Hobby turns into store for pet lovers

Ever since Barry Benjamin was 5 years old, he has been breeding animals, primarily fish. What started out for him as a hobby has now turned into his very own pet store.
Benjamin opened Happy Tails Pet Store in the Medford Outlet Mall in late March just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold across the state. He was fortunate to be able to stay open because pet stores were considered essential because of animal food.
The store offers reptiles, snakes, amphibians, fresh water fish, rodents, rabbits and birds. Benjamin even has live mice, rats and insects. “The ones that people try to keep out of their house,” he says with a chuckle. While he doesn’t sell any dogs or cats, he carries supplies for all animals.
Benjamin’s favorite is fresh water fish. In fact, he has had as many as 42 fish tanks in his home at one time over the years. “I like fish a lot,” he stressed. “It’s so peaceful watching them,” he said. He noted research has shown watching fish can lower blood pressure. “That’s pretty awesome,” he says.
“I know where my fish and birds come from,” Benjamin said. “Everything else I breed at the store.”
Rabbits have been very popular to the point of where Benjamin can’t keep up with the demand. He purchases rabbits from area 4-H members to keep up his inventory. “It helps them put money back into their projects,” he said.
As a customer walked in last week, Benjamin’s miniature Pinscher dog raced to the front door barking loudly. “Very friendly door man coming around, just loud,” Benjamin yelled out to the customer. “He just likes to greet people.”
Even though the pandemic has left most people shuttered at home, it has been good for the pet industry, Benjamin said. Because people are at home more, they are flocking out to buy fish tanks, lizards and other animals. “People find comfort in animals,” he said.
“I love it. Honestly, it’s fulfilling every day,” Benjamin says of owning a pet store. “It’s a job that I have fun at every day. I can’t imagine anything else after this.”
Asked what intrigues him the most about pets, Benjamin responded, “Each animal has its own personality, even fish.” He finds reptiles more affectionate than small animals. “They just want the heat off of you. You are just a big warm branch to them,” he said.
While Benjamin, 37, admits it’s the worst time to open a business in 100 years since the Great Depression, he has found it to be a rewarding venture. “I’m still smiling, just behind a mask right now,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade this life for anything,” he added.
Besides having pets as a hobby, Benjamin also worked for another pet store in the area and at the Rad Zoo, which recently relocated to the Medford Outlet Center. While it has nothing to do with pets, Benjamin has a degree in chemical engineering from Minnesota State University Mankato. He graduated from Owatonna High School in 2001.
Benjamin’s 5-year-old son, Dexter, enjoys helping out at the pet store. “He can feed everybody,” Benjamin said. “It’s awesome, miniature me,” he said looking at his son.
Happy Tails is open Monday through Saturday except Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.