Bringing Pets Back to Nature: Meet the Founder of Pet Amazon
Pet Amazon is a swim paradise and dog park located in Paya Terubong, Penang that is a paradise specifically for pets.
During holidays, people like to visit a resort that offers relaxation and or recreation to its patrons with accommodations, amenities, and activities. But do you know, there are also resorts specifically for pets. Imagine a place for pet care that was so exciting, it had pets wagging excitedly the moment they walked in.
The Pet Amazon Swim Paradise and Dog Park, a pet resort in Penang, has grown to offer resort-style pet day camp and care, professional pet grooming and overnight boarding that feels like home, all under one roof.
Pet Amazon provides the pet with all the playtime activities, swimming pools, and grooming services. It is a new day in pet care, and it is looking a lot like paradise.
Full interview video on the founder of Pet Amazon
Khoo is a pet lover who is experienced in taking care the fur kids.
An Idea to Cultivate an Environment for Pets
The founder of the Pet Amazon, Khoo Lay Wei, 28, came out with the idea to establish Pet Amazon in 2018 with a group of friends after realizing there was a serious need for a boarding facility that is not sterile, intimidating and boring for pets. They are passionate about pets and hope to give the best to the pets at everything they do.
Khoo shared that everything started when he decided to have his first dog while he was still taking his office job. He sought a companion because dogs exemplify the role of companion animals. Gradually he kept more dogs but he realized that the dogs need a larger space to be able to roam around freely and be comfortable.
“Although I did not keep the pets in a wire cage, they are just living in a larger cage at home. They do not have the chance to exercise, get outside, and socialize. We need to embrace a diverse environment for pets,” Khoo said.
Bringing Pets Back to Nature
Therefore, Khoo came out the mind to create a loving place with dogs’ wants and needs in mind by offering everything the furry kids require. He decided to take the name “Amazon” to create a natural ecological environment. He would like to show the fur kids some love by bringing them back to nature.
“The words ‘Amazon’ makes people feel a strong connection with nature. Because what I want is to preserve the natural environment of the pets. Therefore I decided to take this name,” he added.
By taking the name "Pet Amazon", Khoo hopes that the pets can have a happier and healthier life
in the natural environment.
An interactive map on the location of Pet Amazon.
Click the blue dots and enjoy your virtual tour to Pet Amazon!
With the passion to shape complete pet care that centers to meet all of the pet’s needs, Khoo shared that Pet Amazon provides various services such as pet grooming, pet boarding, pet taxi, pet daycare, pet swimming and others.
According to him, pet grooming is one of the hottest services there. Pet grooming includes bath, nail trim, brush-out and trimming of the fur. There are a few experienced pet groomers there to help the pets look and feel their best. Sometimes they even provide pet transportation to fetch the pets from their doorsteps.
The pet groomer is bathing the dog and trimming the dog's fur.
Some "before and after" comparison photos on the pet grooming.
Full video on the process of pet grooming.
Moreover, Khoo said that pet owners also send their furry kids for a sleepover surrounded by friends and doting grown-ups. There are clean indoor accommodations, synthetic grass dog parks and pools that give them ample space to relax, be active or make friends. Pet swimming is one of their main focus.
“We have a swimming pool that is designed for the pets to go for a splash for free. We believe that this additional service is attractive. We focus on swimming because swimming just might be the perfect cardio for dogs,” Khoo explained.
Most of the dogs love water and enjoy swimming in the pools.
Live video of the dogs swimming.
Pet Grooming and Swimming as the Main Focus
Dogs Are Like Children
Besides grooming and swimming, some of the clients send their dogs to the Pet Amazon for daycare services. Dog daycare works a lot like daycare for children. Clients drop their dogs off when they have to go for work, on a holiday, away for a short break or maybe even a longer stay away.
Khoo shared some of the tips on calming the dogs. Dogs often act like children do. They need time to adapt to their new environment. When the clients hand over their dogs to Pet Amazon on the first day, the dog may feel unaccustomed. Khoo and his workers will assist the dogs to get used to the new surrounding.
“When the dog first comes there, it often becomes anxious. However, after a few days, the dog can come up by itself. We help the dogs develop their habits. We have to make the dog feel at ease and safe, ensuring that it is happy,” he explained.
Khoo said that the best way to train the pets is through the proper use of positive reinforcement and rewards.
They take care of the dogs every day. Every morning, they start to feed the dogs with their first meal at 9am. It usually takes them one hour to feed all the dogs. Normally, they feed the dogs together instead of keeping the dogs in cages so it is easier for them to observe the health condition of the dogs.
“If the dog has a hearty appetite, we can know that the dog is healthy. If it has a poor appetite or looks tired and lies aside, it may sick. Then we have to take action immediately,” Khoo said.
A video on dogs taking their meals together.
Socializing the Dogs
Besides that, Khoo shared an interesting fact about dogs. Dogs are social animals and, like people, they have social behaviors and their social circles. Socializing the dogs can also produce bonds of friendship between dogs and increase their happiness and quality of life.
He explained that a dog can make friends with each other. However, the ability of socialization and adaptability of dogs depends on their behaviors.
“Dogs like humans, they have feelings and tempers. Some dogs might display aggressive behaviors towards one another when others perform a behavior that they do not like so we have to understand the dog’s temper. But some of the dogs are willing to socialize with other dogs,” he explained.
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Socializing teaches dogs how to react to the world around them healthily, without unnecessary fear or aggression.
Fighting Between Dogs
Khoo shared that fighting between dogs is not unusual as they have long been accustomed to it. However, they will be careful with it because it might bring out issues and conflicts for both the owners and animals involved.
They always keep an eye on the dogs especially when they are eating. They have to make sure that every dog has the chance to eat and does not steal each other's food which may cause them to attack each other.
“A lot of dogs have a habit of guarding their food to keep others from taking it away. So they will fight with other dogs. A dog fight can be quite scary and dangerous. They might get hurt easily,” Khoo added.
Some dogs do not like to share their food with others.
Moreover, Khoo shared his experience that they might be bitten by dogs when they try to stop the dogs from fighting with each other. It is not something rare. There was once a husky bit him until he needed a few stitches.
Although there is a risk of getting hurt, they still need to try their best to stop the dogs because they have the responsibility to take care of every single dog that the clients send there.
“If we do not stop them, it will be difficult for both the owners and animals involved. Both the dogs might get hurt. None of us want to see this kind of thing happening so I would rather get hurt,” Khoo explained.
Strong Bonds with Fur Kids
To enhance the quality of life for pets, Khoo said that they strive to build strong bonds with pets by providing exceptional pet care and a safe, clean and fun environment for them.
Khoo cares for every pet and remembers each of their names. He hopes to provide them happy place and favorite things to do to make them feel like family.
“We can understand how animals are feeling. We know the signs the pet is sick. We understand every move the pets make. We have built a strong bond with the pets for so many years. Every time the pet wags his tail, we know what it wants,” he added.
Khoo has built a close relationship with the dogs and treats them like his family members.
Dull Season is the Biggest Challenge
After years of experience in Pet Amazon, Khoo said that he has become familiar with the problems encountered when taking care of pets. Because they have to get used to the pets’ behaviour so this is not a big issue. For Khoo, the biggest challenge is the dull season.
He stated that it is a dull season right now. The business is not as well as the business during the Chinese New Year and yet the pandemic is still going on.
“During the dull season, fewer dogs are coming in for grooming services and staying here. Because people seldom go outstation and go abroad to other countries, especially during the pandemic. Usually, the business will go well during holidays,” he explained.
The number of dogs sent to Pet Amazon decreases during dull season.
Passion for Pets Never Waned
Khoo’s passion for pets never fades away. He is not willing to give up. Although he encountered a huge barrier which is the Movement Control Order (MCO) just one year after the establishment of Pet Amazon, he is very grateful that his clients are very supportive and he is doing what he is interested in.
“Hope that I can keep the business going on in this pandemic. I would like to express gratitude to my dear clients and colleagues who are my driving force. I would not give up. If I choose to give up, where do these dogs go?” He expressed.
Khoo insists to take care of the pets to
give them a home.
“I am grateful that I am doing what I like. My biggest happiness is that I can stay together with the pets that I love. I feel blessed, I am satisfied with what I am doing now," Khoo expressed.
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