Cade Barker / [email protected]
After working in the pet industry for twelve years, Dylan Carter came up with the idea of owning a business that would provide better nutrition for Woodland’s pets.
“I think people are starting to get comfortable with the idea that you take care of your dog the same way you take care of yourself,” Carter said. “The cleaner (the food) you feed, the longer you live. If you feed processed foods or high-sugar foods and things like that, it’s not good for you. So if you just feed a dog or a cat or a gerbil good, clean food, it’s going to give them a much longer, happier life.”
Carter and his wife, Melissa Curry, opened Hometown Pets in Woodland last April. When the couple opened their pet supply store, they said they left room on the shelves to add products that were being requested by community members. Now, Carter said, they will need more shelves to continue to meet customer requests.
Carter said he also wants to open a pet store in Woodland so people don’t have to drive so far to get healthy pet food. Aside from the hassle, most pet food found in non-pet food stores isn’t what a carnivore needs, he said.
“We care about nutrition, so we choose all of our foods for a reason,” Carter said. “Most of the foods you can buy at the supermarket, probably half of the foods you buy at major supermarkets, all contain corn, wheat or soy. Carnivores don’t need those things. They don’t process them, and so none of our foods contain corn, wheat or soy.”
Carter and his wife also pride themselves on creating a true home atmosphere that begins as soon as a customer walks in.
On Wednesday, August 21, Carter said a customer had told him earlier in the day that he had gone to a major pet store that morning, walked around for an hour, and received no help from an employee.
“We welcome everyone as soon as the door opens. We’re ready to help,” Carter said. “I think that’s a big difference. We’re hands-on, we care about special needs and special dogs and cats…”
The food the store offers is suitable for overweight and underweight pets, as well as other needs, and is available at an affordable price. Carter said that in addition to dogs and cats, they also offer items for rodents. They said they may one day expand their offerings to include reptile food, with Curry adding that sourcing live reptile food is not as easy as expected.
Since opening just over four months ago, feedback from the community has been positive, they said.
“People love it and I think they tell their family, their friends, their neighbors. A lot of people come up to us and say, ‘Oh, my neighbor shops here and we thought we’d stop by,’ or ‘My dog groomer told us about you,'” Carter said.
As of Friday, August 23, Hometown Pets Store has received 11 five-star reviews on Google.
In addition to nutritious foods, the store also offers toys, cat towers, treats and more.
Hometown Pets is located at 1251 Lewis River Road, Suite A, in Woodland and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Follow the store on its Facebook and Instagram pages or call 360-938-2023 for more information.
