TOTE-ALLY PAW-SOME: Meet The Furiends Behind Bodega Pets’ Newest Merch Drop (Win!)

AWe caught up with Louisa Chan, co-owner of Bodega Pets, to chat about the brand’s latest merch drop—TOTEGETHER, an adorable new tote bag featuring 25 beloved furry customers who represent the heart and soul of the Bodega community. From dog park darlings to café companions, each illustrated “furiend” brings their own charm to this feel-good, functional accessory. Louisa shares the inspiration behind the design, the magic of neighbourhood pets, and why carrying this tote is a reminder that life is just better—TOTEGETHER. —Noa Nichol

The TOTEGETHER tote is such a heartwarming concept. What inspired you to feature 25 of your community’s real-life “Bodega Furiends” on this new merch drop?

First of all, thank you for the kind words. The concept for TOTEGETHER came from a brainstorm session with our graphic designer, Lauren Spinner. After receiving the Canadian Pet Community Award in the Independent Retailer category last year, we felt it was the perfect time to launch a merch project to honour the incredible community that has supported us and to mark this part of our journey.

The 25 Bodega Furiends are inspired by the real dogs and cats in our community. Rather than depicting specific pets or breeds, each Furiend embodies a different “spirit” — capturing unique personalities and vibes we see in the pets (and their humans!) around us. We love that people can find their own meaning in the Furiends and imagine which ones remind them of their own pets.

Together, these Furiends represent the heart of our Bodega community — all different in looks and personality, but when we come together, we share laughter, help each other out, and make our neighbourhood a better place. That’s exactly why we named this tote TOTEGETHER — because it’s all about being together.

Each pet on the tote has its own personality and story—how did you choose which furry friends to include, and were there any especially memorable submissions?

It was actually our designer, Lauren’s idea to include a total of 25 Furiends on this tote — partly because it made for the perfect square layout! Jokes aside, the real inspiration came from all the stories and memories we shared with her about our community’s pets.

When we first saw her doodles, each character instantly reminded us of one or even several pets we know — they brought back so many good memories. We actually teared up when we saw the design for the first time because it felt like the doodles were trying to talk to us — we could really feel the connection.

For example, the dog on the bottom row, second from the left, always makes us think of the Shiba Inus — the famously picky eaters who drive everyone crazy (but we adore them anyway!). The dog in the top row, right in the middle, resembles a few of the Korean and Formosan rescues we’ve met — they have the sweetest souls. And the cat on the very left of the second row reminds us of the Bengals in our community — confident, playful, and sometimes just a little too silly.

But the Furiend we feel most connected to is the very first one on the top left — that’s the dog on our logo. That’s our own dog, Lex — also known as our Branch Manager in the store.

Bodega Pets has always been about building community. How does the TOTEGETHER tote reflect the spirit of your customers and the connection they have with their pets?

People say “Like father, like son” — and we think that applies just as much to pets and their parents! While the tote might look like it’s all about animals, it’s really about the people behind them too. It reflects the wonderful diversity of the pet parents in our community.

Being able to carry the whole Bodega community — pets and their people — wherever you go, whether it’s to work or school, for an afternoon coffee or a grocery run, we hope TOTEGETHER can be a little reminder of happiness, community love, and the power of togetherness.

What has the response been like since you launched the tote? Have any of the featured pets’ parents come by to see their “celebrity” fur baby in print?

We’ve received tremendous support from our customers and followers on social media, and so much love from the local vendors we work with since launching TOTEGETHER. Many of our regulars came in that very first weekend to get their hands on the tote, and we’ve even had orders from as far away as Vernon, BC, Seattle, and California — it’s honestly beyond what we ever imagined. That’s the power of community: when you put out positive energy, it really does travel.

Since we didn’t specify which pets the 25 Furiends represent, it’s been so fun watching customers try to “spot” their own pets on the tote. Hearing pet parents share their interpretations for each character is fascinating — we’re constantly amazed by everyone’s creativity!

You’re now on Volume 2 of Bodega merch. Can you give us a hint at what’s next—or a dream collab you’d love to see come to life for Volume 3?

We do have something in mind for the colder seasons — something cozy for humans — but quite a few of our customers are also asking for something special for their pets. So, we’re exploring both ideas and seeing which one comes to life first!

Our very talented designer is currently on leave, so Volume 3 might take a little longer than we’d hoped. But hey, good things take time — and we promise it’ll be worth the wait!

Can you tell us a bit about the incredible prizes you are offering for this giveaway?

To celebrate the launch of Bodega Pets’ TOTEGETHER and to spread the joy of a happy, healthy pet community, we’re teaming up with some of the best local pet businesses for a special giveaway for VITA’s readers. Our giveaway partners — Ollie B. Good, Furrytales, Sheepdog, Good Yeah Pets, I Woof Treats and Loveyloos — are all amazing Greater Vancouver-based companies who, like us, are dedicated to building a stronger, better pet community, one pet at a time.

Win! 1 of 3 $150 Bodega Pets + Friends Prize Packs!

Congrats Sammy N. of Vancouver, BC, Alisha W. of Surrey, BC, and Hannah L. of Vancouver, BC, who will each receive the following $150 prize pack from Bodega Pets and friends:

• 1 x Bodega Pets TOTEGETHER Tote Bag
• 1 x Ollie B. Good Zoomies Slow Feeder Bowl
• 1 x Ollie B. Good Sunny Side Up Egg Lick Mat
• 1 x Sheepdog Dehydrated Treats – Lamb Organ Mix
• 1 x Good Yeah Pets Dehydrated Treats – Pork Loin Crisps
• 1 x I Woof Treats Freeze-Dried Raw Treats – Kangaroo
• 1 x Furrytale Dehydrated Treats – Wild & Rooted Chips (Venison & Beet)
• 1 x Loveyloos Original Hearts

Please note: prizes must be picked up in person from Bodega Pets, 130-8051 Leslie Road, Richmond, B.C., Canada V6X 1E4.

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.