The Family Pet – Focusing on Four Legged Family Members

Along route 59 in Nanuet lies The Family Pet, a local pet shop headed by dynamic duo Pete Sherlock and Doug Stone. Locals may remember Pet Nutrition Center, the business that occupied the space prior to The Family Pet for over 20 years. When the owner shared with Doug Stone his plans of retiring and shutting the place down, Stone couldn’t bear it. He had been a loyal customer of Pet Nutrition Center for 15 of the 20 years the shop had been open, and he knew of no other place in Rockland that provided the same level of knowledge and service. Stone knew right away he needed to step in. However, Stone had previously worked in the spirits business, a far cry from the pet supplies store he was now in charge of. 

This is the part of the story where Stone’s right hand man Pete Sherlock comes in. Sherlock had worked with the owner of Pet Nutrition since his high school days, going back over 20 years. Sherlock, who is now the general manager and partner at The Family Pet, projects a sense of quiet confidence that overlays a wealth of knowledge and a desire to help. Confirming this first impression is Stone, or as his name tag declares, the “Top Dog”. 

Stone lauds Sherlock’s expansive knowledge around pet food, toys, homeopathic medicine and more, noting that every product that enters the store has been thoroughly reviewed by both of them. Stone stated that without Sherlock, the store would not be at the level it is today. Sherlock was quick to deny, and it’s obvious that these two don’t actually care who the “Top Dog” is – they just care about Rockland’s dogs. 

Between the two of them, Sherlock and Stone were able to fully update the store. They created a website, an email, a point of sales system, and a way to special order products for customers. Currently, they state that they special order products for customers almost daily to meet the needs of every pet. Most recently, the two have implemented delivery throughout Rockland County, as well as in-store pickup. 

An aspect of The Family Pet that exemplifies the care these men have for animals is their adoption support program. Any person who walks in with adoption papers for their cat or dog will receive “Everything they need to get into the house and be completely set up,” says Stone. For example, a person who shows up to The Family Pet with a bona fide adoption certificate for a cat gets set up with a litter box, litter, wet cat food and dry cat food, and treats, all to make that transition a little bit easier.

The Family Pet also supports the community through their promotion of the Feed the Ferals organization Near the front of the store, Sherlock highlighted a rack of shirts, sharing that 100% of the proceeds from these shirts are donated to a Rockland County organization which cares for unsheltered  cats and dogs . Stone shared that they keep a bin near the check out for any donations towards Feed the Ferals, mentioning that this bin gets filled up approximately once a week. “People are very, very generous,” said Stone. 

Pet owners should be sure to keep a close eye on The Family Pet’s Facebook page for events like their Pet-icure Pop-Ups, their discounted vaccination clinics, and adoption events. “We are Rockland’s only family owned and operated pet food and supply store. We are looking to not only build a brand here, but give back to the community” says Sherlock. It is clear that the team at The Family Pet are doing everything they can to craft that connection with the community. 

When coming up with a name for the store, Sherlock and Stone knew that “family” had to be a part of it. The two share a strong belief that family run businesses is what makes an area great – and that local essence was a large reason Stone was a patron of Pet Nutrition for so many years. “I used to feel like when I was a customer I could go in and ask [Stone], ‘my dog is having an issue, what should I do?’. And he would tell me.” The two said how they would rather put money into their communities by supporting small businesses, rather than filling the pockets of CEOs from big-box corporations. They hope to be able to “…offer a more unique and tailored product assortment than some of the other stores might offer,” says Sherlock.

The Family Pet’s selection starts as local as possible – their go-to begins right here in Rockland County. They then expand to New York, then the East Coast, and so on and so forth. Stone and Sherlock strive to keep things local, while keeping in mind the budget constraints of an average family. When they do have to go outside of the U.S., Stone and Sherlock have stringent regulations on what they will allow into their store. With both of them being doting pet owners, this level of care is no surprise. 

“I will tell you this – I love coming to work every day. If you had told me a year ago that I would own a pet supply store, I would have said you’re out of your mind,” laughed Stone. “And a year later, here I am. I’m loving every minute. Our customers are the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet, and that includes their pets”. Sherlock followed Stone, sharing the privilege he feels in being able to help owners keep their pets healthy and happy.

The Family Pet is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. They are closed Sundays and Mondays. Peruse their selection or make a purchase from their online store at thefamilypet.store/, or call 845-623-3214. 

 

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