Gwena and Jeff McIntosh, Just 4 K-9's & Kitty 2

When my family and I relocated from New England to southwest Oklahoma, we had two priorities. One was to find a home to buy so we could quickly settle in; another was to find a veterinarian and a dog groomer for our family pet. We decided on Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 based on referrals from happy and satisfied customers.

The grooming and pet supply store quickly became our one-stop headquarters for everything from grooming to food, toys, and accessories for all the pets in our extended household. With 6,000 square feet of custom-designed space, Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 is perhaps the finest specialty store in the country for dogs and cats.

Gwena and Jeff McIntosh first came up with the idea for a pet grooming business in 1990. Gwena had previously held a variety of outdoor jobs involving physical labor, from planting trees with the forest service to a decade spent in the military working with field artillery. She enjoyed working outdoors, but when Jeff was stationed in Germany, Gwena began grooming their cocker spaniels, Mack and Misty, using books and equipment she had purchased to train herself.

Friends were soon asking her to wash, groom, and brush their own pets, so Gwena and Jeff set up an area in their attic with a grooming table and a tub. She discovered she had an aptitude for the work, and Jeff wholeheartedly encouraged his wife’s talent and passion.

Returning to America, Gwena attended the Southern Grooming Institute in South Carolina to earn the designation of Certified Master Groomer. The test is administered by the National Dog Groomers Association of America and requires proficiency with all breeds recognized by the American Kennel Association. She advocates a national policy requiring certification of groomers in the industry. At present, there is no such regulation in place. In fact, Gwena and her employee Virginia are the only two Certified Master Groomers in the state of Oklahoma.

When Jeff retired from the army, he and Gwena came to Lawton, Oklahoma, and began a modest dog grooming service, eventually adding pet accessories such as brushes and combs. When the business was just getting started, they were “lucky to make $500 a month.” Gwena recalls how they spent hard-earned money to advertise before word-of-mouth resulted in positive buzz. Now, she and eight experienced employees groom more than 1,000 dogs each month, not including walk-in clients who drop by for services such as toenail clipping and ear cleaning.

Gwena never expected to make a living doing something she so loves and enjoys. She is overcome with emotion as she tells me, “I stumbled into doing something I love to do. My dreams have been fulfilled. They just kind of fell into place.”

As word spread among pet owners in southwest Oklahoma, a larger commercial space was needed. In the summer of 2009, Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 relocated to a storefront in a heavily frequented business district. The new store is modern and spacious. Jeff and Gwena sat down together and thoughtfully designed the cavernous space with areas for retail gifts and accessories, toys, pet food, grooming, and other supplies.

Inside, the store conveys a fun, friendly, and comfortable vibe that makes customers want to linger among the reference books and magazines and racks of doggie fashions. The couple’s four dogs have the run of the place and can often be found meandering in the aisles and office or napping near the reception area: Houdini, a Rat Terrier; Troy, an Australian Shepherd; Daisy Mae, a Basset Hound; and Stormy, who is fondly called a Mutt. 

With a staff that includes six retail clerks and eight groomers, appointments can now be scheduled two weeks in advance instead of the previous four weeks. Gwena and Jeff give all employees personal hands-on training, and the entire staff takes pride in the friendly, knowledgeable, and professional customer service that Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 provides. One of the groomers, a high school senior, was recently accepted to Cornell University where she hopes to study science and animal behavior. She credits her after-school job with giving her practical experience and training in managing a business focusing on the health, nutrition, and grooming of canines.  

The expanded retail space allows Jeff to indulge his creativity on the retail side of the enterprise. The merchandise and displays remind me of a festive candy shop, and I ask him why he stocks such a vast assortment of items. “Everything I stock is what our customers have asked for,” Jeff tells me. He admits that he could probably sell triple the volume of merchandise seen in the store, especially as Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 has become a destination for pet owners and animal lovers in the Texoma region of southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas.

Upon entering the store, visitors are greeted with a gift area that resembles a cozy, decorated living room. Every kind of home and pet accessory, cups, mugs, figurines, and knick-knacks is showcased. Crystal-studded collars and pet jewelry beckon from their glass cases, along with stylish dog carriers and tote bags. Books, magazines, and greeting cards are displayed on racks, and there are even key chains and mouse pads available for purchase.

Next is an area with bedding and pillows of every size, surrounded by coats, sweaters, costumes, and other garb for a stylish pet wardrobe. An entire wall is filled with leashes, collars, and chains. Soft and hard toys add a splash of color to another wall while fanciful food and water bowls are a decorative touch. An array of specialized shampoos, conditioners, and other grooming products is available to maintain a silky coat between groomings.

The sheer volume and variety of pet food is also impressive. Jeff firmly believes in offering products that he would feed to his own dogs, so the store features an extensive line of natural and holistic pet food. He stocks raw items for special diets and super premium dry and canned pet food that is free of fillers such as corn (which may contain mold), by-products, and chemicals that can aggravate allergic reactions. Customers have commented on how something as simple as a change in diet has relieved their pets of various problems and symptoms. A large selection of natural chews and treats is also delivered from a local farm.

The dog grooming facilities are housed at the back end of the building. An emphasis on cleanliness and maintenance is apparent in the glassed-enclosed area. The dog kennels are large and spacious, with floor drains and hoses that run the length of the space. Non-toxic cleaners are used for disinfecting on a regular basis. Equipment includes a vacuum system to control fleas, and special shampoos and fungicides are used for a range of skin conditions. For the safety of the animals, new clients must present evidence that all shots are current, especially for Bordetella, or kennel cough. Also, Gwena does not accept puppies that are younger than four months old. From puppies to seniors, every effort is made to accommodate the safety and comfort of the pets. 

The focus on health and well-being is what sets Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 apart from other pet centers and grooming services. The McIntoshes have initiated many innovations in the concept of what a pet store should be, and their labor of love has evolved into a regional community resource for canines.

For Gwena and Jeff, educating customers on the health and nutritional needs of their pets is a part of their mission. Unlike veterinarians who may see family pets only once or twice each year, Gwena and her groomers are alert to any changes in a dog’s skin, hair, anal glands, and physical condition that could signal a health issue. “It’s easier for us to notice any changes in their condition because we see them more often,” she says. It is a point of pride for her that local veterinarians trust her advice and judgment.

Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 has also partnered with no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations such as the Bully Breed Humane Society, Fort Sill Stray Facility, Lawton Animal Welfare, and the Southwest Oklahoma Animal Network. Gwena and Jeff donate pet food to shelters and rescue groups that take dogs out of the pounds and into no-kill shelters and foster homes. They also offer space in their store for pet adoptions.

Customers can come to the store on designated days and select a stray or abandoned pet to take home. The convenience of pet adoption in a conducive retail environment makes the possibility of a permanent home for these neglected animals more likely. Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 has signed The Humane Society of the United States Puppy-Friendly Pet Stores pledge—with a commitment to support animal adoption programs instead of selling puppies that prop up the puppy mill trade.

The McIntoshes are especially supportive of an employee who cares for up to 50 shelter dogs and strays. Lizzie Druvenga runs the Bully Breed Humane Society, which is part of a network that takes in these dog breeds: American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, English and French Bulldogs, Doberman Pinschers, and Rottweilers.

Lizzie offers individualized attention for each dog. As a groomer, her animals are socialized, cleaned, spayed or neutered, immunized, and implanted with a microchip for identification and recovery before they are put up for adoption. Lizzie informs me that local veterinarians provide discounted medical services in support of this humane alternative to animal pounds.

One dog, Sky, was rescued from a gas chamber shelter only to be hit by a car. Sky required expensive emergency treatment, and a pin was inserted into her leg. Donations raised almost $400 toward the $700 bill. Financial donations through the Bully Breed Humane Society website and modest adoption fees help pay for all medical needs.           

Lizzie had shown me an adorable litter of puppies she brought into the workplace. An animal control officer in the Oklahoma City area had contacted her about a litter of orphaned puppies. They had been abandoned in a cardboard box at a busy intersection one chilly day. The shelter had learned of her and the organization, located 100 miles away, so Lizzie and animal control officers met in a town midway.

The puppies were only a few days old at the time, and one puppy did not survive. All the siblings were given the names of main characters in the highly popular Twilight novels: Bella, Edward, Jacob, Alice, Victoria, Esme, Rosalie. There is a happy ending to this tale: when they reached adoption age, six were quickly adopted.

The Bully Breed Humane Society is a 501c3, Non-Profit organization that depends on charitable contributions to survive. All funds donated support the dogs and cover operating costs such as food, supplies, veterinary care, and medical supplies. Lizzie is savvy in the use of social media as part of the public outreach for adoptions. The organization has a Facebook fan page, and links and updates are also to be found on the Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 website and on StrangeTango.com: Life as Art.

Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 is gaining a well-deserved reputation as an exciting place to shop for pet necessities and gifts, while also giving back to the community as a leader and innovator in the no-kill, animal rights movement. At a time when more and more people view their pets as beloved family members, Gwena summarizes the personal philosophy at the heart of their family business: “I just respect life, and I believe everybody should.”

View the photo gallery: Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2 

Jeff and Gwena McIntosh
Just 4 K-9′s & Kitty 2
1302 NW 47th Street
Lawton, Oklahoma
(580) 536-5505
www.just4k9s.com 

Store hours:
M-F: 7:30-7:30
Sat.: 9:00-6:00
Sun: 12:00-5:00

Please donate at the store or by mail!
Lizzie Druvenga
Bully Breed Humane Society
http://bullybreedhumanesociety.org/
Facebook fan page: Bully Breed Humane Society
bullybreedhumanesociety@yahoo.com
(580) 917-5720, 5734