Hello Buncombe County!
This week’s Tuesday Small Business Highlight is one with heart. Meet Fidos Lawn, a Buncombe County business blending landscaping and pest control with a powerful mission to support a growing animal sanctuary right here in our community.
Every yard they treat helps fund rescue efforts and pet-friendly solutions that make a real difference for local animals and their families.
Tell us the story behind your business. What inspired you to start it, and how did it all begin?
Ever since childhood, animals have been a passion and integral part of our lives. Marisa grew up in a household that held well over 20 animals at any given time. She took part in helping her parents sell reptiles at reptile shows. While all the other little girls were playing with dolls, you would find Marisa out catching turtles and frogs by the creek, or playing with her four cats so often that I think the cats genuinely believed that she wasn’t a pet owner, but a cat herself.
When he was around 10 years old, Darren’s family adopted their first dog. Unknown to him or his parents, the dog had a secret. She was pregnant. Helping your dog give birth to three beautiful puppies at such a tender age compelled a stark fondness for animals that never went away.
Fast forward to the future, after the Covid pandemic and monetary tightening due to inflation, a huge problem reared its head in our Asheville area. Folks had to downsize or move causing a drastic influx of large breed animals into our shelters. This was to the point where the only way to keep up with demand and government regulations, was for the animal shelters to euthanize animals in order to intake. North Carolina quickly became the record holder for second most animal euthanizations in the country. In finding this knowledge, the decision to try to find something to do about it was inevitable for us. We know that if you want the world to change, you have to be the one to change it. There is no calvary coming around the corner to save us. We are responsible for our community and are lucky enough to be at a point in our lives and in a position to act on what we know in our hearts and ethics to be right.
Why Buncombe County? What made you choose this area to plant roots?
We are originally from New Jersey. With no inheritance or trust fund it was impossible to meet our ambitions in that state. We wanted to be able to have enough land on a reasonable salary, and in 2019 that was Asheville. We felt aligned to the people and nature on our first visit and fell in love with the area. After learning the home prices in the Asheville area at the time, it was a no-brainer considering you couldn’t get a shoebox for less than $500k in New Jersey.
What’s something about your business that most people don’t know?
We purchased around 20 acres with the dream of creating a self sustainable animal sanctuary. We want to learn how to grow our own animal food on site and are currently growing our network with animal nutritionists and dieticians.
What’s been your biggest challenge as a small business owner here?
The biggest challenge is, and always will be, funding. We have ambitious goals and are completely self funded at the moment. Every leftover penny goes to the sanctuary. We are now at the stage where we will need donors to expand.
What’s been your most rewarding moment so far?
The feeling you get when you know that you are on the right path is sensational. Every time we find a lost dog and re-unite them with their owner, or rescue another animal, we can feel a spiritual form of gratification. It is hard to describe but if you go out of your way to help someone or something this emotion is created and that is our reward.
What’s next for you? Anything exciting coming up that readers should know about?
The landscaping and pest control season AKA spring is coming soon. Any extra funds we generate from solving your pest control or landscaping needs go to the animal sanctuary. We are excited to continue educating homeowners on pet friendly solutions for their homes. For more info or to get in touch you can reach them with the below links.
Website : fidolawn.wixsite.com/fido
Instagram : @fidoslawn
We’re grateful for small businesses like Fidos Lawn that remind us what community really looks like. Neighbors helping neighbors, and animals too. If you’re thinking about spring landscaping or pest control, consider supporting a company that’s reinvesting every extra dollar back into Buncombe County. When you shop local with purpose, the ripple effect is real.
Also learn more how you can help Marisa & Darren with their sanctuary fundraiser.
We hope you liked this new edition. Please send over any feedback as we always read every reply and truly appreciate hearing from you. Thanks for being part of the Buncombe County Digest community.
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