Pet owners can agree, making sure that our furry friends are getting the best possible care is a top priority. Two Casper-based businesses have worked hard to provide just that. Meet the Hound and Katt Veterinarian and the K-9 Corral Your Pets One Stop Shop.
Hound and Katt Veterinarian owners Doug and Laura Johannessen understand the heart of what they do matters. They strive to go above and beyond to provide the most effective and thorough care. The Johannessen’s attention to detail carries over to their staff. Whether it is a routine check-up or diagnosing a pet’s symptoms and proving effective treatment options, the Hound and Katt Veterinarian aspires to provide the best in veterinary care.
The Johannessen’s began their business in 2012. In the time since, the business has provided basic wellness and prevention and dental services, as well as some more surprising services that you may not associate with a veterinary clinic, such as behavioral consultations, cancer treatments, immunotherapy, stem cell and platelet rich plasma therapies.
After a decade of running their business at their original location, the business sought the opportunity to expand its operations. As their business grew, they recognized the need for an improved space. The Johannesen’s found a great partner in their local lender, Brettnee Tromble, Commercial Loan Officer with First State Bank- Division of Glacier Bank, who was able to support the real estate financing need of the business with additional support from the Wyoming Smart Capital Network. WSCN provided funds through a subordinated participation into the commercial real estate loan and in the remodeling expenses. The participation helped Ms. Tromble and First State Bank provide the necessary funding to help the business reach its goals.
This was a business Ms. Tromble was happy to support: “Having someone with that much care, researching and educating themselves, is a huge benefit to the community. They really do love those animals and their clients.”
Speaking with Ms. Tromble on the benefits of the WSCN program she said, “WSCN does a lot of things for small businesses. A traditional 20% down payment is a big hurdle for businesses, that kind of capital can be hard to accumulate. Smart Capital gives a really nice option for entrepreneurs to continue to build their business.”
First State Bank, Division of Glacier Bank’s partnership with WSCN allowed them to also support K-9 Corral Your Pets One Stop Shop, which offers full-service dog boarding and dog daycare. The K-9 Corral was also looking to improve and expand operations with the purchase and renovation of a new commercial space. This project was led by Tyler Stark, VP Commercial Loans.
Mr. Stark commented on the effectiveness of the WSCN program stating, “WSCN is very easy to work with, they offer very reasonable parameters with streamlined paperwork and timing. It’s just a very good product. They hedge risk to make the loan stronger, it really hits the right niche for lenders.”
K-9 Corral has been able to take pet boarding and daycare to the next level with their expansion and upgrades. Tyler described the business, “K-9 Corral offers it all: trainings, daycare, and overnight boarding all in one place. You get report cards and videos of your pet while they are in their care. They offer an excellent service and have a great staff.”
The K-9 Corral Your Pets One Stop Shop and the Hound and Katt Veterinarian have been able to grow into well-loved businesses essential to the pets of Casper.
About Wyoming Smart Capital Network
The Wyoming Smart Capital Network (WSCN) creates jobs by helping small business access capital. The fund was initially created with funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury as a part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program and is now an evergreen fund. The WSCN is a coalition of 16 municipalities who joined together to bring this capital resource to their communities. Development Capital Networks manages and administers WSCN on behalf of the consortium to foster small business growth and enhance job creation throughout the state of Wyoming. Western States Bank is a participating lending partner.