Pet Supplies

Female rats have strong instincts and know how to take care of themselves when they are pregnant, if they are given the necessary supplies to do so. They need extra food and nesting material and they require more privacy than usual.

Instructions

1 Provide the pregnant rat with her own cage, if at all possible. During early pregnancy, this may not be that important, but closer to her due date she may become irritable with other rats. Male rats have been known to harm or kill newborns, so it is extra important to separate the female from the male. Rats are pregnant for only 21 days, so don't delay!
2 Provide the mother-to-be with extra nesting material, such as paper towels, unscented toilet paper or soft fabric. She will know how to make a nest for her babies; she just needs the supplies to do so. Make sure she has some kind of house (a small cardboard box will do nicely) so that she feels like she has some privacy.
3 Provide the pregnant rat with extra food. Give her an unlimited supply of high-quality rat chow. Look for food that specifically mentions rats on the label and has 10 to 20 percent protein.
4 Give your pregnant rat snacks with extra protein, such as bits of tuna fish, chicken, cooked egg, cheese, peanuts, almonds or other nuts.
5 Make sure the water bottle is always full! This is very important. Your pregnant rat should never be without water.
6 Change the cage, as needed, until the babies are born. After the babies are born, do not disturb the nest unless it's really a mess. Once the babies start crawling about, you can resume your regular routine of changing the bedding.

The aims and objectives of pet shops are as varied as the people who own and run them. One pet store owner may be motivated by a lifelong love of animals. Another may be in business purely for a consistent income. Some pet shop owners enjoy conveying information about pets to the public, while others prefer building a community based on the care and companionship of everything from bunnies to boa constrictors.

Profit

The primary objective of any business is to make a profit, and pet shops are no exception. These stores sell pets --- dogs, cats, rats, guinea pigs, birds --- along with an array of pet supplies. Food, cages, toys, even sweaters and boots fill the shelves at most pet shops. To make sure their sales revenue is larger than their costs, pet shop owners figure out the average cost per item and how much their rent, utilities, insurance and other business costs are, then price their goods and services to exceed their investments.

Education

Some pet stores offer educational materials, workshops and demonstrations to educate pet owners on topics of interest. Subjects include dog training methods, aquarium maintenance, bird breeding and rabbit grooming techniques. Pet stores sometimes team up with local animal welfare societies to provide information about spaying and neutering pets, as well as the pros and cons of pet adoption. Educating pet owners helps pet shops achieve their profit objective by increasing potential sales to new and existing pet owners.

Pet Care

Pet shops often provide services such as grooming, obedience training and pet sitting. Shot and spay clinics are often part of a pet shop's services, offering affordable vaccinations and veterinary care. Pet store chains such as Petco sometimes provide mobile grooming services and online first aid for pets. Some pet shops have do-it-yourself dog bathing facilities, complete with shampoo, brushes, towels and drying stands. Providing pet care services not only brings in revenue but also presents the pet shop as a team of caring professionals.

Community Events

Some pet shops hold community meet-ups, such as a dachshund lovers' group, to create close ties with pet owners and encourage pet owners to congregate. Shops may also hold costume parties or contests and offer pet photography services. In Birmingham, Alabama, the Pet Shop "Plus" pet store holds a "Picture With Santa Paws" day just before Christmas, and an "AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day" in August. Holding special events or creating pet lover communities introduces the pet shop to potential customers.

Operating a business is an exciting venture. And it's important for new business owners to do what they can to construct their business plan with the planet in mind. This is especially important for those working in industries that release chemicals into your city sewer such as pet grooming. Keep the following things in mind when opening your "green" pet grooming business.

Instructions

1 Write a dog grooming business plan and come up with all the information necessary for getting start up money and the licenses you need. Contact your county or city business office to pay the licensing fees and learn of any other permits you may need.
2 Find a store front where you will open your dog grooming business. Look specifically for any shopping strips or other buildings in your city that are LEED-certified or "green" in other ways such as solar panels or skylights or that are set up for recycling service.
3 Set up a rainwater collection system so you can use the rain water in the washing portion of your business. Consult your local water authority office for help in knowing what equipment you'll need to accomplish this.
4 Purchase wind or other energy credits to offset your usage and implement ways to save water such as a tankless water heater, time limits on baths and water saving tubs. You can also check the water temperature to make sure the temperature is set no higher than 120 degrees. Not only will this save you water; it will also prevent scalding the pets you groom.
5 Order supplies from a green dog grooming supply company. Biogroom is one such company that specializes in environmentally-friendly and pet-safe grooming shampoos, conditioners, finishers and other products. They offer dog, cat and ferret products.
6 Get the word out about your grand opening by sending flyers to local veterinarian offices, city parks where people walk their dogs and to dog training facilities. Make sure to mention that you are a green dog grooming business and if you are the only one in town, you'll especially want to point this out.
7 Continue to market your green dog grooming business by offering to speak at local civic group meetings. Organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club and Jaycees and Junior League are always looking for speakers for their weekly meetings and promoting a business that is as warm-and-cuddly as pet grooming while also being kind to the environment will make you a popular potential speaker.

Introduction

A pet store owner's duties may vary depending on the type of pet store she owns. A pet store may or may not sell live animals, it may sell items for only one type of animal, or it may sell only fish. It also depends on whether the pet store is independently owned or whether it is a franchise, "big box" pet store.

Independently Owned

The independent pet store owner has various duties, from working behind the counter to customer service to ordering supplies and tasks such as accounting. Part of the independent pet store owner's duties includes inventory. If the store is adequately staffed, the pet store owner may just come in to check inventory, order supplies as needed, check the live animals to be sure the employees are feeding and exercising them and doing various employee reviews. She will also do her daily office work and run sales reports, do any accounting that must be done and make bank deposits.
If she carries live animals, she may have to make calls to breeders to see if there are more puppies or kittens she can buy for resale. She must be sure her supply line of breeders are ethical breeders who treat their animals with love and care, make sure the puppies have their puppy shots and are otherwise healthy. When she does get animals in, she must also make appointments to have the animals vetted to be sure the animal is truly healthy to be sold.
The pet store owner must also tend to duties such as bill paying, making sure the proper insurances are kept up to date and are in force, and must renew licenses as needed per county and state regulations.
An independent pet store owner must also deal with any lawsuits that may be filed against the store for various reasons such as slip and falls, defective products that may cause harm to animals or people, or an animal that dies soon after a customer bought it. Certain things should be spoken of prior to heading to the court system, but there are always going to be people who run to the court system first.

Franchise Pet Store Owner

The franchise pet store owner has all of the same duties as an independent store owner. She must also report to the franchise company. She must send in weekly (or monthly, depending on the franchise) sales reports. The sales reports show what percentage will be owed to the franchise company. The franchise company may also have rules and regulations that the store (including the owner and employees) must abide by. The owner makes sure that all franchise rules and regulations are followed.

Conclusion

While being a pet store owner can be a great position for some people and they get the benefits of being around many animals--particularly if her store allows shoppers to bring their pets--it's a lot of hard work, especially if the store sells live pets. This article has only touched on pet stores that carry dogs, but many pet stores carry cats, fish and birds. While the responsibilities are the same, each type of animal needs its specialized care. For example, fish tanks need to be cleaned; birds must have interaction. If there is not enough staff to do this throughout the day, the responsibility will fall on the pet store owner.

Buying a new pet on the Internet is never a good idea. In addition to unscrupulous dealers and puppy mills/brokers selling their "stock" to unsuspecting buyers--online scammers use elaborate websites and fabricated stories to bilk substantial amounts of money out of people for pets that don't even exist. And the pets that do exist, very often have serious health problems. Here are ways to keep from getting duped by online pet sellers.

Instructions

1 If buying a dog from a breeder, always visit in person to see how the animals are living and to ensure that it's not a puppy mill or irresponsible "backyard breeder." Puppy mills are inhumane factory-style operations that churn out puppies to be sold for a quick profit to pet stores and over the Internet. Puppy mill puppies are often sickly and may have a host of inherited health disorders due to their mothers spending their entire lives in cages being bred over and over. When dogs are constantly pregnant they can't pass on the proper nutrients to the next litter. Buying dogs from pet stores or over the Internet only serves to keep cruel puppy mills and other irresponsible breeders in business.
2 Don't buy pets from a distant buyer, seller or adopter. Often times, buyers aren't aware that their puppies were born overseas in a puppy mill, then sold to a U.S. broker. Tens of thousands of dogs are shipped into the United States from puppy mills in countries such as Russia and China.
3 Check references, which can include veterinarians and others who've purchased pets from this breeder. And make sure you deal directly with a breeder, not a broker.
4 Don't deal with anyone who promises a free puppy for just the cost of shipping. Scammers in these types of transactions often ask you to send more money because the nonexistent dog is "stuck at the airport" for various reasons such as customs complications or problems with the crate.
5 Don't fall for claims that the seller represents an animal shelter or is a "good Samaritan" offering the pets for "adoption." Reputable shelters do not place animals by sending out mass emails and then shipping them to people.
6 Never purchase a puppy with the promise of getting the AKC (American Kennel Club) papers from the seller at a later time. It takes 6 to 8 weeks for puppies to be ready for a new home, which is ample time for the breeder to receive the papers. It takes a couple of weeks through the mail and only a week if registration is done online. The AKC cannot help you get papers after the sale. In other words, if the seller tells you the dog is "register-able"-run the other way.

Hermit crabs are small crustaceans that live inside of shells and are most commonly found on beaches and in tide pools. Because of their small size and ease of care, hermit crabs are sometimes kept as household pets. Supplies for hermit crabs are available at aquarium and fish supply stores. As with all pets, one of the most important aspects to keeping a hermit crab healthy is to clean its cage and supplies properly.

Instructions

1 Place the crab in a shoebox or other small, lidded container prior to cleaning.
2 Remove the crab's water dish, toys and rocks from the cage. Place all items into the sink. Turn on the water faucet and clean each item by scrubbing the surface thoroughly with a scrubber sponge and hot water.
3 Remove all cleaned items from the sink and dry each one thoroughly with a clean, dry towel.
4 Fill the dish with 2 cups of water. Add a dechlorinating solution to the water as directed by the instructions on the packaging.
5 Use a small scoop to scoop up the sand or gravel in the bottom of the habitat, and pour it into a large-mesh strainer held over a bucket. Shake the strainer slightly to sift the material through it. Move the strainer away from the bucket and turn it upside down to discard the debris.
6 Continue sifting until all of the sand or gravel has been cleaned. Then pour the cleaned material back into the bottom of the crab habitat and spread it in a smooth, even layer.
7 Place the crab supplies back into the cage, and fill the water bowl with the dechlorinated water.
8 Return the crab to its home.

Animal lovers often see their pets as small, furry family members, which is why they're willing to spend over $35 billion dollars on pet products every year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Whether you love animals or simply want to take advantage of a practical business idea, a pet store can be a cost-effective business.

Legal Fees

Of all business structures, a sole proprietorship is the easiest to establish since it doesn't involve an incorporation process. Yet you'll probably want to give your business a name other than your own, which means you will need to file a DBA ("doing business as"), also known as an assumed name or trade name, with the county clerk. A DBA allows you to present your business as "Sonny's Pet Store," for example, rather than by your real name. The cost to file a DBA ranges from $10 to $100. The county, city or state in which you live may also require you to obtain a business license, sales tax license or both, so contact the sales tax department to find out.

Store

The cost of a brick-and-mortar store location will vary greatly depending on various factors, such as where it is and how big it is. For example, a small store in an upscale neighborhood can cost you thousands more per year than a larger one in a less-popular area. A home-based pet store is cost-effective since you already own the space, but because some local governments forbid home-based businesses, you may have to forgo this idea. You can sell your goods online through stores such as eBay and Amazon for fees as low as 25 cents per item or through your own website for as little as $3.50 a month. A website is a wise idea in any case because it gives you access to customers outside your local area.

Supplies

Wholesalers sell goods to pet stores at a discount, without sales tax and, if needed, in bulk quantities. They often require some proof that the buyer actually owns a business, which means that you may have to obtain a resale license from the state tax department or an employer identification number from the Internal Revenue Service. The cost of your supplies will depend on what you buy, how much you buy and where you buy them. You need a commercial feed license to sell your own pet food, which may cost as little as $50. Contact the secretary of state to find out who administers the license in your state.

Advertising

No business can survive if no one knows about it, and since not everyone who knows about your pet store will become a customer, you need to advertise constantly. Pet-related blogs, forums and social networking groups cost nothing and are especially beneficial if your business is Internet-based. You can also save money by printing your own ads from your home computer and posting them in places your customers are likely to go, such as vet offices, humane societies and pet hotels. Because the least expensive way to drive business is to keep the customers you already have, use a free business card template to help customers remember your pet store location and pass it on to others.