Visit Westwood’s Small-Town Pet Shop

Susan Weinrich has always loved animals and longed to help people find the perfect one to take home for their families. Thirty-two years ago, she opened a pet store in Westwood. Since then, has been helping local animal lovers feed and care for their pets.

Weinrich said when she opened the store there weren’t many other pet shops in the area. The closest store was replaced by ShopRite in Hillsdale, so all of the pet owners in the area began coming to her store.

“We have great loyal customers. Unfortunately a lot of them do grow up and move away,” Weinrich said. “But a lot of people came here as children and now they’re bringing their children back.”

With the new era of technology, Weinrich said she’s finding it harder to grab children’s attention with pets.

“We sold a lot more animals before video games, computers, iPhones and iPads,” Weinrich said. “It’s been hard to generate new hobbies with live things that take responsibility. We lack the responsibility now in the world with so much at your fingertips.”

Her goal is to get families interested in animals again.

“I always hope that I can start a family on a new hobby, on an aquarium or small animal or a bird,” she said. “To show responsibility, love and compassion, ‘cause that’s really why we are here.”

Weinrich said despite the growing competition with technology, dogs and cats win the hearts of enough families to keep her business running. Dog and cat products sell more frequently than other animal items, she said. They’re something pet shop owners can always count on.

“Thank goodness for dogs and cats,” Weinrich said.

Westwood Pets Unlimited sells products for fish, birds and small animals such as reptiles. It sells small animals including hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, tropical fish, gold fish, birds, finches, parakeets and cockatiels.

Of all the animals in the store, Weinrich said they sell the most crickets, which become food for the other small pets.

“We sell thousands of crickets a week,” she said. “But hamsters are pretty much a staple pet, as well as some of the lizards.”

Westwood Pets Unlimited also does in-store grooming. There are two full-time employees, two part-time employees and two groomers on staff.

“We also have a full-time dog,” Weinrich laughed.

Part of the store’s small-town charm is attributed to Ayla Boudrot, a 7-year-old dog who’s been in the store since she was just 11 weeks old.

It’s this personality and love for animals that welcomes customers into Westwood Pets Unlimited.

Visit Westwood Pets Unlimited at 15 Westwood Ave., Westwood.