A new pet supply store has opened in Cosham

Cosham Pets, in Cosham High Street, is owned by self-confessed animal lover, Lara McNally, who also owns Country Pets on Hayling Island.

She opened the new shop as she felt that she needed a new challenge and wanted to open a shop in a more central high street location.

The shop, which opened on Saturday, January 4, sells everything from pet supplies and accessories, to natural, raw and live food.

It sells products for all kinds of pets, including cats and dogs as well as birds, rodents and reptiles.

Lara has also worked with a pet food brand to design a natural food for cats and dogs that is unique to the store called Perfect Paws.

She said: ‘We wanted to do something different to the supermarkets and pound shops. You won’t find that anywhere else but here.’

The 45-year-old mum-of-two previously worked in the police and for Havant Borough Council before realising her love for pets and having a career change.

She worked for Kent Police until she moved to Hayling Island in 2008.

She said: ‘I just got to a point where I wanted a new challenge. You only get one life and you have to make yourself happy. You don’t want to do a mundane job.

‘The pet industry is a lovely industry, everyone loves their animals.’

She was inspired to open a pet shop by her sister who previously owned one.

She still runs Country Pets, with the help of her 18-year-old daughter.

Her friend Sheila Kellaway is the manager of Cosham Pets and helps Lara as she goes between the two stores, with the help of her rescue lurcher, Beau.

Lara said: ‘I wanted a new challenge and a high street location was different than Hayling. I wanted a blank canvas and I wanted to put my own stamp on it.

‘I’m proud of what I have created. I had a vision and it is so much better than what I hoped for.’