New Canaan Small Business Spotlight: Tom's Gerbils

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Tom’s Gerbils
• Owners: Tom Williams
• Website: www.tomsgerbils.com
• Address: New Canaan

How did you come up with the name?
I originally registered my kennel name with the American Gerbil Society, AGS, as GiantGerbil88, but when I expanded my web presence beyond the AGS registered breeders page, I wanted to associate my business with a more personal and easily recognizable name, “Tom’s Gerbils.”

Why start a business in this town?
I got my first gerbils from a breeder in New York City. She has since stopped breeding gerbils and New Canaan seemed a logical place to start this business in order to serve a vacancy in the greater New York City area.

What business are you in?
Breeding gerbils for adoption, showing gerbils, and spreading the love of, and interest in, these wonderful pets.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
When I first started breeding gerbils, I thought my contacts at Saxe Middle School and the community would be enough to support the volume of adoption necessary to encourage breeding. It turned out that a lot of Moms (and Dads) in New Canaan are not rodent friendly. Expanding my reach through the internet has greatly widened the pool of interested families and potential pet owners.

What’s been your proudest achievement since opening?
Gerbils have a lifespan of only 3 to 4 years. They are also very sociable creatures and love company. When I receive an inquiry from a gerbil owner who has lost one of a pair of gerbils and is looking for a new mate, I am happy to be able to introduce some options, and hopefully a new tank mate, to a lonely gerbil.

How does your business give back to the community?
I actively participate in gerbil rescue when the need arises. Sixty-five gerbils were recently deposited at a humane society in Florida. The American Gerbil Society helped to place these animals in foster care with AGS members. I currently have 2 of these gerbils in my care and available for adoption.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.