Lovely Paws by Vest Creation Enterprise, founded by Shaleni A Karunanithi and Vengadachalam Chidambaram, is a pet-focused business that aims to provide comprehensive care and products for pets. In an interview with Top 10 of Malaysia, the dynamic duo shares about their pet shop that prioritises honesty and the well-being of furry companions. Lovely Paws offers not only a wide range of pet products but also services such as pet pharmacy, grooming, pet nutrition consultations, non-anesthetic dental scaling and even premium pet hotels.
Shaleni A Karunanithi, a registered board certified pharmacist, began her career as a pharmacy assistant at the Malacca Government Hospital. She later worked as a human capital development assistant at Sunway City Berhad. “After graduating with a degree, I joined KKM at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang as a pharmacist. There, I met my husband and co-founder, Vengadachalam Chidambaram. Years later, I was transferred to Hospital Shah Alam. A year later, I decided to leave my permanent post in KKM and joined industrial pharmacy at MS Ally Pharma Sdn Bhd as a HOD/Pharmacist. I acquired a diverse range of work experiences,” says Shaleni who is also an ISO internal auditor, certified pet nutritionist, certified pet groomer and professional dog trainer. Inspired by her struggles in finding pet shops and access to pet food, Shaleni’s extensive pharmacy knowledge and the couple’s love for animals led the duo to establish Lovely Paws. “Pets provide us comfort, peace and are stress relievers. I love working with pets,” says Shaleni.
“At Bandar Rimbayu, the availability of pet shops, pet boarding facilities and pet grooming services were extremely limited back then. In response to this need, we decided to establish our own venture in 2019,” says Shaleni. “We have extensive knowledge about dogs, including their dietary requirements, behaviour, training techniques and grooming needs. With 16 years of experience in the pharmacy field, Shaleni will research about the products to ensure that the ingredients provide optimal nourishment for pets,” says Vengadachalam.
Shaleni attributes the success of their business to key factors which are passion, honesty, transparency, consistency, dedication to excellence and innovation. She enforced a strict SOP to be followed for work at the premise to ensure the safety of pets and staff. “We will disclose the ingredients and evaluate whether the claims on a packaging align with the actual quality of the product and price. We are also committed to educating customers about recall history and hidden ingredients. We advise against repacking pet food as it can compromise its quality and freshness with a validity of only 30-60 days. Dry pet food is typically packaged in bags with an additional lining to protect it from oxygen and moisture. However, once the package seal is broken, the risk of contaminants spoiling the food is high.” Through their veterinary pharmacy, they have cured various animal ailments through natural food alternatives. “Our business principles involve prioritising the quality of food that reaches pets,” adds Vengadachalam. “Recall history infomation is crucial for identifying impurities in packaging or ingredients.”
Lovely Paws provides pet food products for cats, dogs, birds, fishes, small animals and even reptiles. “We also have various options such as supplements, canned and wet food, beddings, cages and accessories. Our pet pharmacy service offers over-the-counter medications, supplements and treatment for pets. We also provide complimentary pet nutritionist consultations on medication, pet diet regimes and product knowledge sharing,” says Shaleni. “Food and supplements will be combined and treatment would be adjusted accordingly to ensure optimal results,” adds Vengadachalam. The company also assists with diabetic pets by teaching owners how to administer insulin properly. Furthermore, geriatric animal care for older pets that require special attention or daycare is offered. “We also provide non-anesthetic dental scaling, premium cat and dog hotels, dog walking services and grooming facilities,” says Shaleni proudly. “Our stress-free grooming technique called the “Pets Led Grooming Technique” is aimed to build trust and cooperation with pets as we communicate with animals instead of restraining or muzzling them.”
“We have a vision to collaborate with veterinarians and retail pharmacies for a more comprehensive approach to pet care,” says Shaleni.
“Young entrepreneurs should overcome hesitation and take the first step towards starting their own business,” advises Shaleni. “Aspiring entrepreneurs should gather their courage and embrace the risks involved because one can never know the outcome without trying. One should pursue endeavours that are aligned with one’s passion, and true fulfillment only comes when one’s heart is invested in the business.”
