For the last 15 years, Tina Alexander has worked for a human
resources department. Now she
’s simply known as “Top Dog.” That’s just one of the fun and
quirky changes that has turned Alexander’s life around since she
left the non-nonsense business world to the fun of owning a shop
she’s about – The Pet Station.
For the last 15 years, Tina Alexander has worked for a human resources department. Now she’s simply known as “Top Dog.”
That’s just one of the fun and quirky changes that has turned Alexander’s life around since she left the non-nonsense business world to the fun of owning a shop she’s about – The Pet Station.
“One of my passions has always been my dogs,” Alexander said of her Shih Tzus, 11-year-old Zuess and 3-year-old Chili. “They talked me into it. They want a place they could come to work with me.”
The two dogs have come to work with Alexander at her 16860 S. Monterey Road dog grooming and bakery shop almost every day since she opened on Oct. 18.
And along with her title as Top Dog, Alexander’s co-owner, Marina Azucena, is known as Deputy Dog, and the titles of a few of her five employees read as Pooch Raker, Groomus Maximus and Hairy-do Specialist.
“We’re goofy, but we have fun with it,” Alexander said.
There is almost nothing ordinary about Alexander’s shop. Besides the 1950s decorations and music and checkered flooring, the shop also has a bakery window at the front desk that displays several different baked treats for dogs.
“Our bakery is the work of a friend of mine, who has adapted human recipes to dog recipes,” Alexander said. “They’re salt-free, sugar-free, fat-free, but not fun-free.”
Among the bakeries goods for sale are Benji’s banana nut biscuits, Beagle Bagels and Bow Wow Brownies. Prices for the treats are about a dollar each. The bakery can even make birthday cakes for dogs.
The doggy treats are the creation of Charlene Williams, a Morgan Hill chef who recently started up Hoochie Poochie, and the Pet Station is her first client.
Also, parked in front of the grooming “bonetique” (a term Alexander is trademarking), is the Pet Station’s taxi.
“It’s great advertising,” she said about the pink car she drives to work every day that has a taxi light on the top. “Everybody looks at it.”
But the taxi serves as more than just a clever advertising tool. It really is a dog taxi.
“It’s very popular,” Alexander said. “We pick up and deliver (pets) for elderly and handicapped people for free, and then for everyone else it’s just $5.”
The shop also boasts some high-tech grooming equipment, including a ClipperVac system that makes for a more exact haircut and keeps the shop clean while allowing three groomers to use it at the same time. The shop also has blowdryers that don’t get hot, protecting dogs from getting burned.
The Pet Station will groom any dog or cat after it receives its first round of rabies shots, which generally happens by the time a dog turns 3 months old. For a regular grooming, the price varies from $25 to $65.
“It depends on the size of the dog,” she said.
Alexander said that while going all out with her new business was taking a big chance, she didn’t jump into it without making sure that there was a strong market for her business.
“The last two years have shown that even with a poor economy, the pet care industry has mushroomed,” she said. “It has completely blossomed.”
Alexander said The Pet Station will have a float in Morgan Hill’s holiday parade. She also plans to do a monthly makeover for a dog at the San Martin Animal Shelter, giving it a better chance of being adopted.
The Pet Station is located at 16860 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill, just south of Dunne Avenue. Details: 776-3101.
