A constant search for the perfect pet clothes, nutrition and supplies was the catalyst for creating Fur Babies in Kingwood, co-owners Margaret Ann Chandler and Jamie Tucker said.

Fur Babies opened as a boutique store in 2006 after recalls on dog food sparked the idea.

“I was looking for biologically appropriate foods and high-end boutique items for my own fur babies,” said Tucker, who is Chandler’s daughter. “With only a couple of stores in the Houston area offering one or the other, and not much of a selection, I saw a need.”

As dog lovers, the mother-daughter duo said they go above and beyond to select the best products by researching new products, staying on top of changes in the industry and continuing education through pet nutrition classes, seminars and self-study.

The pet food choices, including treats, do not contain corn, wheat, soy, byproducts, fillers or chemical preservatives. The owners’ top recommendation for pet food is a frozen raw diet.

“Our pets are part of our family, and if we care about eating healthy ourselves, why not ensure our pets are eating the healthiest foods possible?,” Tucker said. “Raw is what is instinctively appropriate for dogs and cats. Canines and felines don’t cook in the wild, so why do so for domestics?”

Five years ago, the business added pet grooming to its list of services. Self-service dog washes will be available again after renovations are completed this spring.

The store also offers a variety of pet products, including beds, blankets, spa and hygiene products, and clothes and accessories for male and female pets alike. It also offers all-natural chews that include duck feet, bully sticks and goat horns.

Chandler said she believes the store’s customer base continues to grow because of the education it provides on pet care and nutrition.

“Our pets are our family, and I wouldn’t do anything for them that I wouldn’t do for myself,” Chandler said. “Just like with a child, it takes a village to raise a pet, because they can’t talk to us and tell us where they hurt or what’s bothering them.”

1303 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood 281-713-8900 www.furbabiesdogwash.com Hours: Tue.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun. and Mon.