Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Reed.
Hi Cameron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
If you had told me ten years ago that I would be the owner of a small business, I wouldn’t have believed you. I went to college to pursue a career as a firefighter. I had joined my hometown of Sunnyvale’s fire department as a volunteer while I went worked part-time at a local corporate pet hotel. After getting a degree in Fire Science, completing EMT school, and volunteering in multiple cities as a firefighter for four years, I came to the realization that I no longer wanted that as my future. I was at a complete loss for what to do next in my life.
I was still working at the pet hotel during all of that because I loved being with the dogs, but I knew there wasn’t a real future working there. Call it fate, but shortly after that, a small grooming shop in Sunnyvale became for sale. So I took out a small business loan and purchased the building. Pawtham City was up and operational three days later on January 19, 2017, and it’s been my life’s purpose ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely been a challenge, but I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. The building needed lots of renovations to get it to it’s full potential. We were fortunate to actually be making a profit after our first year of operation, but pretty much every dollar I made I put back into the building to make it what it is today. For the first year or so, I was working 6 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week. It was exhausting, but I did have help. There are too many people to thank that helped me build this business, but my parents Vicki and Mark Reed are at the top of that list. I couldn’t have done this without their support.
We’ve been very fortunate not to have faced many struggles, even during the pandemic. At the start of the outbreak, I wasn’t entirely sure if we were considered “essential,” so I planned on closing our doors for two weeks until we knew more, but I had countless clients telling me they needed our services as some of them had essential jobs and needed us to care for their pets. We took all the necessary safety precautions, and we continued our operations like normal. Even during a global pandemic, we were able to adapt and thrive as a business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Pawtham City?
For starters, the name is a pun. It’s Pawtham City, named after Batman’s Gotham City. Our logo is even a play on the bat signal. We’re a Pet Hotel before anything that also offers Doggie Day Care and Grooming services. My business grew mostly from word of mouth alone, and we’ve had amazing local support the whole way. I took pride in the care we provided for our guests and our reputation alone put us on the map. As our motto says, “we treat your pets like our pets.” We quickly became known for our care and ability to handle dogs that just didn’t do well away from their home and family. We’re smaller, so we had time to get to know each and every pet and to give them the time and attention they needed. They weren’t just a number here. They were a name and a unique personality.
One dog for instance, Kaiya, was not an unusual case, but definitely the most extreme. Her very first stay with us, she did horrible. She was aggressive towards my staff and me and wouldn’t even come out of her room. Kaiya and I have known each other for about two years now. Her pet parent travels for work, so she stays with us multiple times throughout the year. She now sits in my lap and gives me kisses when she’s out for her potty breaks. Another thing that sets us apart from other “local competitors” is our outdoor play yards for the dogs. I invested in artificial turf so our guests can stay clean and safe when they’re playing outside.
What matters most to you?
If the dogs are happy, then I’m happy. It is a dream come true to get to do what I love for a living. It’s still work, but it’s work I’m passionate about. I have an amazing staff that makes my life much easier and gives me peace of mind whenever I’m away that things are still done how I’d do them. It’s never been about the money. I wanted to provide the same level of care that I’d want for my own personal pets if they had to stay somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Email: pawtham.city@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawtham_city/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PawthamCity/
