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The Pet Business
Pet businesses in Florida are marking their territory
Florida entrepreneurs are capitalizing on the growing pet care business.
Pet Supermarket
Founded in 1973 by Chuck West as Pet Circus, the family-owned company grew to a chain of nine stores by 1984. 
Impressed by the success of Home Depot and Office Depot, West decided in 1986 to reposition his business after the large supply store chains and rebranded the Sunrise-based chain as Pet Supermarket. Today, Pet Supermarket operates 127 stores in Florida, Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada and North Carolina and is the seventh-largest pet specialty chain in the nation, according to Pet Business magazine. Sales grew from $184 million in 2010 to $213 million in 2011 and the company hired 180 workers last year.
Bayside Pet Resort and Spa
Robert Huff, 65, transformed the former Rip Van Winkle bowling alley in Sarasota into a pet resort and spa, which was scheduled to open last month. The business offers boarding, day care and grooming services. The 22,000-sq.-ft. facility features one and two-bedroom suites, some with plasma TV screens and web cams for owners to keep an eye on their pets remotely.
Meanwhile, doggie day care and boarding businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of the pet service industry. Florida businesses include homegrown day care chains like Pet Paradise and Camp Canine as well as franchises of national chains like Camp Bow Wow and Central Bark.
Ark Naturals
Susan and Jay Weiss launched their natural pet products company in 1996 in Naples and are now posting several millions of dollars in sales annually. The company’s best-selling products, Susan Weiss says, are its dental products, which include Breath-Less, a chewable brushless toothpaste, and the Breath-Less Plaque Zapper, which is added to a pet’s water and helps prevent dental decay, plaque, tartar and bad breath. Ark also offers natural flea and tick control products, joint supplements, probiotics and an all-natural herbal calming formula.
Southwest Florida Veterinary Specialists & 24-Hour Emergency Hospital
The Bonita Springs business has an ambulance equipped with an oxygen system, blood pressure and heart monitoring equipment, a defibrillator and other devices. Veterinarian Wendy Arsenault, who owns the business, specializes in cardiology.
Stemlogic
Jason Griffeth, co-founder and COO, says his Weston company’s animal stem cell therapy kits, launched in 2010, can shave time and cost off stem cell therapy treatment, making it better for veterinarians and their patients.
Rocky’s Retreat Canine Health & Fitness Center
Dogs can go for a swim, get a $60 massage or experience an $85 aromatherapy session. Sherri Cappabianca and Toby Gass opened the Orlando business last year after Cappabianca was laid off from her job as a software engineer.
Rick’s Dog Deli
Charlie Guns’ Orlando store sells custom, breed-specific meals for dogs. The former equities trader says revenue has tripled from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012.
Woof Gang Bakery
Paul Allen and his wife, Cara, launched a chain of pet food stores 4½ years ago. The Orlando-based company carries an array of products, from pet foods, treats and supplements to toys, fashion accessories and grooming services.
