THIS BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON
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It all started with The Great Gus, a Black and Tan Coonhound adopted by Tim Harrow. When Tim took Gus home, he did what many pet owners do: he changed Gus’s food and learned very quickly what an impact nutrition can have on a pet’s health.
“He wasn’t doing well,” says Tim. “His hair was falling out and he didn’t have any energy, so I went online and researched other foods. I started going holistic and he got really healthy.”
Tim started picking food up from the supplier and became a distributor for Huntsville to sell it to his personal training clients at Harrow Performance. It took off and when he met Tara Kerr – a holistic nutritionist – they decided to open a store in front of Harrow Performance to sell the food and other holistic pet supplies to local dog and cat owners.
Gus died in January, and Tara and Tim welcomed Jethro – a Black and Tan Coonhound puppy – into their family.
“We wanted to be sure we could feed our puppy the best we could find,” says Tara. “I started researching and we were really focused on Canadian companies. Everything in here, all of our pet food, our treats, our supplements, are all Canadian. Our goal is to bring the best quality we can for people and still give them choice at a reasonable price.”
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- HP Pets was inspired by The Great Gus
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- HP Pets has a growing extended family of dogs and cats
HP Pets sells a kibble, a baked food – which by nature doesn’t require the addition of synthetic minerals and vitamins – and a raw diet from Canadian suppliers so that dog owners can choose what works best for their pet, along with supplements, treats, natural-material toys, and feline products.
“I like looking at the history of a company – you learn a lot when you look at their story and call to speak with them,” says Tara. “We look for straight food ingredients with no additives or preservatives – you have to be really careful what treats you feed your dog. And we try to support small businesses.”
HP Pets also delivers personalized service, checking in with pet owners to see how their new food is working for their furry friends.
They’ve only been open on Main Street since June, but they’re already evolving based on what their research tells them and what their clients say they need for their pets. “We are committed to quality and great service,” says Tara.
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- The store runs regular contests
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- A variety of Canadian-made toys and treats are Jethro-approved
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- Toys, treats and supplements are carefully selected
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- Dogs and cats love the dried chicken feet and other delicious treats available at HP Pets
You’ll find HP Pets on Main Street in Huntsville or on Facebook here.
Great to know about new business in the area! Tim and Tara provide a wealth of information to help dogs get nutritionally balanced. As a Canine Behaviourist I count on Tara when I meet dogs who could benefit from a nutrition overhaul because nutrition and behaviour go hand-in-hand.
What a great story! HP PETS is a special place – they really understand the importance of good nutrition for your furry family member. They offer a variety of options depending on the needs of the animal – just like humans, we all have different needs when it comes to the kinds of food we put in our bodies!
Please stop by the store. We look forward to meeting you!