Interview Questions
Why did you open up an Independent Pet Store? Is it something you always wanted to do?
Brad, was a K-9 officer and through his K9, Ben, we began to learn about the essential value of Ben’s diet. Ben came to us on a low-grade food and the more research we did, the more we realized just how much he would benefit from a dramatic diet change. Once we understood more and converted him to a higher-grade food, his weight reduced. He was leaner, more athletic, he had more stamina, and his overall appearance and health improvement was dramatic. We continued our research, realizing that this was just the tip of the iceberg. One day we wandered into an independent store and decided that we could probably open our own store and pass on our newfound knowledge.
When Brad retired in 2010 he was his department’s K9 trainer for the state. At that time he was responsible for 41 law enforcement K9’s and their health and necessary longevity. In the years since we opened our store in 2005, we have continued to learn more about the nutritional needs of dogs and cats, the ailments that they commonly suffer from, and the root causes of these ailments. Our customers have come to rely on us as a trusted resource for their pets’ well being.
We value this trust and take it very seriously. We know that as a trusted partner in their pets’ health, we have to continue to learn and provide the best information we can. We have been adopted as the point of contact for many cancer dogs, having fielded three of our own. Through our research and recommendations we see a dramatic increase in life extension and vitality through simple dietary changes and herbal supplements.
What do you feel is unique about your store?
We have an in-depth knowledge of the foods and supplements we carry and we provide individualized consultations for our customers. Our goal is to help all of our customers’ pets live long and healthy lives. Our staff members are all certified pet nutrition specialists. We sell more raw pet food than any other store in Northern California, averaging 500+ pounds per day.
What seems to be the main concerns of the pet parents that walk into your store?
The issues we most commonly see are pets that are overweight, itchy and licking their feet. Because it is so common for pets to be overweight, many people don’t realize the extent of the problem. We discuss the issue with pet parents, and the problems that can arise from it. We also formulate a weight loss plan for the pets to help them lose the weight at a safe rate. We see more itchy pets than we used to. More often than not, the pet parents have already been to their vet and have tried the prescription foods and/or evasive medications that simply mask the issue. They then find our store and seek our assistance. We even have many customers that wish to consult with us prior to going to their veterinarian. Frequently, we can avoid that high cost visit with little value.
Rocco Before
Rocco After
Do you have a success story to share about how the GPH Pet Wellness Life Stress Scan have helped your customer's pets get back into balance?
We have more stories than we could relate. The GPH Pet Wellness Life Stress Scanhas become an integral part of our consultations for problematic pets. We try options that traditionally work, but if those don’t solve the problem we turn to the Scan for more finite information. We actually had one dog’s results indicate the dog is hot on rabbit! This changed our course of action and we were able to alleviate the dog’s symptoms. Pet parents also appreciate the thoroughness of the Scan and the help it provides for their pets. We have not had one dog that we could not help.
Do you have a Holistic Vet that you refer people to if needed?
We only refer our customers to holistic or integrative vets. There are a few in the area that endorse our natural approach to animal health and wellness. Our vet for the past 7 years is an integrative veterinarian and treated two of our dogs that developed cancer, one with Hemangiosarcoma and one with Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia. Both dogs had a standard life expectancy of 6-8 weeks from diagnosis and both lived 10 good months on Chinese herbs, Vitamin C IV, and raw diets.
Do you work with any local animal charities?
We support One By One Rescue Project and Placer SPCA, specifically. We interact with them on social media, provide donations, and sponsor adoption days at our store. We also support Soi Dog Foundation, aiding in the elimination of the dog meat trade overseas. In a perfect world, every animal would have a home, so we support rescues to work towards providing a better life for animals.
What are your plans for the future?
We have received such an overwhelmingly positive response to the products and service we provide that we are now franchising. We have one store opening locally and a few others in the process. We are seeing more people questioning what their vets tell them and seeking more information and a natural path to wellness and healing, and they see us as an ally in this quest. This can only grow the natural product market.
