It wasn't long after Tina Carr landed in Eldorado in June 2007 that she knew she was in the right place at the right time.

"When I saw there wasn't any (pet supply) store out here, I said, 'OK, that's what we'll do.' "

Soon after, Carr, who had operated a pet-sitting business in Woodland Hills, Calif., opened Eldorado Country Pet store in the Agora shopping center.

Over nearly two years, Carr's business outgrew the tiny 400-square-foot space, and earlier this month she moved into a bigger space in the same shopping center, formerly occupied by Eldorado Cards and Flowers, which recently closed.

Carr caters primarily to cat and dog owners, but is also using the added space to add several lines of horse feeds and supplements and grooming supplies. She also sells wild-bird seed.

"There are so many people out here with cats and dogs," Carr said. "This is a great community to be in because they take such good care of their animals."

Before Carr opened her first store, pet owners had to drive into Santa Fe for supplies and food products.

Carr sells only dry and canned natural-holistic pet food, including Innova, California Natural and Wellness.

She said these products contain no fillers, no animal byproducts, no chemical preservatives and no corn or wheat. Those two grains, she said, often set off allergic reactions in pets.

She said she tries to stay on top of the latest health trends for pets, including grain-free products for allergy-sensitive and older animals and natural raw frozen foods such as beef, lamb, chicken and venison.

Carr said the extra space hopefully also will allow her to offer supplies and food products for hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Customer Jynii Gee had stopped by Carr's store recently looking for some grain-free food for her three large dogs and two cats. The no-grains products, Gee said, are said to help stave off cancer in animals.

"I usually come here twice a week," Gee said. "It has a that nice old feeling of customer service. It's a pet store with a personal touch that you don't see very often."

Country Pet is open 9 a.m. to
6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. Saturday.

Carr's former space will soon be occupied by Dawn Murray's Love Your Lashes shop, now in an office complex off St. Michael's Drive.

Murray specializes in "cosmetic tattooing," eyelash extensions and skin-care products.

Contact Dennis J. Carroll at dcarroll@sfnewmexican.com.