Since opening in 2015, Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming has been providing Savannah’s furry friends with organic pet foods and gourmet treats while expanding into six different locations around the city. New owners, David and Michelle Pence hope to continue the brand’s success with top notch customer service, quality products and expert groomers.

Under this new ownership, Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming is proudly now both a locally owned and veteran owned business. After managing the franchises for over 60 days, David and Michelle officially assumed ownership this month and plan to be very hands-on in the everyday workings of all the stores while expanding on the brand’s positive reputation and loyal customer base. “We just want to continue the great service that they’ve done for the community…maybe expand to some future branches and expand grooming services. But the stores were already doing fantastic and we want to continue that success,” said David.

The couple is already well-versed in how to run a business in Savannah. David owns two Allstate Insurance agencies and Michelle is a realtor at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Cora Bett Thomas Realty. “I’ve got such a fantastic team at Allstate and such a fantastic team at Woof Gang that it allows me to do both,” said David. Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming is hoping to hire more reliable and energetic employees who love animals as well as trained and experienced groomers.

Woof Gang offers pet-owners a vast variety of organic, non-GMO treats, protein and non-grain foods as well as toys, accessories and pet supplies. Pet parents to their own 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Lucy, David and Michelle are expanding the product line to include more small dog items such as clothes, strollers and carriers. David said that as huge pet lovers themselves, they feel lucky to get to work with animals everyday. “We always laugh when we are in the store with Michelle because at any given time she’s got five or six dogs around her and she may be sitting on the floor playing with them…for her she said ‘It’s my dream job, I get to play with dogs all day.’”

The neighborhood pet store will continue to have a strong focus on personalized customer service and community while providing gourmet treats and skilled grooming care in a boutique environment at all of their locations in the downtown and Starland areas, Berwick and Pooler.

David and Michelle hope that their stores can be a space that brings people within the community together through their shared passion for animals. “People and their pets, it’s a unifying condition. We live in a divisive society unfortunately…but the thing about pets and pet people when they come into the store everybody is unified in the love for their pets,” said David. “I’ve seen people stand around and share pictures…you’ll have these total strangers that’ll be standing in the store showing each other pictures of their dogs. That’s just so fantastic…it’s just a great place to be. Come see the new Woof Gang”

This article appears in 04-21-2021.