After 12 years, the Bartletts are finally leaving the doghouse.

First started out of a desire to offer natural food for pet owners in Kirkland, Chuck and Marti Bartlett have sold Dooley’s Dog House on Market Street. The new owner is expected to start running things Dec. 1. The deal was finalized Nov. 3.

For Chuck Bartlett, it’s been a fulfilling and pleasant experience.

“I’ve just really loved it,” he said. “Customers would bring their cats and dogs in every day for a biscuit.”

Chuck Bartlett opened Dooley’s Dog House in 2002 after buying out All the Best Pet Care and revamping it to include natural, raw pet food. An avid dog and cat owner, Chuck said he took an interest in unprocessed pet food when his cairn terrier, Beans, suffered from dwarfism, which affected his joints and made it impossible for him to run. He took Beans to the vet, who assured him the dog would not live long and should be put down. Instead, Chuck Bartlett started making his own food for Beans, as well as researching supplements and food. Beans lived to be 17 years old.

During his search, he discovered many of the food manufacturers were out of the area and few local stores offered the products. A Vancouver, B.C. business sold the food, but he said he was not allowed to bring them across the border because they had not been approved by the FDA – he later was able to import them through customs when he opened up the store.

At the time, Chuck Bartlett was working as a small business consultant, mainly for dentists, but his interest in pet food, as well as his wife’s support, led him to get into the business himself.

“My wife said I should follow my heart,” he said. “Marti really encouraged me to open the store. She saw I was burned out.”

After he bought out All the Best Pet Care, he renamed it Dooley’s Dog House, after his wife’s dog, Dooley, whom Chuck described as their 24/7 companion.

In addition to offering raw natural pet food, Chuck Bartlett said they also used the store to help people adopt hundreds of dogs and cats – photos of the animals are displayed with their owners on the back wall of their store.

Both Chuck and Marti are passionate about animal rescue and have raised funds for various organizations in the region such as Pasado’s Safe Haven. They’ve also hosted “Yappy Hours,” in which people brought their dogs and family to socialize over wine or beer. The proceeds would go to various pet-oriented groups like Kirkland Dog Off-Leash Group. Last year, the Bartletts were presented with an “Angels for Animals” award by the Community Cat Coalition.

The plaque was presented during the store’s sixth annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction fund raiser held at The Grape Choice wine shop. This event raised $7,500 for Joplin’s Animal Rescue & Sanctuary and the Community Cat Coalition.

They’ve also maintained a loyal customer base, whom Chuck Barlett said come in daily to buy biscuits for their dogs and cats.

“I know my customers by their first names,” he said. “If I don’t know theirs, I know their dog’s name.”

Chuck Bartlett said they finally decided to sell the business in the summer out of a desire to travel and spend more time with their grandchildren. Also, after Dooley died, he said the mood of the store changed, as well as when the store cat, Phoebe, died at 23-years-old.

“I was used to Dooley hoot and howl with joy when we first got to the store,” he said. “Without them it wasn’t the same, it wasn’t as much fun.”

He also said the store is in good hands and new owner shares his passion for providing healthier pet food.

“I really feel like we got a lot of dogs and cats healthier and into homes,” he said.