Local business owner’s journey from corporate world to pet care

Patrick Kuhnell has always been passionate about pets, originating from his childhood spent working in his grandfather's feed and garden store in Louisiana, to now as a Boulder County Fetch! Pet Care franchisee who offers care for pets while making an impact in the community through philanthropy.

Before finding his calling in pet care, Kuhnell experienced the corporate world's rewards and challenges. While it could be lucrative, it lacked the personal fulfillment he craved. Kuhnell wanted something more — a venture that brought joy to others and allowed him to connect with his local community.

The answer was clear when he discovered Fetch! Pet Care. Kuhnell’s early experience in his family’s store not only nurtured a deep connection to animals but also instilled in him a strong work ethic and an understanding of the responsibility involved in animal care. One aspect of Longmont that has shaped his business is the personal touch. 

"Even though it's 100,000 people, it still feels like a small town," Kuhnell said. "It's made it very personal. I'll meet new clients, and they'll say, 'Hey, we saw your car driving around.' I run into our clients at local businesses. It feels very personal, and it carries through everywhere I do business."

Since moving to Longmont in 2020, Kuhnell has been dedicated to getting involved in the community. His efforts go beyond mere volunteer work participating in community events through the Longmont Chamber of Commerce and is also actively involved with the Longmont Humane Society. His generosity also extends to volunteering at the Colorado Pet Pantry — a nonprofit organization providing pet food to families in need.

"The chamber does many things, and I get to meet local business owners in Longmont. They do good work, and I enjoy being part of it,” Kuhnell said. "I've sponsored the turkey trot for the last two years, and I love doing events. We get to talk to people, and they bring their dogs, so we get to meet their pets and their dogs."

Being in a town surrounded by farms, his pet care service also looks after animals on farms. Kuhnell shared that the primary focus is on ensuring the animals have access to fresh food and water. This is particularly true for their clients who own chickens and ducks, as these animals tend to dirty their water. If a property has features like a duck pond or bath, it's also essential to keep that clean. Additionally, providing hay for herd animals is a vital part of their care routine.

"We take care of one farm that has a llama named Walter," Kuhnell said chuckling. "He keeps his distance. He's like the guardian, watching over the farm, making sure you're not bothering the sheep, chickens or goats too much. We also take care of some fainting goats, mini horses and pigs. It’s great to get out on somebody's farm. You've got a view of the Front Range, and you feel pretty lucky."

According to Kuhnell, what differentiates Fetch! Pet Care from others is their team approach, that they can offer high reliability, being readily available to accommodate last-minute requests and always being there for their clients, never leaving them unsupported.

"A lot of people get into this, obviously, love animals, but you don't do it very long if you don't love the animals and enjoy taking care of them," Kuhnell said.