HISTORY

Not too long ago, in certain areas in Kula Lumpur, Mr Chew Boon Kee, Pets Wonderland founder, noticed that pet shops were just stores selling animals. The animals were treated as commodities, housed in squalid conditions, with little thought (or investment) for their comfort and well-being. Mr Chew dreamed of something much more user friendly and much more pet friendly. Impressed by the big box stores of US Petsmart and PetCo and the mall-based Pets Paradise Australia, Mr Chew decided to marry the two concepts. The first Pets Wonderland outlet was opened in 2001 in MidValley Megamall occupying a floor space of 8,000 square feet, perhaps the largest pet store in Asia at that time.

Despite the phenomenal growth of the company, standards and services have been maintained at the highest levels. Every branch has its own resident veterinarian, not only to serve cutomers but to ensure the store's animals are healthy and meet the highest standards. Products on offer have increased significantly to 15,000 SKUs.

In tandem with expansion to four pet superstores, the company's warehouse space has doubled and its computer system has been upgraded.

THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT PETS WONDERLAND

• 4,000 small animals, including rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets and hamsters, were flown in from the Netherlands to greet customers on opening day of the Pets Wonderland 1-Utama store
• When the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia shopped at the MidValley Pets Wonderland store, the pets he bought were taken in a fleet of Mercedes to a waiting private jet
• Pets Wonderland was home to a 20lb Flemish Giant rabbit named Furball
• Pets Wonderland at 1-Utama houses a four-storey aviary
• As a joint promotion with Buena Vista Columbia Pictures on the movie Snow Dogs, Pets Wonderland brought in 15 gorgeous Siberian Huskies with blue and green eyes
• In another promotion with Buena Vista on the movie Anaconda, Pets Wonderland gave away ball pythons as prizes for radio and magazine contests
• The Pets Wonderland job application form states, “Only pet lovers need apply”