Debra Campbell acknowledges being a latent pet lover. It was not until she was an adult that she had serious leanings toward the care, feeding and spoiling of dogs, cats and horses.
Now, the owner of TimberWoof Pet Boutique in Prescott provides items for “pets and their people.”
“Prescott is a very dog-friendly town,” she said.
She opened her first pet boutique in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. “When I moved here, I didn’t have a store for a while, but it kept calling me,” she said. “I still wanted to do something. When a place in Bashford Court opened up, I decided to go for it.”
Her shop is above the Prescott Brewery in the historic building.
Campbell grew up in Monterey, Calif. “We had one cat and later on, one small dog,” she said. “All of this kind of developed after I was an adult. I wanted my kids to grow up with animals.”
She wanted her children to have the experience of loving and caring for pets and knowing that a pet can enrich one’s life. “Dogs can teach you so much. They love you without any reservations. They don’t judge and they devote their whole life to being your best friend,” she said. “We started with a Husky, which is kind of an unusual breed to choose, but I searched and found out how loving they are and what a good family pet it could be,” she said. “We had lots of indoor kitties.”
That dog was with her for 14 years. “She grew up with the kids. She was my best friend her whole life,” Campbell said.
When she opened her pet boutique in San Juan Capistrano in 2001, the dog went to work with her every day. Now, her son and daughter are both grown and married and
“have pets of their own that go along with their families.”
Campbell found her way to Prescott while visiting her daughter who was in college in Tempe. “I kept hearing this was a good place to live, and it was.”
She shut down her original store when she moved.
“Once I got here, I really wanted to have another store,” she said. She opened TimberWoof in 2011.
Although opening a business in the middle of a recession is risky, she says business has been good. “I’m seeing things pick up slowly. I’m hoping that things continue to get better.”
Despite the ups and downs, she loves the work.
Campbell had been a legal secretary for 30 years. “That was enough for me. I needed a change. Now I deal with the public that is always coming into the store happy and eager to talk about their pets. Sometimes they bring their animals with them. It’s just a happy-type career to have. If it is something you love doing; it doesn’t feel like a job.”
She also publishes Flagstaff-Sedona Dog magazine, which is devoted to rescue animals. It helps place orphaned dogs and has stories of interest to pet owners and provides advertising space to pet-related businesses.
“I devote a lot of my life to dogs and cats. It seems to be my passion,” she said.
Campbell supports the Yavapai Humane Society and other animal organizations. Her huskies were local rescues that she adopted. “I have donation jars that benefit spay and neuter. I try to support other local merchants and businesses. I have five different artists who have their work in my store. I sell food bowls that have the image of your dog in wood,” she said. “We have jewelry, ceramics and hats all made locally.”
For pet lovers, she offers gifts and items that represent many different breeds of dogs, cats and horses. “We have a little western section. We have socks with dogs, coffee mugs, wallets, stationery, pillows – a lot of things for the house,” she said. “I am always looking for new merchandise for pets and their owners. We also have designer collars and harnesses for dogs and cats and dog treats.”
All treats at TimberWoof are organic, safe and made in the United States. That goes for dog toys, too. “I am very careful about not having anything from China that could be toxic,” Campbell said. QCBN
TimberWoof is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 928-443-9663.
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