Four Your Paws Only moving to Woodworkers' Outlet site

In other pet news, Pet Quarters' Web site says Maine company eyeing North Conway location

There are at least two big local pet store developments to bark about over the coming few months.Brian and Kathy Ahearn confirmed this week they have signed a lease to move their successful and popular Four Your Paws Only Store of South Main Street in North Conway Village to the former Woodworkers Warehouse just south of D'Angelo's on the Route 16 North Conway strip.Meanwhile, the Web site for Pet Quarters of Westbrook, Maine, says that the 10-store company plans to open a store in North Conway. A spokesman in an e-mail declined to state where the location would be, and did not pinpoint the timing of the opening other than to say it will be in 2009. The spokesman wrote that the company has received several positive emails from the area and that the company is looking forward to doing business in the valley.Pet Quarters operates eight stores in Maine and two in New Hampshire, with the latter located in Manchester and Newington.We haven't heard anything and we have nothing on file [from Pet Quarters], but then [applicants] like to keep us in the dark for as long as possible, but we will let you know when and if we hear anything, said Conway building inspector David Pandora March 9.According to the company's Web site, Pet Quarters first opened on Payne Road in Scarborough, Maine, in the fall of 1993. The Web site further adds: The Maine-owned company has focused on stocking quality products, and evolving its inventory to keep up with needs and trends. Customers are a priority at Pet Quarters, and we aim for a high degree of customer service. Visit our new Rockland location in Harbor Plaza on Camden Road. Also, watch for the opening of our new location in North Conway, New Hampshire.Asked about the competition that will be posed by the pending arrival of Pet Quarters, Kathy Ahearn said Four Your Paws Only will compete by doing what they do best: provide friendly, up close and personal service.We will continue to be who we are and focus on what we do best and that is: to continue to support and give back to our community, provide a safe, pet friendlyplace for pets and their owners to enjoy, and continue to offerour customers with the warm, friendly customer service that has made us who we are today, said Kathy Ahearn.She said Four Your Paws has been successful because of that personal touch.We will continue toprovideour customerswith over 40 years of our combined knowledge and experience in the pet industry and provide a safe, fun enviroment where people can continue to spend time with their pets.Everyone says we are the local canine hangout, and like "Cheers" for pet owners. People love to come hang out with us and we know everyone's names, well ... the pets names that is!Pet's have always been welcomed in our store and we will continue to do so, said Kathy Ahearn.She said Four Your Paws Only will also continue tohost its pet friendly events in its new store and outside the store with other organizations including Bark in the Park at North Conway's Schouler Park every September with The Conway Humane Society.We have been great supporters of animal shelters and welfare groupsfor years andeveryone knows we have a real, genuine love of animals and care about your pets. That's what makes us different, said Kathy Ahearn.Kathy Ahearn said she and husband Brian have operated Four Your Paws Only at its present location across from the Congregational Church in North Conway for the past 15 years.We're going to miss the village, said Kathy Ahearn, adding, however, that the new 5,500-square-foot location at the former Woodworkers' Warehouse will give them more space for their ongoing activities as well as allow for greater amenities, such as a pet bakery.She said the imminent move is to take place at the first of May.We plan to spend the last week of April transitioning over to our new location at 1821 White Mountain Highway (Route 16) and be in for May. A Grand Opening Celebration Weekend is being planned with lots of pet related activities. Date to be announced, said Kathy Ahearn March 9.She said the new location gives Four Your Paws Only the ability togive customers what they have been asking for: more space, better parking, and more pet friendly activities.Which in turn, says Kathy Ahearn, means more quality petsupplies and pet food, morepet-themed gift items, and more space to accomodate pets when they come in to visit and attendevents.The addition of the new on-site Pet Bakery will enable Four Your Paws Only to prepare bakery treats on site.Customers can watch the treats being made or special order specific treats for their own special doggie occasions. Iftheir pet has certain dietary needs, we can talk with them about what theycan have or can not haveand bake it to order for them, said Kathy Ahearn.The new location will also offer a new Puppy Playroom, which, she said, has been designed specifically with the local community in mind. The 20-by-30-foot space will be put to use for Four Your Paws Only's can hold popular Saturday Morning Puppy Playgroup.We have been seeing up to 30 dogs and puppies every Saturday morning for playgroup. Now we have a designated space just for them. The space will also allow us to host guest speakers and demos and allow us to offer obedience training classes right here in the store now, said Kathy Ahearn.Given the depressed state of the economy, Kathy Ahearn affirmed that the pet supply economy is nonetheless doing well.Pets can bring happiness, comfort, and joy to humansin this bleak economy. Nothing makes you feel better than a wagging tail that'shappy to see you and sloppy wet kisses. Our customerslove their animals and have continued to take good care of their precious family members during these trying times, said Kathy Ahearn.For further information about Four Your Paws Only, call 1-800-327-5957 or visit www.fouryourpawsonly.com.