Pet boutique Fetch 501 has rebranded to Urban K9, a new one-stop shop for dog-lovers getting its paws wet in downtown Augusta.
Tonya Boswell had previously been in business with her cousin at the corner of Fifth and Broad Streets, having opened Fetch 501 last summer. Boswell, now the sole owner of the family-friendly storefront, has revamped it with a new look and a new name. A chance glance at the city skyline while trying to come up with a new logo inspired the shop’s moniker.
“My boyfriend actually came up with the name,” Boswell said. “He wanted to be hip and modern, and there’s only so many things you can come up with ‘dog.’”
After Boswell and crew deployed some rebranding renovations and opened its doors as Urban K9 on Tuesday.
“We’re excited for more people to come walk down the river,” said Caitlin Grace, the store’s lead board technician, about the store’s attractive locale near the Riverwalk.
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The veteran-owned shop still offers boutique items for pets—leashes, doggie treats, special shampoos, there’s even a display of doggie donuts and other desserts.
“Once we get bigger, or we’re going to have some food for humans, too, with a list of drinks and snacks out here,” Grace said. “Just because people will be walking up and down the river.”
Pet owners can also still get their dog professionally groomed, boarded and even trained by a certified force-free trainer.
“We have puppy class up to four months, our basic, intermediate and advanced,” said Boswell, explaining the classes offered by the store’s trainer, Phillip Edwards-Russum. Force-free training involves using only positive reinforcement, without items such as shock collars.
When a dog is advanced enough for the six-week board training program, owners drop pets off in the morning every day, Tuesday through Saturday. Edwards-Russum trains these dogs in a fenced outdoor area of the facility, off-leash, to develop a rapport with them.
On Saturdays, during this six-week class, owners come in—up to five people—for one-hour sessions.
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“They work with him and learn his methods to keep the dog trained,” Boswell said. “They’ll see the change in the dog.”
Between Boswell and her crew, such as grooming manager Emily Landers, there is some 45 years of combined experience grooming and tending to canines at the boutique.
“Being in the business and actually working with the groomers, you can see why you use a certain type of leash, why you use a certain type of shampoo, certain products with certain breeds and certain foods,” said Boswell, noting that she appreciates being able to guide thoughtful dog owners toward more effective and cost-efficient means to take care of their pets. “That helps me help other people.”
Urban K9 is located at 501 Broad St. in downtown Augusta. For more information, visit its website at www.myurbank9.com.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
What about Jonathon?
I truly trusted him with my dogs.
Why is he no longer with the business, and why the sudden closure of Fetch 501 overnight?