The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Murrieta’s Pet Stop — not ‘average pet store’ — closes
When Shelly Dillingham signed the lease to open The Pet Stop, the parking lot in the still-under-construction Murrieta Town Center was dirt.
That was 33 years ago, before Murrieta was a city and the town itself was still a lot of dirt roads.
Now a bustling city of more than 100,000, Dillingham and The Pet Stop endured until this month, when its doors closed because she said she couldn’t afford to pay an approximately 50% increase on the lease at the center on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, east of the 215 Freeway.
She and her longtime pet groomer, Laura Warfield, said they ran what they fondly call a “momand-pop” business, meaning they knew many of their customers by name, they always handled their many animals with TLC and advertising was word of mouth.
It was a win-win situation because Dillingham said the place, about 1,500 square feet, had always been profitable thanks to her faithful clientele. Also, she saved many customers money with her advice of when — and when not to — take their pets to a vet, something animal owners know can be pricey.
She recalled one owner whose animal had a bowel issue. The vet had told the person it would be $600 to fix it, but Dillingham knew exactly what the problem was and charged $20. Thus, the faithful clientele. “I’m super knowledgeable, been there, done that,” she said of her creature expertise, having been raised around animals.
Both of her parents were dog breeders.
While Dillingham talked to me, she was also talking to Zippy, the small mutt that sat comfortably at her feet. She and animals are like kids and toys — inseparable.
During a recent afternoon, Dillingham showed off the small-town vibe she bragged about, chatting up customers she knows by name while they lamented the passing of her store amid the tell-tale signs of bargains, half-empty shelves and the card table on which she placed the cash register.
Menifee residents David and Wendy Clark have been going there for 32 years. A cat they bought from her, a guy they called “Mr. Lucky,” lived 20 years. Talk about good fortune.
They shared stories with Dillingham about animals and memories from coming to the store for so long.
“This is just terrible,” David Clark said of the place’s demise.
Amber Arenas, 16, lives in the neighborhood and said she always buys her snake’s food there.
“My snake just loves their hoppers.”
What’s a snake going to do without its favored food? Oh, the unexpected ramifications of a longtime pet store closing.
I have my own story. Almost 30 years ago, my wife, Joanne, and I brought our kids Julia and David next door for pizza. While I paid the bill, they wandered over to the pet store and wandered out with a black lab puppy.
Continuing with our animal theme, let’s just say I had what’s known as “a cow,” meaning no way did I want a dog when we were still adjusting to the other canine, Smiley, who we’d acquired from a friend a couple months before.
When it comes to kids and puppies, we all know who won that battle. I had the last laugh, though. I was Midnight’s favorite, as the dog slept with me the night we brought him home and we were forever attached.
Think of all the warm fuzzies this pet store has created for more than three decades.
The feelings were mutual, Warfield said, because for that entire time she woke up and couldn’t wait to go to work.
“It’s a big loss because we help everybody out,” she said. “I don’t feel we’re the average pet store.”
They’ll both continue to offer their expertise on Dillingham’s 3-acre spread a short drive away. Her garage is being converted to a grooming facility so Warfield can still do her thing.
While it won’t be the same, it also won’t be totally different.
“Most of Murrieta has my phone number, so they’ll call me,” Dillingham said.
Good to know.