Koda Bear
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"From the moment you walk in, you can tell how much Susan and her staff love their animal friends. They are always so happy to see my Koda Bear, and of course, he loves to see them, too. They are just a great group of people offering excellent grooming services and pet products at affordable prices! I will forever recommend Pet's Best Friend to anyone who is in need of such services." - C. Rethford |
About Pet's Best Friend
Redman
In 1993, Susan Baker left the corporate world and turned her love and compassion for animals into a very enjoyable and rewarding career. When she purchased Pet's Best Friend from a neighbor, it was only a pet sitting service. Now, over twenty-five years later, with many awards and accolades to her credit, Susan operates the only complete pet care service center in this area. She credits her success to adhering strictly to the highest quality and standards of pet care, and to offering innovative services that meet the needs of pets and their owners. Susan and her staff take great pride in their work, maintaining a well supervised and controlled environment that is both safe and fun. They love and nurture each pet as if it were their very own.
About Susan
 Susan with Zeus-a rescue! Susan Baker, president and owner of Pet's Best Friend, Inc. grew up in Rocky Mount and graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors from NC Wesleyan College. She holds majors in Mathematics and Business Administration. Susan worked in the corporate world after college and also tutored mathematics to students of all ages.
In 1998 only five years into her new career, she won the Pet Sitter of the Year award. Sponsored by Pet Sitters International (PSI), the international award is based on nominations by clients and colleagues, and is the most coveted award in the pet sitting industry. Susan won the Chamber of Commerce's Small Business Woman of the Year Award in 1998, and the Chamber's Entrepreneurial Success of the Year Award in 2006, and has been voted Best Groomer by the Rocky Mount Telegram's Best of the Best. She was a finalist for the NEER Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1999. She has appeared on radio and TV shows, and has been featured in Southern Living, Woman's World and Cat Fancy magazines. In addition to being a member of PSI, Susan is also a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America, and International Professional Groomers, Inc. Locally, she is a member of the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce, and has hosted the television show, Amazing Animals on WHIG-TV. In 2015, Susan was the recepient of the Rocky Mount Chamber 2015 Minority Small Business person of the Year Award, and Pet's Best Friend was the Chamber's April 2015 Small Minority Business of the Year. |
Receipient of 2015 Rocky Mount
Chamber Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award 
Winner of the April 2015 Rocky Mount
Chamber Minority Small Business of the Year Award 
Winner of the April 2015 Rocky Mount
Chamber Minority Small Business of the Year |
Susan has appeared in these popular magazines.
Woman's World
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In 2003, Susan diversified into the grooming industry by purchasing the salon on Zebulon Road and enrolling in pet grooming school. In 2005, a line of supplies was added inside the salon to complement the pet care solutions already offered by Pet's Best Friend. In 2007, Susan's husband, Van left the corporate world after 30 years and joined her at the salon. With an ever increasing client base, the business soon outgrew the Zebulon Road location, and in 2013, Susan bought and renovated a 3000 square foot building, previously occupied by a local restaurant. The new facility is not only bright and cheerful, bringing smiles to pets and their owners alike, but boasts an even larger and more spacious indoor/outdoor doggie daycare and boutique than at the previous location.
The Baker Family
Van and Susan have been married for 38 years. They are proudly owned by these six admittedly spoiled children: Nick, Oscar, Chance, Rosie, Bouncer, and Powell.
All of the Baker kids are rescues.
All of the Baker kids are rescues.
Susan and Van Baker
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From L-R: Rosie, Oscar, Powell, Bouncer, Chance, Nick
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