Thunder’s Run, a name you may have read on the back of a van driving around Bradford, is a local pet care business that has been serving the community and surrounding areas for almost 22 years.
Animal lovers, Ric Mattingley and Meredith (Mere) McIntyre are the faces behind the business. Originally founded in the spring of 2000 by Ruth Mattingley, Thunder’s Run Inc. was the first dog walking and pet sitting business in the Bradford area. With the help of her husband Doug, daughter Brooke and son Ric, Ruth was able to provide clients with a strong sense of trust and confidence in knowing their pets were well taken care of by someone who cared deeply for them. In 2018, Ric Mattingley and his wife, Mere McIntyre, took over the family business and continue to serve the community, offering services such as dog walking, drop-in visits for dogs, cats and other small animals.
The goal of Thunder’s Run is to keep dogs happy and active by getting them outside for exercise while their owners are away from home or balancing a busy schedule. Thunder’s Run gives pet owners a sense of relief as they tend to the needs of four-legged friends in both basic care and abundant love.
When asked what they love most about their job, Mattingley says it's the people.
“What makes this job so enjoyable is when people tell us how happy their animals are or if we do drop-in visits while people are away and they tell us their pet is at ease and happy when they return home. It’s gratifying to know that our efforts and our love for all animals are effective as our services are more than just a business or a job, but it’s what we truly love to do.”
He adds that although this is a business and they provide a service, their true main focus is to help people and their animals.
Mattingley and McIntyre feel that they have established substantial relationships of trust and comfort with members of the community through caring for their pets. He explains that the genuine connection that develops between them and their clients has extended beyond offering pet services.
“It’s really nice when we hear our clients say they are happy that we are part of their pet’s life”, Mattingley said.
COVID-19 has had a significant effect on all small businesses, and Thunder's Run is no exception. Despite being deemed an essential service, Mattingley and McIntyre have experienced their fair share of ups and downs throughout the pandemic.
“Due to the pandemic, we, unfortunately, lost about 50-60 per cent of our clientele at the beginning for a number of reasons such as clients having new or varying schedules and of course the financial aspect. However, as some former clients tapered off, we were also able to see a wave of new clients with more families welcoming a new pup to their home," said Mattingley.
Over the last two decades, the business has established itself as a household name in the Bradford community.
“This is definitely a tight-knit community, everyone's very active and supportive of one another and that shows across local businesses," said Mattingley.
Mattingley and McIntyre both express a great deal of appreciation for local word-of-mouth recommendations and recognition they have received regarding their quality services.
The pair have also received positive feedback regarding Thunder’s Run’s dog park located on the 14th line in Bradford. As McIntyre explains, “The Thunder’s Run dog park a great place if owners want to let their dog run off-leash in a big open space perhaps if public dog parks aren’t suitable for them or even if outdoor space at home isn’t available.”
McIntyre says renting the dog park is an affordable way to maintain healthy exercise, socializing and basic training for the dog(s) in a safe environment.
