PHONE NUMBER
Creature Comforts: Building a Premier Pet Resort in East Texas
Tonya Read’s passion for animals shaped her career long before she opened her own facility. After working as a veterinary technician and pet store associate, she launched her own pet sitting business in 1996. As her client list grew, Tonya knew it was time to build something bigger. In 2011, with the support of her husband, Bret, she began planning a facility that would become one of the premier pet resorts in the region, and in 2014, Creature Comforts opened its doors in Longview, Texas.
“We wanted to build something that felt different — a place where pets were genuinely cared for and owners could feel at ease,” Tonya said.
A Destination for Pets and Their Owners
Strategically located at a high-traffic intersection in Longview, Creature Comforts grew into a full-service pet resort offering boarding, daycare, training, and grooming. The facility was designed to support a high volume of pets while maintaining a clean, safe, and enriching environment, with specialty accommodations for senior and special-needs pets and custom cat condos alongside its dog boarding suites. A skilled grooming and training team rounded out a group built to deliver a premium experience for every guest.
As the business matured, Tonya built a strong, independent management team, including a general manager, operations manager, and department leads, allowing day-to-day operations to run smoothly while she focused on oversight.
Transition Time – Resilience Through a Setback
With the business thriving under a capable team, Tonya made the decision to sell in order to spend more time with her children. As a pet care business owner, she turned to PET|VET, the only brokerage in the industry focused exclusively on pet care M&A, to run a confidential sales process built to protect her staff and clients while she found the right buyer.
Her first deal fell through late in the process when the buyer was unable to secure the funding needed to close — a setback that could have stalled the sale indefinitely.
“When our first deal fell apart, we were devastated. We didn’t know if we’d find another buyer who was the right fit,” Tonya said.
Rather than starting from scratch, PET|VET drew on its extensive network of financially qualified buyers to go back to market immediately, without losing momentum. Because the team had already completed the due diligence, contracts, and real estate inspections and reports during the first process, they were able to carry that work forward for the new buyer rather than rebuilding it from square one — moving Tonya to a fast, well-prepared closing.
“PET|VET didn’t miss a beat. They got us back in front of the right buyers fast, and we never lost confidence that we’d get this done,” Tonya said.
A Successful Sale and a New Chapter
With the sale complete, the new owners take the helm of Creature Comforts, continuing its legacy as a premier destination for pet boarding, daycare, training, and grooming in the Longview community.
“Seeing Creature Comforts pass to owners who share our commitment to quality care means everything to us,” Tonya said. “We’re proud of what we built and excited for what’s next.”
ABOUT THE BUSINESS
“They handled every detail, from valuation through closing, and never lost sight of what mattered most to us.”
– Tonya Read, Founder, Creature Comfort