“If you could give them a better and healthier life,” asked Jane See Shi, co-owner of Paws Grocer, “why not?” This is the central pillar of the pet supplies store, which opened recently in Bangsar.

Paws Grocer, founded by See, 29, and her two business partners, Yee Zong Han and Au Sheau Jyn, stands out for its locally-sourced human-grade food and treats for pets.

Indeed, See is an advocate for slightly higher investments in high-quality pet food and is committed to educating pet owners about the effects of their choices on the health of their furbabies.

“We want to educate our customers that pets have better choices when it comes to food. And some of our customers don’t trust that our products are human-grade.

“So, we eat it in front of them to give them confidence and they will proceed to test it for themselves. This way, they will know what they’ll be feeding their pet,” See explained.

Paws Grocer has an interesting and diverse assortment of dried and cooked food, including yak cheese, sweet potato chips, pork salmon onigiri, beef bolognese, and more.

The store also sells pet clothes, accessories, and grooming supplies.

But the exotic pet food selection, which is hard to come by in local markets, is central to Paws Grocer’s appeal.

From crocodile tail, dried frogs and kangaroo knee tendon to dehydrated baby shark, lamb hooves and cow horns, the store offers an array of options that challenge conventional notions of pet cuisine.

In that regard, transparency is a key principle at Paws Grocer. The store’s social media platforms serve as channels to provide customers with detailed information about the benefits of each exotic treat.

For instance, See explained that crocodile tail, touted as one of the highest protein sources for dogs and imported from Australia, is rich in vitamins.

Paws Grocer also emphasises the longevity and safety of their products. Cow horns, for example, can last up to a year, serving as both a mental stimulant and a safe chewing alternative to traditional toys which contain unsafe materials.

“With these kinds of treats, you know exactly what your pet is putting in its mouth,” See pointed out, adding that the exotic and regular pet food menus are rotated monthly.

The decision to introduce such unique offerings stemmed from See’s observations while she was a nursing student in Melbourne, Australia.

“What I discovered at pet stores there was that exotic pet food was very common … even in China. As far as I know, no one in Malaysia had done it before. So, I figured this is a great opportunity for me to exploit,” See said.

Understandably, local vendors were sceptical about adapting to the new concept, See admitted. Fortunately, through impressive sales and customer engagement, the store earned the trust of 43 local vendors,

Client confidence however was a tougher nut to crack. See noticed that some people expressed concerns online about the store’s exotic food offerings, citing ethical issues.

“These are valid concerns and I want to assure everyone that all our exotic products are sourced from the farm and not from wild-caught animals.

“But if people are still not convinced, I would encourage them to conduct background checks on our vendors and suppliers. The information is readily available online,” See pointed out, underscoring the importance of ensuring the ethical sourcing of all products available at Paws Grocer.

Nevertheless, customer feedback has been positive, with many becoming regulars.

“Some say that their pets don’t want to go back to what they were feeding them before. Some said their dogs have gotten fatter. But these are good problems to have,” See concluded.

Paws Grocer
16A, Persiaran Ara Kiri
Bangsar
Kuala Lumpur

Business hours
11am-9pm: Monday-Friday
10am-9pm: Saturday-Sunday

Contact: 014 987 8396

Follow Paws Grocer on Instagram.