BUSTER’S NATURAL
PET SUPPLY
By Amy J. Born
For 17 years, Nancy Crivello and her team have been serving pets and pet owners along the 285 Corridor. Buster’s is named for Nancy’s original 4-legged business partner, her beloved lab/golden retriever mix, whose spirit still informs the store’s mission. His most important activities were playing and eating. Nancy’s priority is a holistic approach to living in a happy, fun environment. Combining those two sensibilities, Buster’s specializes in natural, high quality products for the nutritional, health, comfort and social wellbeing of dogs and cats.
Nancy works closely with the product manufacturers to ensure that everything she sells is the best quality, and also to educate herself and her staff so they can knowledgeably make recommendations and answer customers’ questions.
“Buster’s is never just made up of one person. The group who are around me all have their own areas of expertise and life experiences they bring to the table,” Nancy said.
Buster’s offers a variety of popular services including a self-serve dog wash, professional grooming, dog training classes and anesthesia free dental cleanings.
Following the COVID-19 shutdowns, at the time of this writing, Buster’s is planning gentle openings for its services that allow for social distancing to keep everyone safe.
Grooming is available for one groomer and one dog at a time by appointment in the 450-square-foot grooming area. The self-serve dog wash opens June 1 with limited hours: 6 to 7 pm Monday through Thursday and 9 to 10 am Sunday morning.
Options for resuming dog training (which normally happens in a 500-square-foot room) are being discussed. “We will conduct the majority of classes outside, weather permitting, and inside with the proper amount of folks in the classes,” Nancy explained. New classes will begin June 1.
Anesthesia free dental cleanings will be offered by appointment in the dog training room on Monday, June 1.
For product purchases, local delivery (within a 10-mile radius) is available, or call ahead for curbside pickup. There is also a walk-up area inside the store when it’s cold and outside when it’s warm. Customers can come in with a mask on. “We’re trying to be as mindful as we can. By June, we are hoping to be back to having customers coming in. People like to pick out their own stuff,” said Nancy.
Buster’s has always embraced the community and, Nancy explained, she has seen how supportive the community is during difficult times and is proud to be a part of that. “This community is special,” she said. Her store has been affected by the impact of the coronavirus, but it has stayed open 7 days a week, with slightly shorter hours. “We still have people shopping and supporting us. As this subsides, we see more and more familiar faces. We’re making sure that no one’s pet is going without, especially for someone who has lost a job.” Buster’s regularly donates to the Mountain Resource Center food pantry as well.
Buster’s Natural Pet Supply is located in the Conifer Marketplace at the intersection of Hwy 73 and Hwy 285. Stop in 7 days a week or visit them online at bustersnaturalpetsupply.com. 303.816.1848.