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From a Toehold to a Community Hub In creating Friends of Bolt\u2019s Rescue, Greg and Derry have taken the compassion that saved Greg\u2019s life and turned it into action \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thanksgiving night two years ago, Derry walked into a small vacant storefront downtown. \u201cIt was tiny, but it was a toehold,\u201d she said with a smile. She signed the lease that very night. Friends pitched in, shelves were stocked, and Two Bronze Dogs was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy wife\u2019s got such amazing direction of thought and just vision for what she does that I just kind of sit back,\u201d Greg said on the surprising call he got from Derry that night. They were officially business owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The little shop filled quickly, \u201c400 square feet packed to the gills,\u201d as Derry put it. The community response was overwhelming. \u201cPeople loved what we were doing, but truthfully, in that space we were just surviving,\u201d she admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This summer, their second location opened on West Baddour Parkway, a larger store that allowed them to expand their offerings. There is even a \u201cdoggy cafe\u201d with tables, a refreshment station, and a giant doghouse for photo ops. \u201cIt\u2019s a place for people to come in, sit, and let their dogs stretch their legs,\u201d Greg explained. \u201cWe wanted it to be a gathering place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n More Than a Pet Store But more than the products, the approach sets them apart. \u201cWe don\u2019t believe in \u2018bad dogs,\u2019 and we don\u2019t judge owners either,\u201d Derry said. \u201cYou\u2019ll never hear us say, \u2018Oh, you\u2019re feeding the wrong food.\u2019 We meet people where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg echoed that spirit. \u201cI\u2019ve had people come in saying they\u2019re feeding the cheapest food they can find. I tell them, \u2018That\u2019s fine. If your dog likes it, that\u2019s fine.\u2019 Then I show them a few affordable treats to add variety. It\u2019s not about sales. It\u2019s about helping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Heart Behind the Name \u201cThe \u2018two\u2019 is, of course, us,\u201d Derry explained. \u201cAnd dogs represent loyalty, faithfulness, devotion \u2014 all the qualities we want to live by.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for \u201cbronze\u201d? \u201cGold felt gaudy, and silver felt like second place,\u201d she said with a laugh. \u201cBronze felt warm, soulful. That\u2019s the feel we wanted our store to have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a name rooted in love \u2014 between a couple who have weathered quite a few storms together and between a community and its pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faith, Resilience, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors \u201cWe\u2019re not rich people,\u201d Derry said. \u201cBut we believe in showing up for others. You can sense when it needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That philosophy has shaped not only their rescue work but the atmosphere of their stores. \u201cWe want people to know they can come as they are,\u201d Greg said. \u201cWhether their dog has special needs, whether they\u2019re on a tight budget, or whether they just need someone to listen, we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking Ahead With Open Arms Still, Greg and Derry are not focused on numbers or growth for growth\u2019s sake. \u201cIt has to keep our culture,\u201d Derry said. \u201cIt has to treat people the way we want them treated. That\u2019s more important than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the day, their vision remains simple. As Greg put it: \u201cWe want to be the place people know they can come as they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SEVERAL YEARS ago, Greg was at his breaking point. \u201cI was on my way to suicide, to be quite honest,\u201d 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. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":23138,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>\u201cLiterally from the day we got together, we started doing rescue work together,\u201d Derry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>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\u2019s Rescue, their own nonprofit.\u201cOur customers love knowing their purchases are indirectly helping rescues,\u201d Derry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/11\/6-3-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/strong>The name Two Bronze Dogs reflects their love of animals and the love they share with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Their store and their nonprofit, Friends of Bolt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/lebanon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/11\/2-4-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n