How This Nurse's Harrowing Experience with Hurricane Ian Inspired Her to Start a New Chapter as a Pet Wants Franchisee

Kelly Johnson, a nurse practitioner with 25 years of experience, recently embarked on a new journey as a Pet Wants franchisee in Fort Myers, FL. Wanting a switch from healthcare and seeking new opportunities with animals, she discovered Pet Wants during a challenging time in her life. Having lost her home and belongings due to Hurricane Ian, Johnson was determined to find a way to be her own boss, spend more time with her grandson, and take control of her destiny, all while focusing on her passion for animal wellness.

The owner of eight dogs (four of which were foster dogs that failed to find a home following the hurricane), Johnson's decision to become a Pet Wants franchisee was influenced by her first-hand experience with the brand's high-quality pet food. Johnson had struggled to find a solution for three of her dogs who were suffering from skin allergies. She received a 40-pound bag of Pet Wants dog food and within a week-and-a-half, her dogs were happy, healthy and allergy-free. Seeing the positive impact of the product on her pets, she knew this was a business she could wholeheartedly support. 

With plans to open her Pet Wants franchise in Summer 2023, Johnson is excited to bring a product to her community that will improve pets' quality of life and extend their years. She sees her new venture as an opportunity to spend her days pursuing wellness, instead of just fighting illness, and looks forward to being the person who brings good news to pet owners in Fort Myers, FL.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Johnson: I’ve been a nurse practitioner for 25 years. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian, which unfortunately resulted in both my daughter and I losing our homes and our cars, I got burnt out. I had to build everything back up from scratch, and I was tired of the same-old same-old. I was in need of new opportunities, and I preferably wanted to spend my time with animals. Keeping the animals in our life happy and healthy is a big passion of mine. 

I actually stumbled upon Pet Wants online while I was still without internet in my house. I finally had enough power to submit an inquiry for the franchise on my cell phone and the team called back. From that moment on, I knew it was a perfect fit. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Johnson: I work as a medical provider in a county jail, and the expectation is that, in the event of a disaster like Hurricane Ian, I need to stay locked in with the patients. That lack of control is what made me realize I needed to be my own boss. I didn’t want to have to worry about leaving my family and my pets. I wanted to take control, set my own hours and enjoy more work-life balance. My grandson is my best friend, so I want to be as flexible as possible to enjoy every minute with him. He is my biggest motivator. 

I had never owned a business before, so this has all been a huge learning curve. I didn’t really have any perception of franchising, I just knew I would have to work my tail off. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Johnson: Heading into the storm, I had four dogs of my own and four foster dogs. After the storm, the foster dogs weren’t able to find a home. I now have eight dogs, three of which have skin allergies. I was spending a fortune on veterinary medicines, trying different dog foods and allergy treatments, but their skin was always a problem. 

After I started talking with the team about franchising and told them about the skin allergies, Pet Wants was kind enough to send me a 40 pound bag of dog food. Within a week-and-a-half, my dogs were happy, healthy and had zero skin problems. It was amazing. When I saw the difference that food made, in both their lives and mine, I knew that it was an amazing product and one I could throw my heart and soul into. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Johnson: I hang out with a lot of pet owners, so I know that there is a huge population of dogs that are going through similar challenges. Most pet owners are like me — their dogs and cats are part of the family and they want as much time as possible with them. I’m so excited to open a business that will help them spend more time with their furry family members by improving their pets’ quality of life and increasing their pets’ years of life. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Johnson: A lot of my career has been about chasing illness — trying to get peoples’ health back into some sort of balance so that they can have their best quality of life. Now, it feels good to be chasing wellness instead. I’m not worried about fixing sick people. I’m just focused on giving dogs something that they already love to increase their health and vitality. I’m looking forward to being the person who brings good news from now on.  

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Johnson: You should do it. You will have all the support you need. Since my first contact with Pet Wants, they’ve spent hours and hours on the phone helping explain the system. They’ve all been so supportive and have answered all of my questions. It can’t go wrong when you have such a passionate team of people behind you. 

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Pet Wants franchise is from $131,350 to $202,500. This includes a total of between $57,500 and $62,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/petwants/info

ABOUT PET WANTS:

Pet Wants is a pet health and wellness company that strives to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. Founded in 2010, the brand’s specially crafted, private-label pet food formulas are made in small batches with fresh, natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals for a complete and balanced diet in every bowl, all made in the USA. Pet Wants has set a new standard in what you should expect in your pet food and has created the ultimate convenience with free, personal delivery through their 90+ locations across the United States. To learn more about Pet Wants, visit https://www.petwants.com/ or follow Pet Wants on LinkedIn, @petwantsusa on Facebook, @petwants on Twitter and Instagram.