Kibbles and bits
David A. Ratner – There is no such thing as a free lunch, unless perhaps it’s kibble. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno gave a plug to David A. Ratner, the owner of the Dave’s Soda and Pet City stores, during a recent ceremony welcoming a new dog to the Springfield Fire Department, “Does your dog have gas?” Sarno asked, invoking the chain’s well-known dog food commercial. Ratner deserves the credit. He has volunteered to supply the dog, a Dalmatian-retriever mix known as Tiller, with free dog food for life. Ratner has been doing the same for Dakota, the Springfield Fire Department’s fire sniffing Labrador. Tiller, rescued from the T.J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, is being trained to help teach schoolchildren and others about fire safety and prevention. Ratner provides food for a number of working dogs in other Western Massachusetts communities as well. That’s a lot of kibble.