FETCH! Pet Care of The Tri-Cities to Holland

Thu, Jan 22, 2009

BY MARK BROOKY

After more than three decades working for a company that processes the hides of dead animals, a Robinson Township man

is now in the business of caring for living pets.

Kevin Velik, 51, retired from the Eagle Ottawa Leather Co. as vice president of operations for Europe in December 2007. He

worked for the company, which closed its 96-year-old Grand Haven plant in October 2006, for 33 years. The Grand Haven

worked for the company, which closed its 96-year-old Grand Haven plant in October 2006, for 33 years. The Grand Haven

native's father had worked for Eagle Ottawa for more than 40 years and his grandfather had worked for the tannery for more

than 30 years.

Kevin Velik had spent his last eight years with the company running its facilities first in Argentina, then in Mexico and South

Africa, and finally in Europe for his final year and a half. His wife of 32 years, Charmaine, worked for Eagle Ottawa for 14

years until they departed for Argentina.

The Veliks — who have a grown son, Joshua, 27 — returned to their Grand Haven-area home after retirement and worked

out a plan to develop some of their own businesses. They first bought and renovated a duplex in Grand Haven Township for

rental income, then found Fetch! Pet Care after searching franchise opportunities.

"We made a decision that, with the economy, a service-oriented business made sense right now," Kevin Velik said.

"Pet-related industries appear to be recession-resistant. Obviously, we love pets and always had them."

After further exploring the business, then spending time in San Diego training at the corporate headquarters last fall, the

Veliks officially launched the local pet service on Jan. 16.

"A large part of it is to get the pet-sitter team going," Velik said. "We have eight throughout the Tri-Cities. (Pet sitters) have to

be age 21 or older for insurance and bonding purposes."

The local Fetch! Pet Care franchise serves the entire Ottawa County Lakeshore, from Holland to Grand Haven, and can offer

services outside the defined territory as long as there isn't another franchisee there. Currently, the closest Fetch! Pet Care

franchise is in Lansing.

The business offers a "four-legged fitness service" custom-designed to meet the needs of a pet and its owner, day care,

midday potty breaks, in-home overnight pet sitting, boarding at a pet sitter's home, poop pick-up and taxi services, and baths.

They also offer horse and animal care for small stables and "hobby" farms, and carpet cleaning.

"I've always been passionate about pets, so I know how important it is for pet owners to have complete peace of mind while

their loved ones are not with them," Velik said.

Velik said Tuesday they have one customer so far — for pet sitting for an upcoming vacation — but he said they've been

receiving many phone calls inquiring about the new service.

Founded just over six years ago, there are now about 200 Fetch! Pet Care franchisees across the country, supporting more

worked for the company, which closed its 96-year-old Grand Haven plant in October 2006, for 33 years. The Grand Haven

native's father had worked for Eagle Ottawa for more than 40 years and his grandfather had worked for the tannery for more

than 30 years.

Kevin Velik had spent his last eight years with the company running its facilities first in Argentina, then in Mexico and South

Africa, and finally in Europe for his final year and a half. His wife of 32 years, Charmaine, worked for Eagle Ottawa for 14

years until they departed for Argentina.

The Veliks — who have a grown son, Joshua, 27 — returned to their Grand Haven-area home after retirement and worked

out a plan to develop some of their own businesses. They first bought and renovated a duplex in Grand Haven Township for

rental income, then found Fetch! Pet Care after searching franchise opportunities.

"We made a decision that, with the economy, a service-oriented business made sense right now," Kevin Velik said.

"Pet-related industries appear to be recession-resistant. Obviously, we love pets and always had them."

After further exploring the business, then spending time in San Diego training at the corporate headquarters last fall, the

Veliks officially launched the local pet service on Jan. 16.

"A large part of it is to get the pet-sitter team going," Velik said. "We have eight throughout the Tri-Cities. (Pet sitters) have to

be age 21 or older for insurance and bonding purposes."

The local Fetch! Pet Care franchise serves the entire Ottawa County Lakeshore, from Holland to Grand Haven, and can offer

services outside the defined territory as long as there isn't another franchisee there. Currently, the closest Fetch! Pet Care

franchise is in Lansing.

The business offers a "four-legged fitness service" custom-designed to meet the needs of a pet and its owner, day care,

midday potty breaks, in-home overnight pet sitting, boarding at a pet sitter's home, poop pick-up and taxi services, and baths.

They also offer horse and animal care for small stables and "hobby" farms, and carpet cleaning.

"I've always been passionate about pets, so I know how important it is for pet owners to have complete peace of mind while

their loved ones are not with them," Velik said.

Velik said Tuesday they have one customer so far — for pet sitting for an upcoming vacation — but he said they've been

receiving many phone calls inquiring about the new service.

Founded just over six years ago, there are now about 200 Fetch! Pet Care franchisees across the country, supporting more

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than 1,800 cities, Velik said.