Page 209 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

Display of Puppies Adds to Profits

“Birds were going well, so I partitioned a section of the window space into
rough and comfortable pens. In these I placed puppies. I put puppies of ages
from three weeks to two months old in the window, and you’d be surprised at
the interest shown in them. This display was so effective that I was soon hard
pressed to get enough puppies to fill the demand for them. Children,
especially small boys, stand for hours with their noses pressed against the
glass, watching the puppies play. When these children get seventy-five cents
or a dollar, they bring it in and buy a pup. Most of these dogs are just dogs.
Of course, you couldn’t sell a pedigreed dog for so low a price. But these
dollar dogs go so fast that handling them pays more than enough for my rent
and lights.

“To secure enough puppies was a problem until I placed a small
advertisement in a neighborhood paper, offering twenty-five cents for
puppies. In a few days, people came from near and far with puppies. These
were dogs that would have been drowned or otherwise destroyed, so the
owners were glad to get something for them, and to know that the pups would
get a good home.

“One of the most important points to remember in starting a pet shop of this
sort is the need for cleanliness and sanitation. Unless your shop is thoroughly
cleaned once a day, it will begin to have an unpleasant odor which will repel
customers as soon as they enter the door. In addition, lack of cleanliness will
add to the danger of disease of both birds and puppies and once disease has
gained a foothold, you may lose your entire stock. Cedar chips sprinkled
among the newspapers in the dog display window or cage will help
considerably to eliminate odors; cedar oil may also be used. In summer time,
a ventilating fan at the back of the store will help to clear the air.

“The profits accumulating to the pet shop owner do not stop with the profits
on birds, dogs, and other pets, however. There is a good profit in bird seed,
bird cages, bird gravel, dog food, medicine of various kinds for young dogs,
and accessories for pets.”