The Animal Den opened for business in March of 1992 as a "standard" pet store carrying full lines of pet foods, accessories, small animals, birds, and fish. In addition to the retail business, the store included a full animal grooming salon. As the grooming business grew I was greatly saddened by the conditions of about 98% of the animals that came into my salon. Questions to the owners of these pets revealed that the common dominator in all the afflicted animals was diet. Throwing myself into the study of pet foods and animal nutrition, and being a body builder myself, I realized that each and everyone of us (including our animals) in combination with genetics is a product, emotionally and phsically, of what we eat and drink. From these poor dogs that scratched themselves until they bled, to the paw lickers and tail biters, and those with the infected ears came my resolve to stop carrying products which destroyed the auto immune system in animals and my decision to carry only "all natural", holistic and organic products.

The Animal Den has now developed into an animal "nutrition and grooming" centre in the Kitchener/Waterloo area with customers from all over Ontario. I am proud to say we have never forgotten my original goal; providing the best care for pets that we possibly can. "Success" was never my goal or driving force. My love and concern for dependant pets, and the education of their owners, has and will always be my first "love" in this business.

Two years ago, I extended my operations to become a distributor of animal health products in South Western Ontario. The business expertise I gained in the store and with the grooming salon has been passed onto the distribution business. The animal nutrition and health care knowledge developed in my search for answers reflects itself in the products we carry and in my relationships with my customers. Independent, knowledgeable, educated store owners, breeders, and veterinarians make up our selective client list. My aim has been and will always be to provide the best possible care and products for the pet population, and to provide the best possible service for my customers.

Catherine Stevens
President and Owner
The Animal Den