Pet Waste Cleanup Leader Pet Butler Merges with Ohio Company that Launched the Industry

Pet Butler, the nation’s leading pet waste cleanup (poop scooping) service, and Pet Butler of Central Ohio, one of the first such service providers, have merged, the two companies announced today. Pet Butler of Central Ohio is now a Franchise operation of Dallas-based Pet Butler franchise Services Corp.

The merger solidifies Pet Butler’s position as the nation’s largest company dedicated to the proper cleanup and disposal of pet waste, from residential yards, apartment communities, homeowners associations, and parks. By adding Pet Butler of Central Ohio, Pet Butler Franchise Services Corp. now has more than 25 Franchises from coast-to-coast, and is on target for $2.5 million in revenue in 2006.

Pet Butler proudly bills itself as “#1 in the ‘#2’ business.” The company charges a small per-visit fee for its technicians to collect dog and cat waste, carry it away, and dispose of it properly. Whether in yards or in public spaces, accumulated domestic animal waste can ruin lawns and present a significant source of water pollution.

Despite their similar names, there had never been an official connection between the two companies. Their owners – Matt “Red” Boswell of Pet Butler and Pete Hulse of Pet Butler of Central Ohio – have been friends for years. Boswell founded Pet Butler in 1998, while Pet Butler of Central Ohio dates back to 1988. The two men began serious merger talks in early 2005.

“If there was anyone in the world I wanted to be in business with, it was Pete Hulse. He is very well respected and is really a guru in this industry,” Boswell said. “I had doubts that he would ever want to merge, but he was very open to the idea, and I am elated that this worked out.”

“I never wanted Pet Butler of Central Ohio to be all that big,” Hulse explained. “That’s why I embraced the benefits of operating as a franchise of Pet Butler. All I have ever wanted was to lead a company that serves Central Ohio customers so well that they tell all their neighbors and friends about us – and now we can do this better than ever, with the fantastic support system we have working for us and our customers.”

Pet Butler of Central Ohio will continue to be locally owned and operated, providing once or twice weekly pet waste cleanup services to all of metropolitan Columbus and Franklin County, as well as Delaware, Licking, and Fairfield counties. The Ohio unit, which now consists of eight franchises, will also soon expand into Madison , Pickaway, and Union counties.

The parent company provides a centralized call center and customer billing support center for all its franchisees, so Hulse and the poop-scoopers who work with him can now worry less about administrative tasks, and instead focus on customer service and building their businesses.

“This merger really combines the best of both of our companies, and the resources of two industry leaders,” Boswell said. “Pete Hulse has become a franchisee, but much more than that, he is leading the way for Pet Butler’s continued national expansion.”

About Pet Butler
Pet Butler was founded in 1998 to provide professional pet waste cleanup and removal to individual yards, parks, and multi-family communities. The company’s mission is to make life more convenient, enjoyable, and safe for pet owners and give them more quality time with their pets, families, and yards. The company is based in Dallas , Texas , with offices and franchises around North America.