Creature Comforts

Jul 27, 2016

Pampering PAWS' Special Pets

The dogs and cats the the PAWS Chicago's Adoption Centers sleep and play on some very special, very snappy bedding, designed just for them by Nancy Baird, founder and owner of the animal gift design and manufacturing company, Creature Comforts (creaturecomfortstm.com).

For PAWS’ adoptable animals, Nancy focuses on making cute and brightly colored, fanciful bedding, with signature styles like fringe and piping. Nancy’s company is creating 200 new pieces of bedding for PAWS this year. Nancy and her husband, Wyllys, currently live in California, but 15 years ago, when they were Chicago residents, they met PAWS founder Paula Fasseas and embraced PAWS’ No Kill mission.

They became active with PAWS, donating the fireplace that graces the center of the Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center in Lincoln Park, cochairing the Fur Ball, serving on the Development Board and bringing their design aesthetic and manufacturing expertise to the look and feel of PAWS Chicago. They have been donating pets’ comfy bedding since the Adoption Center opened. These stylish textiles are also durable and can sustain daily laundering to keep the animals healthy.

Nancy has been in the animal business for more than 25 years and has designed at least 400 products. In Chicago, you can find her distinctive Creature Comforts merchandise at Barker & Meowsky in Lincoln Park, Tails in the City off Michigan Avenue, Noah’s Ark Pet Supply in Winnetka, as well as many other pet boutiques.

How did Nancy find herself in the animal product business? It all started when she wanted a different collar and leash than was available at that time for her chocolate Labrador. She covered an existing leash in a floral print fabric, and demand was huge. Nancy’s products include all kinds of animal-inspired gifts, from ceramics in trendy designs to all-natural, human-grade treats with fun names and enticing designs.If you want to give the gift of Kitty Catbernet cat crunchies, this merchandise is for you!

Nancy’s family currently includes three dogs. Her PAWS rescue LuLu, a Great Pyrenees, was brought to PAWS from Moore, Oklahoma, following the devastating 2013 tornadoes. Nancy adopted from PAWS for the same reason she has supported the organization: “We were brought in by PAWS’ No Kill efforts and the progress that they have made working with Chicago Animal Care & Control is remarkable,” Nancy says.