Brunswick County’s first pet grooming and boarding facility has closed after 50 years of serving the community.
With the business going beyond the 50-year mark and co-owner Susan Colby recently turning 80 years old, she and co-owner and husband Russ Colby decided it was the right time to step back and retire.
“It was exactly what I wanted to do at the time and for 50 years,” Susan Colby said. “That’s a long time.”
Susan Colby came to Brunswick County about 60 years ago knowing she always wanted animals. Little did she know that a 50-year business run of fun was in store.
After teaching in high school for 10 years and community college part time for about 25 years, Susan Colby withdrew from her retirement to build Greenwood Pet Camp around 1972.
Susan Colby said the original kennel featured 12 individual indoor-outdoor runs, a kitchen and a bathroom. Each run had a temperature controlled indoor space and outdoor concrete area for individual animals to use. However, she said the building was not big enough for what she wanted to accomplish.
Three renovations over several years resulted in the facility expanding to accommodate around 45 dogs and 12 cats.
“It’s hard to give it up, I put my heart and soul into this business,” Susan Colby said.
The owner said running Greenwood Pet Camp was filled with fun and love. However, her passion for animals was not the only love that bloomed at the facility.
In 1997, Russ Colby moved to North Carolina after falling in love with the weather and following a friend’s advice to look for work along N.C. 211. While Russ walked in the door of the pet camp in hopes of just finding a job, he found a job and a wife.
“The rest, to this day, is history. … It was the best job I ever had and it took me 50 years to find it,” Russ Colby said.
Greenwood Pet Camp over the years had generational families, both human and dog, as customers, Susan Colby said. The business also sheltered foster dogs that needed a place to stay before going to the next home.
“We have seen a lot of owners who really care about their animals, which is a great thing,” Russ Colby said.
The Colbys also enjoyed giving back to the community, especially during winter holidays.
Greenwood Pet Camp permanently closed its doors on Sept. 15.
“We’re very grateful for the opportunity to do what we love to do and we’ll miss it,” she said.
What’s next for the property has yet to be determined, Susan Colby said.
While the building may be older than other pet facilities in the area, Susan Colby took great pride in the business she built over 50 years. She said Greenwood Pet Camp was part of her identity.
“I have dedicated a large part of our life to this and I have a lot of personal identity with it, so that’s difficult. … It’s going to be different,” said Susan Colby, noting she continues to smile and adjust during the transition into retirement.
Russ and Susan Colby plan to spend their retirement living life, singing songs and traveling together.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].
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