About Main Street Paws
Main Street Paws was founded on a simple idea: pet owners deserve to know when they’re choosing an independently owned pet care provider, and local businesses deserve a place where their stories can be told.
The idea began with Shelley Corey, CVT, a Certified Veterinary Technician with decades of experience in veterinary medicine. Throughout her career, she noticed a growing trend: more and more pet owners were asking for independently owned veterinary clinics, sharing frustrations about corporate-owned practices, and searching for the personal relationships, continuity of care, and hometown service they remembered.
Shelley realized something important: many pet owners simply didn’t know which clinics were truly independent. At the same time, locally owned veterinary practices — and other independent pet care businesses — were finding it increasingly difficult to compete in a marketplace shaped by corporate consolidation and national marketing budgets.
Shelley brought the idea to Michele Zoerb, a longtime advocate for animal welfare who has spent decades supporting animal rescue organizations and providing technology and business consulting to veterinary practices. Together, they believed there had to be a better way to connect pet owners with the independent businesses that make every community stronger.
Main Street Paws was born.
Today, Main Street Paws is dedicated to helping pet owners discover independently owned veterinary clinics and other local pet care providers they can trust. We screen the corporate chains out of our directory, and clinics that confirm their independent ownership carry a Verified badge — so pet owners can find a true local practice, not a corporate group operating under a familiar neighborhood name.
But our mission goes beyond a directory.
We believe independent pet care businesses are the heart of every community. They’re the veterinarians who know your pet’s history without looking at a chart. They’re the groomers who remember your dog’s favorite treats. They’re the trainers who celebrate every milestone. They’re the boarding facilities, pet sitters, pet boutiques, and other local professionals who build relationships — not just customer lists.
These businesses sponsor youth sports, support local shelters, donate to fundraisers, create local jobs, and invest back into the communities they call home. They aren’t just serving neighborhoods — they’re part of them.
As corporate ownership continues to reshape the pet care industry, Main Street Paws exists to make sure pet owners always have a choice.
A choice to support local.
A choice to support neighbors.
A choice to support the independent businesses that have spent years earning the trust of their communities.
Because when you choose independent, you’re doing more than caring for your pet. You’re helping preserve the future of independent pet care.