From seahorses to hedgehogs
New Berwick pet store offers ‘something different’ to local animal lovers
Opening a pet store has brought big change for owner Mike Garnhum.
Leaving behind his job of the past five years, driving transport and plow trucks in British Columbia, he moved home to Berwick to find a career that would keep him in the area. He’s always loved pets, so he decided to make it his job and opened T&M
Pets and Supplies.
“It’s relaxing. It gives you something to look forward to, coming down and seeing this place,” he says.
In addition to Berwick being his home for more than 20 years, he chose the community as his base of operations because it seemed like it needed a pet store, referencing an aging population and a lack of options for pet supplies.
The store in the Berwick Industrial Park has been open since September and Garnhum says reception has been good so far. While the transition hasn’t been easy, he’s glad to be closer to home.
“A new business isn’t going to take off overnight. It takes time. It takes hard work.”
He says his business offers more fish options than other stores in the area, and he’s willing to order in anything he can. In addition to pet supplies, the store has chinchillas, ferrets, hedgehogs, lizards, birds, and fresh and saltwater fish. He recently added seahorses to the mix.
“I try to tell people it’s something different, something to bring them in and just see. A lot of people have never seen them in real life.”
Garnhum plans to set his store apart from larger chains through great service and lower prices.
“I’m not here to be a millionaire overnight. I’m here to make a living,” he says.
He wants customers to feel welcome, to come in and play with the animals.
“They’re not locked in the cage and ignored until they’re bought. They’re out running around in a little playpen or somebody is holding one. When someone does buy them, they’re friendly already.”
He’s also working with local shelters and rescue groups to gather donations and connect customers with cats and dogs. The store had its first adoption day on Nov. 24 with Fetch a Dog Rescue and Transport on hand with six dogs, some of which were available for adoption. They also hosted a barbecue with hot dogs and buns donated by Foodland and Independent, raising $250.
T&M Pets and Supplies is open every day and has one full-time employee, aside from Garnhum and a few volunteers. Currently located at 100 South St., Unit 18, the store will be moving to 175 Commercial St. in January. Garnhum expects to only be closed for a few days during the transition.
“We’re just a mom-and-pop shop that will do what we can to help our customers out.”