A Puppy Partnership

A PUPPY PARTNERSHIP

BY: KATLIN ALLTON, MKC COMMUNICATIONS INTERN

“Dogs are like potato chips, you can’t have just one.” This quote hangs in the office of Lindy Mayes, owner and operator of Hillside Kennels in Abilene. Her office window overlooks pens of playful Miniature Australian Shepherd puppies, proving this quote to be a reality for Mayes.

Mayes never planned on being a breeder as she was busy raising her own kids, but quickly became hooked on the Mini Aussie breed after getting a puppy for her daughter from family friend Deb Geis.

“Deb tried talking us into taking two initially and I said, ‘I don’t think so.’ Then we ended up going back for another one,” Mayes says.

Since the two initial puppies in 2000, Mayes has grown Hillside, a Kansas State licensed kennel, to around 60 dogs and has litters year-round. Her current breeding program still has lines that trace back to her first dog, Charlie. Her husband, who utilizes MKC for his agronomic needs, built a state-of-the-art puppy barn to house the puppies until they are old enough to go to their new homes. Mayes sells the offspring as pets to families in roughly 40 states and even some out of the country.

“When I first started out, I didn’t keep a single puppy. I started keeping some as replacement males and females for when the others retire, and now I have a lot,” Mayes says. “I’m busier than I was when I just had my kids!”

Mayes relies on the Purina Kennel Program and the expertise of MKC Feed Sales Specialist Zoe Woolsoncroft for her dogs’ health and nutrition. The Purina Kennel Program offers numerous benefits to Mayes’ kennel, including a free bag of food for every seven purchased, coupons and samples for customers and educational material from Purina experts.

In the beginning stages, Woolsoncroft worked with Mayes to gradually switch the dogs to the Purina Exclusive® line of feed to avoid upsetting the dogs’ digestive system.

“I have more benefits using this line of Purina® dog food than I did with my old food,” Mayes says. “I’m very particular about what my dogs get, and I want to do what is best to improve their health. A huge benefit is having more one-on-one time with Zoe to go over our nutrition plans.”

As part of the kennel program, Mayes is able to provide her customers with a care pack consisting of feed samples, an informational pamphlet about the dog food, as well as a generous coupon. In addition, Mayes sends her puppies to their new home with treats, toys, a new pet owner manual and Woolsoncroft’s MKC business card.

“Lindy is wonderful to work with and has given us some other business,” Woolsoncroft says. “It’s a great relationship.”

Mayes has found value in her partnership with Woolsoncroft and is an advocate for the Purina Kennel Program and the Purina dog food brand.

“I highly recommend working with MKC and feeding the Purina Exclusive® line,” Mayes says. “Zoe has been easy to work with and takes very good care of me and my dogs.”

LEARN MORE: Ask your feed sales specialist about the Purina Kennel Program offered through MKC.