Meet an animal communicator at Chico’s

Chico’s Natural Pet Market invites the community to a fun event Sunday, June 5, featuring an animal communicator and an auction.

The event is at 6349A Columbia Pike in Barcroft Plaza, 5-7:30 p.m.

Chico’s owner Danielle Areco will update customers on the store’s pending move to a new location and will describe the store’s new focus on healthy pet food.

The shop is moving a few stores away in the same shopping center, between Harris Teeter and the Lake Barcroft Dental Group. Areco expects the move will happen sometime this summer.

Aqua-Tots, a swimming school for kids, is expected to move into Chico’s current space.

At the June 5 event, Maribeth Decker, an energy healer, animal communicator, and author, will present a workshop on how people can better communicate with their pets. Four raffle winners will get a private session with Decker.

Because the new Chico’s store will be smaller, Areco needs to downsize the inventory. As a result, there will be an auction of pet food and pet supplies on June 5. There will also be an opportunity to buy pet supplies at 50 percent off.

Patrons who bid on items can choose to donate them to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Everyone who makes a donation will get a Chico’s gift card.

Areco will donate dog grooming supplies to lower-income pet owners who can’t afford professional pet services. Reptile supplies will be donated to a school or other educational organization. All the shelving has to be sold, too.

Funds raised at the auction will be used for a new cat atrium at the new store for cats available for adoption.

The new store will no longer sell kibble made using an extrusion process, which is said to minimize the nutritional value of pet food. Instead, Chico’s will only stock pet food produced through baking, freeze drying, or dehydrating.

Examples of brands that produce healthy, nutritious, non-extruded pet food include Stella & Chewy, Honest Kitchen, Primal, Bravo, KN Cravings, and Tiki. Other brands can be special-ordered.

In addition to focusing on healthier pet food, Areco plans to offer more spa services for pets, such as physical therapy, treadmills, and acupuncture.