Entrepreneur Archive:
Westinn Kennels

Westinn Kennels—St. Charles, MO
Assisted by:
Virginia Wilson, University of Missouri Extension, St. Charles

Canine success that's going to the dogs!

Sharon West's very profitable business, Westinn Kennels, opened in November 1997 as a dog obedience school with 15 kennels. In April 2000, Sharon opened new kennels and turned the business into a boarding and training facility.

Westinn Kennels provides temporary homes for dogs while their owners are away on vacation or business. The kennel also features obedience classes as well as a competition ground for two dog sport clubs. Now, there are 68 runs in two kennel buildings, a grooming area and the dog school. Sharon has updated the obedience school with mirrors and a state-of-the-art floor.

Westinn Kennels specializes in caring for animals with medical and behavioral problems. Sharon has five full-time employees and three part-time employees. During the busy season, she employs an additional five to eight part-time employees. Sharon has a certification from Purdue University in applied animal behavior, and two of her employees are full-time professional instructors.

Service provided by Westinn Kennels includes boarding by the day or week, day care programs, potty training and grooming. The obedience school offers professional instruction in all types of pet training, including competition obedience classes. There are programs for board and train as well as private lessons.

Sharon is involved in several community service projects including dog bite prevention for children, nursing home visits and in the very near future a Dog Scout program.

In its first year, Westinn Kennels generated approximately $40,000 in profit and tripled that figure the second year. In October 1999, Sharon began a $140,000 project to expand and built two self-contained, indoor facilities with air conditioning and heating.

Today, Westinn Kennels has grown from a client base of around 150 to over 4,000 clients. Clientele come from the greater St. Louis and St. Charles areas. Sharon is currently looking at another big move by expanding the business to include indoor agility classes and a facility large enough to hold dog events such as obedience and agility trials. A veterinarian, groom shop, pet supply store and kennel will also be housed in the same facility.
Virginia Wilson, Business & Industry Specialist, St. Charles County worked with Sharon when developing the business plan for the $140,000 loan for the first expansion and will work with Sharon on her current expansion project, which will be the only facility in the St. Charles and St. Louis areas to offer indoor agility training.

Westinn Kennels
7333 Weldon Spring Road
St. Charles, MO 63304
636-441-8948
westinnkennels@sbcglobal.net

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