Famous Shamus – Where Pets Thrive and Loyalty Runs Deep!

My name is Sonnya Wilkins and I’ve been a veterinarian for over 20 years. In 2008, I launched Famous Shamus Pet Supplies, a venture born out of necessity and passion. Over the past 15 years, Famous Shamus has grown to offer a variety of pet supplements and supplies through both our web store and Amazon.com. We were among the early Amazon merchants, actively selling on Amazon before Amazon became the industry standard.

Famous Shamus was named after my beloved bloodhound and Search & Rescue partner, Shamus. His name became legendary after an unforgettable ordeal: One winter, during a severe flood, Shamus was swept away by a fast-moving river. For three days, our entire Search and Rescue team, along with law enforcement and members of the community, searched tirelessly for him. Miraculously, he found his way home—battered, bruised, and starving but alive.

Not long after, I brought him to a community event, and to my surprise, crowds gathered to see the Search and Rescue dog who had been lost. A little boy ran toward Shamus, tears streaming down his face, and threw his arms around him, exclaiming, "It's Famous Shamus! We've looked everywhere for you!" From that moment, the name "Famous Shamus" stuck.

I started working on Famous Shamus Pet Supplies late at night, after long days at the clinic, while my family relaxed in front of the TV. At the time, no one really knew what I was building—it was just a desperate attempt to find a new income stream and keep my veterinary hospital afloat. Our small rural community was reeling from the closure of the local lumber mill, one of the area's biggest employers in the county, and I feared my clinic wouldn’t survive.

During lunch breaks, I would pack and ship products myself. As sales grew, I realized I needed help, and Famous Shamus evolved from a one-woman operation into a thriving business with several employees.

In the early years, many veterinary product manufacturers were skeptical of selling online. E-commerce was still new, and many companies frowned upon it. However, because I was a veterinarian and refused to divert products, they cautiously allowed us to sell. We built strong, trust-based relationships with these companies, helping to grow their brands in the process. Over time, we became one of the largest sellers of veterinary supplements in the country.

Eventually, Amazon noticed the demand for the products we were selling and entered the market themselves, becoming our direct competition. Despite the challenges, Famous Shamus continued to thrive, thanks to our integrity, quality service, and loyal customers.

Famous Shamus didn’t just build a business—it saved our veterinary practice. What started as a small clinic operating out of a trailer in a parking lot has transformed into Grays Harbor Veterinary Services—a 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital with multiple doctors.

If you call for support, you will likely talk to Angela. Angela has been with Famous Shamus from nearly the beginning and has been involved in every aspect of the business; from marketing, product development, sales and shipping.

Today, the Famous Shamus Team is proud to offer high-quality pet supplies and supplements not just on Amazon and through our online store but also within our veterinary hospital. Our team commits every day to offer quality and integrity in everything we do.

Famous Shamus began as a leap of faith, but it became the lifeline that saved our clinic, shaped my journey as a veterinarian and entrepreneur, and the provider of quality supplements to pets all over the nation.