The Pet Corner prepares for launch on Main Street

By Erika Mathieu
Sunny South News

A new pet store is making its way to main street in Coaldale.
Caitlyn and Dylan Walsh, co-owners of the soon-to-launch “The Pet Corner” are working hard to soft launch their new retail space later this month.

The couple said they were drawn to Coaldale’s small-town charm.

“we moved to Coaldale because we really liked the community and we want to raise a family here,” and decided to open a businesses after a building on along 20th avenue was listed for sale on the market.

Caitlin said, “I love that we can just go to Main Street and everything is right there. Everybody kind of knows everybody,” and added, “I just like how the kids in our neighbourhood literally have hockey nets out on the streets and everyone is running to each other’s neighbourhoods or houses.”

Dylan comes from a military background and has worked for Rehoboth in Coaldale for the past few years in addition to volunteering with the local food bank, but said Dylan was seeking a change of pace, and decided to go ahead with drafting a business plan.

“We were kind of looking at different opportunities,” Caitlin said, adding, “we wanted to kind of see like how can we better impact our community.” With pets of their own and a love for animals, Caitlin said the opportunity made sense given there are not any designated retails businesses geared toward pet needs.

Caitlin said she hopes the new business will fill a need for locals with pets, so they can avoid making  a trip to Lethbridge, just for pet food.

Renovations are currently underway at the new retail space, which is located at 1802 20th Avenue, the building which formerly was home to the offices of Sunny South News, before Aug. 30, 2023.

Caitlin said renovations within the historic building have caused slight delays, but that The Pet Corner is aiming for an end-of-October soft opening, with the grand opening set to coincide with the upcoming Night of Lights celebration in Coaldale later this year.

“It’s nice to see that people are getting word of it, just through word of mouth, that seems like COaldale is really good at getting the word out on these things.”

The Pet Corner is planning on catering primarily to cats and dogs and will stock a variety of options from raw food to high-quality kibble and treats, and are hoping to also have a smallo section for other small pets such as hamsters and reptiles.

In addition to pet food and supplies, The Pet Corner will also offer a space for self-serve dog washing for a fee. The retail space will include a tub and washing area complete with shampoo, treats, and other necessities for dogs who are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

“Essentially, they can just go in, wash their dog, and pay, and we do all the cleanup. So they go home with the clean dog, and a clean house. We take care of everything else.”

Once fully open, Caitlin said they are interested in exploring ways to further support local businesses by carrying locally-sourced merchandise. Search “The Pet Corner” business page on Facebook, or follow along at @thepetcorner.ab on Instagram for news and updates.

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