“It all started with one canary and two finches as a Christmas present for Mum,” said Wild West Pets’ Essie Russell.
“Then we realised there was a gap in the market in Dargaville for pets, especially for small animals like rabbits.”
From this, Wild West Pets was born and now Dargaville’s sole pet shop is selling rabbits and guinea pigs, rats and mice, kittens and birds, including quails and parrots. A wide range of accessories for fish, small animals and birds is also available.
Kerri Russell, Essie’s father, is the proprietor of Soundwaves on Victoria Street. So, in an effort to save on expenses, they have set up the pet shop at the back of the music store and Essie says business is growing.
“It’s created interest and there’s definitely more people coming in now. If it’s viable, we may expand to separate premises in the future.”
Wild West Pets hope to move into fish slowly, as they gain more experience, and they already have some tropical fish, guppies and sword tails in-store for people to come and see.
“I had the opportunity to turn a hobby into a business and, in turn, we can support local breeders by buying their excess animals,” adds Essie, and in a few short months Wild West Pets has come a long way.
