Meet Kaye Huebner! Kaye is the Manager at the Friends of Nature pet supply store in Oconomowoc. She is a Watertown resident with one adult son, one American Quarter Horse, four German Shepherds and a few parrotlets. Parrotlets are pretty, small parrots that are turquoise blue in color. Kaye has worked at Friends of Nature for 15 years and is passionate about the holistic approach to animals’ health.
In her free time, Kaye enjoys training her dogs using IPO, herding, AKC style obedience and balanced training methods. We’d like to thank Kaye for taking the time to talk with us about companion animals and her life in Lake Country.
With the loss of jobs and shuttered businesses associated with the Coronavirus pandemic, Kaye was inspired to start a Pet Pantry at Friends of Nature. Customers can donate food and other pet supplies for the purpose of keeping pets united with their financially struggling owners. Folks in need of pet supplies are encouraged to stop by the store.
In addition, Friends of Nature is offering parking lot pick up as a shopping option. Just call, pay for your order over the phone and a staff person will deliver your order to your vehicle. Inside store traffic is still welcome.
Q. How did you come up with the concept of the pet pantry?
A. “We usually have a donation bin for Wildlife in Need Center (WINC) for pet food and toys for the raccoons that they rehabilitate. Since WINC isn’t accepting new patients at this time, they didn’t need our donation bin. A customer and I were talking about it, and they said that if I started accepting donations for pet owners in need, that was something they, and likely others, could get behind.”
Q. With what type of items are you looking to stock the pet pantry?
A. “Mostly cat and dog products like food, treats and toys, although we also have a couple of rabbit and horse items there now. Our customers love the idea. So far, there hasn’t been much response for using the pantry, but I expect as time goes on there will be a need. We’re not policing the donations. If you say you have a need, you are welcome to take something from the pantry.”
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: “I spent many years studying health problems in dogs, and it brought me into a position where I am able to help people care for their pets naturally, and in a species appropriate way.”
Q. What is your favorite restaurant in Lake Country, and what do you love there?
A. “The Picnic Basket Restaurant in Nashotah. I generally get the Super Slaw Reuben.”
Q. Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Lake Country?
A. “Tammy Key, the owner of Herbal Key Apothecary. Tammy is so knowledgeable about natural treatments for people, and that goes hand in hand with our business.”
Q. If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A. “Israel, because it is God’s country.”
Q. What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A. “The Black Stallion.”
Q. What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A. “Feed your animals as best you can. It’s very important to put the proper fuel in their bodies.”
Q. Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Lake Country would you have lunch?
A. “I’d like to talk to President Trump about current events over lunch at The Picnic Basket Restaurant.”
Q. What is your favorite thing or something unique about Lake Country?
A. “The small business owners in the community are a tight knit group, and they are very helpful and supportive of each other.”
Q. Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A. “This whole journey that I’ve been on helping people with their pets started 25 years ago. I had two Rottweilers of different bloodlines that got the same disease from environmental causes.”
Q. What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word home?
A. “Muddy paws, sweatpants and snuggling on the couch with my pups.”
Q. If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? A Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Life Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A. “Going back to the muddy paws, I would definitely choose a housekeeper.”
The Faces of Lake Country is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured, please click the button below.
