LEONGATHA’S Paws & Ponies, originally the Tiny Gardener, is very much a local business, its friendly staff keen to help people meet their pet and equine needs, with an emphasis on sourcing Australian products where possible.
The large store has a great selection available, but its friendly staff are happy to get in other products customers want.
“Special orders are something we pride ourselves on,” David Humphreys who runs the business with partner Suzanne Jones said, explaining that the evolution of the store since opening almost a year ago has been customer-driven.
He’s proud Paws & Ponies has recently been named a finalist in the Gippsland Business Awards, in the new business category.
David takes a keen interest in all the products the business stocks or gets in, learning what they are and what they do, with staff trained to ensure they are confident and knowledgeable in assisting customers.
Often, dog owners find themselves towed into the shop by excited canines who have detected the ‘scrumptious’ aromas of the ‘dog treat bar’ containing a delightful array of oven-dried snacks, most of which are sourced from a Traralgon butcher.
Taffy the miniature Dachshund arrived during this scribe’s visit to Paws & Ponies, giving her glowing endorsement of the treat bar as she chomped down a dried sardine handed to her by David.
It was her first visit to the store but she’ll be working on her owners to ensure there’ll be many more.
There’s plenty of choice in terms of dry food, including popular premium quality brands such as Royal Canin, Black Hawk, and LifeWise, the latter originally stocked due to a customer request, and proving a hit.
Pet meat is sourced from Gippsland Game Meats in Korumburra.
As well as food, there are dog toys, grooming items and healthcare products, Taffy departing with a seaweed food additive to clean her teeth.
“On the equine side, we’ve got everything from food to supplements, rider wear, tack and stable products,” David said.
Although saddles aren’t stocked, it is possible to get them in if they come from one of the business’s suppliers.
While the store’s name highlights its selection of dog, cat and horse feed and equipment, other animals are catered for, including reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.
The reptile area includes live insects such as crickets and mealworms for various reptiles, with a succulent selection of frozen chooks, rats and mice for snakes.
Products for poultry care are also popular, including feeders, watering systems, and heat globes for raising chicks.
The shop’s former Tiny Gardener identity sprang from its origins as a pop-up plant and gift shop in Meeniyan that led to the establishment of a Mirboo North business of that name, the decision made this year to close that store and focus on Leongatha.
With the range of pet and pony supplies continuing to build, the Paws & Ponies name came to David while out walking his dogs along the rail trail, better reflecting what the business now does.
Along with all the animal needs that Paws & Ponies caters to, its range of ‘Cat’ workwear is proving popular with tradies.
Paws & Ponies offers the convenience of seven-day-a-week trading and an online store, and does its own deliveries around South Gippsland, also offering a loyalty program to help reduce costs for customers.