Our Story
The love of an animal is transformative. Animals teach us to be patient and compassionate; it is our responsibility to ensure they live healthy and happy lives.
One of our greatest joys is seeing a family welcome a pet into their home. We especially love sharing the journey as they return for advice, products, and a chat! We remember, as children, the feeling of responsibility and pride when we promised to feed, clean up after, and love our first pet. As adults, we know the delight our children experience when they grasp at a cat’s fur and tug on a dog’s ears for the first time. As we celebrate 25 years of connecting people and their pets, we also recognise the importance of creating a place where people and their pets can come for expert advice, the sharing of our pets’ antics, and the toys and treats that show our pets they really are a part of the family.
We pride ourselves on being a family owned and operated business. This year, our store celebrates 25 years of being a part of the St Ives community. Since its opening in the St Ives Shopping Village, our store has become a place where people visit for advice, products, service recommendations, and new additions to their families.
In 1993, Jane opened the doors to St Ives Purr-fect Pets. The store quickly established itself as the place to go for people needing advice and information about their pets. Jane eventually handed the reins to her daughter, Amanda, who continued the store’s reputation for being an ethically-run business with a focus on the welfare of their animals. In 2007, Amanda welcomed Edwina into the store as a junior staff member. Edwina was soon promoted, and attended TAFE where she received a Cert II in Animals Studies and a Cert III in Companion Animal Services. Edwina also holds a Certificate III in Captive Animals from the Taronga Zoo Training Institute. It is perhaps, then, no surprise that Edwina and her mother, Karynne, bought the business in June 2017. Along with staff, many of whom have worked in the business for more than 5 years, they will continue to build on the strong foundations and are excited about continuing the next 25 years as The Pet Connection.
We are passionate about the store and its role in the community. Our animals come from responsible breeders whom we know and trust. We encourage responsible pet ownership, and ensure people are ready for the commitment a pet requires. We know how important it is to ensure our animals go to loving homes and remain there for life.
We have a strong relationship with Turramurra Veterinary Clinic. Our puppies and kittens are health-checked on arrival to our store, and receive 7-day health guarantees supported by the Clinic.Â
We employ young animal lovers after school so that they may pursue their interest in working with animals, as well as people discovering this passion a little later in life. We have an alumni of staff who have careers working with animals and in animal-related industries. We are proud that our store is listed on their resumes as their first place of employment.
We look forward to welcoming you into our store to experience first-hand our contagious enthusiasm and passion for pets!