn’t share my enthusiasm for the early wake-up. Their expressions were nothing short of confused, as if wondering why we were voluntarily heading out at 6:30 a.m. After a brisk 20-minute walk, I fed them their breakfast — kibble mixed with wet food — and set my alarm for their noon walk to avoid being a minute late. I had doubts about this being the usual schedule for the retrievers given their reaction but figured the owners had arranged a demanding new schedule to help burn off their energy, making my job a little easier overall.
For the rest of my stay, I woke the dogs at 6:30 a.m. daily, just as instructed. When the owners finally returned, the goldens seemed thrilled to see me go.
◼️ Dogs with diplomas: Think educational degrees are just for humans? Think again. With the right training, they can become highly educated, well-behaved members of the family.
Many of the dogs I care for came home as puppies only to be shipped off for weeks —or even months — of specialized training. This process transforms them from rambunctious puppies into obedient, well-mannered companions.
A couple of years ago, I attended a “graduation” for two coonhounds I occasionally watched, who had just completed six weeks of training. The event was a chance for owners and dog sitters to learn how to reinforce new skills and support good behavior.
After 30 long minutes of being lectured about the importance of training, the graduates all ran over to their owners to be photographed with their certificates and receive well-deserved praise.
Palmer Magri is a 2024 graduate of Queens University of Charlotte and is a digital producer at 90.7FM WFAE. Reach her at palmerlmagri@gmail.com
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
Rail Trail bridge: City Council to award contract to build pedestrian walkway connecting South End and uptown
The Charlotte City Council tonight is expected to approve the awarding of a $16.3M contract to Blythe Construction to build a 280-foot-long pedestrian bridge across I-277. It will have a 16-foot-wide concrete path, and the city says the project “will improve pedestrian and cyclist connectivity and safety by seamlessly providing Rail Trail users direct access to and from Center City and South End.” It is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2028.
Report shows evictions are surging, as half of Charlotte renters struggle to afford housing
A new report on housing instability and homelessness in Mecklenburg County is painting a sobering picture of the effects of skyrocketing housing costs, with rising eviction rates and persistent racial disparities in homeownership and homelessness.
Drawing on a variety of data, the 145-page report by Mecklenburg County’s Community Support Services department, released last week, shows that low-cost rental housing has been quickly disappearing, homelessness continues to increase and low- and middle-income households are paying a higher share of their earnings to stay in their homes.
It found:
Surging eviction filings. The number of eviction filings in Mecklenburg County last year rose 37%, to about 46,000 in the year ending in June 2024. The number of evictions granted rose 48%, to nearly 30,000.
Less affordable housing: Some 50% of renters now pay 30% or more of their income toward housing costs. Of renters earning between $50,000 and $74,999 a year, 61% pay 30%+ of their income for housing, up from 12% who paid that share in 2013.
Homelessness increase: The number of homeless in Mecklenburg rose 3% in the year ending in June 2024, to 2,784 people. “Individuals currently experiencing homelessness are primarily adults ages 25 to 54 (47%) and Black, African, or African American (73%),” the report said.
Homeownership disparities: In 2023, 66% of white households owned their homes, compared with 41% of Black households and 44% of Hispanic/Latino households — with little improvement in that gap in the last 50 years, the report said.
The report calls for sustained investments in affordable housing and coordinated services to address homelessness. It also says the area needs policies that tackle housing affordability at its root to ensure that residents have access to stable, affordable housing options.
It praises the work of the many organizations that are helping to address the problem but says more needs to be done: “Strategic alignment, shared responsibility, and targeted resources and interventions are needed to strengthen local housing continuum resource capacity and reduce systemic barriers to housing to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring and that all households have access to safe, decent, and affordable housing,” it says. —Tony Mecia
➡️ Read the report and accompanying resources here.
⚽️ Charlotte FC radio broadcaster Jessica Charman is leaving after 3 years
Jessica Charman is leaving as radio color analyst for Charlotte FC after three years of broadcasting for WFNZ. She informed the club last week that she is resigning to pursue opportunities in TV play-by-play.
In her new role, Charman will broadcast games in the NWSL, or National Women’s Soccer League, and USL Super League, which includes women’s teams like the new local Carolina Ascent FC. She will also broadcast men’s games for USL Championship, the second-tier professional league in American soccer.
The British-born Charman, 30, has paired with play-by-play host Will Palaszczuk to broadcast all 102 regular season games in MLS play since Charlotte FC’s inception in 2022.
➡️ Read the full article that The Ledger sent this morning to readers of our Fútbol Friday newsletter
Public records update: City of Charlotte releases details of hiring top law firm; lawyer and DEI officer billed at $395 an hour
And now for a quick installment of “Public Records Update,” our quasi-regular feature in which we take you behind the curtain and share how your local governments are responding (or not responding) to legit and reasonable requests to provide records as required by state law.
Just a few hours after our most recent update, on Wednesday, we heard back from the city’s Communication & Marketing department … which provided one of the documents we requested nearly a month ago! Woot-woot!
We had asked for specific documents related to the exit of former City Attorney Patrick Baker and the hiring of his new interim replacement.
The city handed over a 7-page letter, dated Oct. 23, 2024, that confirms the terms of the engagement between the city (signed by Mayor Vi Lyles) and law firm Parker Poe (signed by someone with an inscrutable signature evoking the style of a surrealistic painter).
It’s mostly legal mumbo-jumbo — you can read it all for yourself here — but the one interesting piece is the pay rate: $395 an hour for the services of partner Anthony Fox (not the former Charlotte mayor of the same name) and of Shalanna Pirtle, described as Parker Poe’s “Chief Talent, Diversity & Inclusion Officer,” who is also a partner. (In December, the City Council voted without discussion to name Fox interim city attorney.)
That’s about all we can glean. The obvious follow-up question is, well, how many hours did they bill? We put that request in on Thursday.
(To be honest, $395/hour for a partner at one of the city’s top law firms is probably the going rate, or below it, if that’s who you want to hire.)
We’re trying to piece together what happened and why, and how much it cost in taxpayer money. And we’re bringing you, our reader, along for the ride so you can see how we (and the city) work. We collect little pieces of information, like this one, and then hope to weave them into a story that actually is interesting and makes sense. By taking so long to produce records, the city doesn’t make that process of giving you information easy. State law says records are to be provided “as promptly as possible.”
◼️ Poll results: We conducted another online reader poll last week, after the city produced nothing in the previous 23 days. Some 120 people responded to the question: “Is the City of Charlotte following the state’s public records law, which requires documents be produced ‘as promptly as possible’”? The results:
“Yes. The city needs more than 23 days.”: 4%
“No. What’s taking so long?”: 96%
We’ll keep you updated as this saga continues!
We’re still waiting for other documents requested 28 days ago. A city spokesman said in an email: “Regarding the other items you requested, we are reviewing those files and will follow up as soon as that process is complete.” —Tony Mecia
Related Ledger articles:
“City still struggling with public records requests” (Jan. 8)
“Charlotte’s new interim city attorney helped show his predecessor the door” (Dec. 18, 2024)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events: Restaurant Week, discussion on capital-raising, row for charity
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
JANUARY 17-26: “Queen’s Feast: Charlotte Restaurant Week.” Enjoy sweet deals and foodie thrills during Queen’s Feast, Jan. 17-26, as 100+ restaurants in 9 metro-area counties showcase their cuisine with 3-course prix fixe menus. Explore menus and make reservations at CharlotteRestaurantWeek.com. Price varies by restaurant.
JANUARY 22: “Capital Raising for Start-Ups,” 4:30-6:30 p.m., Vantage South End—West Tower, 1415 Vantage Park Drive. Join the Private Business Roundtable for drinks, networking and a special panel discussion with a star-studded panel of Charlotte entrepreneurs and operators. $25.
FEBRUARY 1: “Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row,” 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sugar Creek Brewing Co., 215 Southside Drive. Row. Honor. Remember. Join Sugar Creek Brewing Co., Crossfit Mecklenburg and 24 Foundation to pull together for the cancer community at the 6th Annual Michelle’s Mighty Mission 24,000 Meter Row. Come be part of the crew dedicated to the pain and suffering that people all over the world endure every day while fighting cancer. All are welcome, and participants must be age 8 or older to participate. Proceeds support 24 Foundation and our local cancer community. $50 per person.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Deadly police shooting in Pineville: Pineville police shot and killed a man after reports that he was threatening people with a gun at a bar called Tavern 51, off Pineville-Matthews Road near I-485. Officers confronted the man in the parking lot, where he made a “sudden gesture” that led an officer to believe he was an imminent threat, resulting in the officer opening fire, police said. The man died at the hospital. It’s the second deadly police shooting in Pineville in the last year. (WBTV)
New governor’s inaugural address: In his inaugural address on Saturday, Gov. Josh Stein said he wants to work with Republican legislators on topics including education, Helene recovery and combating fentanyl abuse. “We have real problems to solve, and we do not have time to settle petty political scores or fight divisive culture wars,” he said. (WUNC)
Judge rules against ESG investing in American Airlines’ 401(k): A federal judge in Texas ruled that American Airlines violated federal law by allowing the company that managed its employees’ retirement funds to prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives instead of focusing solely on financial returns. The ruling in the class-action suit, brought by an American pilot on behalf of 100,000 401(k) participants, appears to be the first of its kind following an increase in what is known as “socially conscious investing.” American is the Charlotte region’s 5th-largest employer, with about 13,500 workers, according to the Charlotte Business Journal’s Book of Lists. (Reuters)
Matthews hires lobbyist amid transit debate: The town of Matthews is spending $60,000 on a lobbyist to advocate for its interests in Raleigh, including pushing for the Silver Line to be built as a rail line. Town leaders have opposed a transit plan agreed to by Charlotte and other Mecklenburg towns that would likely build a future transit line to Matthews as bus rapid transit. (WFAE)
HOA dispute: A northeast Charlotte couple is at risk of losing their home after facing thousands of dollars in interest and late payment fees from their homeowners association stemming from a $100 fine for having a vehicle parked in front of their house. (Observer)
In memoriam: Kyle Fletcher, who started the popular Kyle Fletcher’s Barbecue and Catering in Gaston County 25 years ago, died Thursday of respiratory and cardiac issues. The restaurant has been a favorite of former UNC basketball coach Roy Williams and members of the UNC men’s basketball team. (Business North Carolina)
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