SEVERAL YEARS ago, Greg was at his breaking point. “I was on my way to suicide, to be quite honest,” he said.
As he drove down a rural road in Missouri that day, he noticed a commotion on the roadside. A couple of men were chasing after a yellow dog. Greg pulled over to help.
“The dog immediately ran to me and jumped in my car,” he said. “That moment changed my direction.”
Greg took the stray to a nearby shelter, where they named him Bolt. Out of that life-changing moment came a renewed sense of purpose for Greg and the Middle Tennessee nonprofit Friends of Bolt’s Rescue. It was also the spark for what has become Two Bronze Dogs, a Lebanon pet shop Greg now runs with his wife, Derry
From a Toehold to a Community Hub
“Literally from the day we got together, we started doing rescue work together,” Derry said.
In creating Friends of Bolt’s Rescue, Greg and Derry have taken the compassion that saved Greg’s life and turned it into action — helping transport animals to safety, supporting families in crisis, and keeping pets in loving homes whenever possible. With a few years of pet industry experience under their belt, it was clear to the couple that they had more to give.
On Thanksgiving night two years ago, Derry walked into a small vacant storefront downtown. “It was tiny, but it was a toehold,” she said with a smile. She signed the lease that very night. Friends pitched in, shelves were stocked, and Two Bronze Dogs was born.
“My wife’s got such amazing direction of thought and just vision for what she does that I just kind of sit back,” Greg said on the surprising call he got from Derry that night. They were officially business owners.
The little shop filled quickly, “400 square feet packed to the gills,” as Derry put it. The community response was overwhelming. “People loved what we were doing, but truthfully, in that space we were just surviving,” she admitted.
This summer, their second location opened on West Baddour Parkway, a larger store that allowed them to expand their offerings. There is even a “doggy cafe” with tables, a refreshment station, and a giant doghouse for photo ops. “It’s a place for people to come in, sit, and let their dogs stretch their legs,” Greg explained. “We wanted it to be a gathering place.”
More Than a Pet Store
The shelves at Two Bronze Dogs tell a story. There are treats from local bakers, herbal blends from nearby makers, and toys and supplies from brands that give back. Plus, a part of the sales go to Friends of Bolt’s Rescue, their own nonprofit.“Our customers love knowing their purchases are indirectly helping rescues,” Derry said.
But more than the products, the approach sets them apart. “We don’t believe in ‘bad dogs,’ and we don’t judge owners either,” Derry said. “You’ll never hear us say, ‘Oh, you’re feeding the wrong food.’ We meet people where they are.”
Greg echoed that spirit. “I’ve had people come in saying they’re feeding the cheapest food they can find. I tell them, ‘That’s fine. If your dog likes it, that’s fine.’ Then I show them a few affordable treats to add variety. It’s not about sales. It’s about helping.”
Customers feel that difference. Some have even embraced the store as a safe space, especially those with reactive or special-needs pets. Two Bronze Dogs will even open privately after hours for those dogs (or cats!), giving them the freedom of the shop all to themselves.
The Heart Behind the Name
The name Two Bronze Dogs reflects their love of animals and the love they share with one another.
“The ‘two’ is, of course, us,” Derry explained. “And dogs represent loyalty, faithfulness, devotion — all the qualities we want to live by.”
As for “bronze”? “Gold felt gaudy, and silver felt like second place,” she said with a laugh. “Bronze felt warm, soulful. That’s the feel we wanted our store to have.”
It is a name rooted in love — between a couple who have weathered quite a few storms together and between a community and its pets.
Faith, Resilience, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Their store and their nonprofit, Friends of Bolt’s Rescue, operate with the same guiding principle: compassion without judgment. They have helped families keep their pets during hard times, covered vet bills, and even stepped in with housing when neighbors had nowhere else to go.
“We’re not rich people,” Derry said. “But we believe in showing up for others. You can sense when it needs to be done.”
That philosophy has shaped not only their rescue work but the atmosphere of their stores. “We want people to know they can come as they are,” Greg said. “Whether their dog has special needs, whether they’re on a tight budget, or whether they just need someone to listen, we’re here.”
Looking Ahead With Open Arms
Two Bronze Dogs may only be 2 years old, but already it has grown from a tiny shop in historic downtown to a thriving business with two locations and a reputation for heart.
Still, Greg and Derry are not focused on numbers or growth for growth’s sake. “It has to keep our culture,” Derry said. “It has to treat people the way we want them treated. That’s more important than anything.”
At the end of the day, their vision remains simple. As Greg put it: “We want to be the place people know they can come as they are.”
And in that vision lies the true gift of Two Bronze Dogs: a place where love shows up in the form of a wagging tail, a kind word, or a neighbor willing to lend a hand. GN
