Start & Run a Pet Business. Heather Mueller

      It has been my privilege over the past eight years to do what I love most each and every day. The experiences I have gained in that time have been both emotionally and physically rewarding. My experiences clearly affirm I have chosen the best career path I could have for myself by working with animals. Although, I cannot take all the credit, as I did come by the choice honestly; coming from a family of ranchers and being raised in a small town in Alberta, Canada, provided endless opportunities to be around a variety of animals.

      I started my work with animals because of an inherent love for all creatures. Throughout the years I have been very fortunate to work with animals in many different capacities, such as animal rescue, animal-assisted therapy, and animal homeopathic practitioner.

      While completing my Bachelor of Social Work degree, I learned of an innovative therapy technique called animal-assisted therapy. The primary goal of this therapy was to utilize the human-animal bond to promote trust and respect in client-therapist relations. The more I researched this innovative concept, the more excited I became. Finally a way to meld animals with my chosen profession; in Canada, 80 percent of therapists or counselors are registered social workers.

      I was elated because I had found the ultimate career. The only problem was that no agency or organization had implemented anything like this in my city at that time. This surprised me greatly, as there was strong support for various animal businesses and services in the area. The bulk of my research indicated that the practice models for animal-assisted therapies support the idea that human-animal interactions can produce positive psychological and physiological benefits in both humans and animals. This theory is based on thousands of years of human anecdotal evidence. At the time the Chimo Project had also just released groundbreaking, solid empirical evidence supporting this idea.

      I did the only thing I could think of and created Pets for Health Sake, Animal-Assisted Therapies Services. My rationale was simple: If there were no services like this then I would ensure that there would be. With the support of my employers at the time, we established a joint program, at first, between the Schizophrenia Society (Lethbridge and area chapter) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (Lethbridge/Alberta South Region). Because of their trust in my professional abilities to pioneer this concept within our city, and their own experiences of the healing power of animals, I was able to create a flexible program that delved into all aspects of human-animal interaction therapies. The program’s mission statement was clear: “To provide individuals the opportunity to interact with animals and receive the benefits thereof.”

      I have had the pleasure of working with rabbits, cats, bearded dragons, and dogs in a variety of different ways; facilitating everything from literacy to young offender programs. Focusing on each animal’s individual abilities and strengths I sought to create strategies that would reflect the unique benefits of each animal for humans.

      During that time I also became involved with the Lethbridge & District Humane Society, first as an office volunteer then as Vice President of the Board of Directors and eventually President. President was a title I held proudly through two consecutive two-year terms. By working with the Humane Society animals and becoming aware of their varying ailments, I became interested in different options for treating the animals with which I was in contact. I found many of the Western approaches to animal medicine seemed to lack a cure for progressive chronic symptoms. This in turn led to years of me researching various natural and Eastern modalities and methods.

      While completing my certification as an Animal Homeopathic Practitioner I offered my services to the community through Tail Blazers (Lethbridge), Inc. With emerging companies such as Healthy Spot in Santa Monica, California, and Tail Blazers Inc., originating from Calgary, Alberta, I was able to expand on the concept of a retail-health-food store for pets catering to all aspects of the whole being of the animal, from nutrition to health care. With my background and certification, and the support of Tail Blazers’ Lethbridge owner, Tammy Luchansky, the Lethbridge franchise was the first of the Tail Blazers stores to be able to offer this type of a business combination.

      My focus has always been to improve the pet industry, no matter on which side of it I became involved. Throughout the past eight years I have chosen to introduce emerging trends and innovative ideas to my community while working with animals.

      As the pet industry continues to expand at an accelerating and unprecedented rate, there are endless possibilities when it comes to creating a successful pet business. With a little ingenuity and a solid business plan the sky is truly the limit for this industry.

      What I have learned from my experiences working with animals has been instrumental in my continued personal and professional successes. It is my hope in writing this book that you will also be able to create a successful and ethical venture that expresses your love of animals.

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      The Different Types of Pet Businesses