Marcquis Davis, owner of Big Tex Feed, Hardware and Pet Supply, is knee-deep in the billion-dollar pet industry, but she’s not in it for the money. Rather, her mission is to educate and empower her predominantly working-class, low-income-earning customers so they can access quality pet care at affordable prices without getting gouged by exorbitant service prices.
The movie equivalent to Davis’s story is “The Godfather,” minus the gratuitous violence. Like “The Godfather” main character, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), Davis did everything possible to distance herself from the family business, which was Big Tex, founded by her parents.
“I was a flight attendant for American Airlines, and couldn’t have an animal traveling internationally; so, yes, I ran very far from [the family business] and then got snatched right back into it,” said Davis, sounding eerily similar to one of Michael Corleone’s most memorable lines.
And like the fictional Corleones, the Davises founded their business in response to societal pressures.
FAMILY BUSINESS
“My parents started a feed store because there was only one feed store in Houston, and it was white-owned, in a Black community, and they kept treating us poorly, talking to us like we’re crazy,” she said.
So, her parents opened Big Tex in December 2002. But 22 years later, Davis believes she’s experiencing something similar to the treatment that led to her business’s founding – the business she took over five years ago upon her parents’ divorce.
But even before that drama, it was a tragedy that set Davis on a path to even being open to running Big Tex.
TRAGEDY
“I ran from this industry. I didn’t want to be in the pet world. I didn’t want to be an entrepreneur. But, the crazy part about it is, I lost my son as a stillborn,” shared Davis, who was then advised to get a dog as an emotional support animal.
Upon getting Mina, a cane corso (an Italian breed of mastiff), Davis ran into every pet owner problem imaginable, including astronomical veterinarian prices.
Not wanting to spend all her money at the vet, Davis began to look into some of the over-the-counter products at her family’s store that could help her with Mina’s preventative care.
SERVICE YET DRAMA
In the process, Davis and Big Tex were part of a citywide initiative to tackle a growing problem: stray dogs multiplying and spreading disease.
“There was an initiative to get all the dogs in the neighborhood either picked up and put in the shelter or getting these dogs fixed and basically releasing them back out. The city was at one point offering free vet services, free spay and neuter services, and we did that on my property.
Davis realized her customers needed not only spay and neuter services, but affordable preventative care (dewormer, vaccines, nail trimmings, medicated shampoos, ear cleanings, dietary supplements, etc.).
So, with the team of vets who were providing the spay and neuter services, they opened an animal hospital on the property, which provided preventative care at affordable prices.
“I don’t like to label it as low-cost. I would rather say affordable, because ‘low-cost’ in the industry that we’re in means people ending up cutting corners,” said Davis, an issue that led to conflict between her and the vet team.
She contends the team “got greedy” and resorted to a common industry practice—getting customers hooked via low-cost services, then charging high prices for additional services and/or offering cheaper services that don’t cover all aspects of the pet care needed.
Davis said one customer who paid for surgery on his dog that didn’t fix the issue was outdone to discover that basic pre-surgery services weren’t provided, like x-rays. The vet team’s response, according to Davis, was essentially “You get what you pay for.”
“They even called the police on this Black man and said he had a gun in order to get the police there faster, even though the gentleman was unarmed,” stated Davis, who at that point, drew a line in the sand.
CLEANED HOUSE
Davis told the vet team, “I cannot condone this behavior no matter how badly I want to do the mission with you because you don’t care about this community. You’re not educating. You’re cutting corners.”
Davis informed them she would not renew the vet team’s lease and gave them 45 days to vacate her property.
That was roughly five years ago, and she has thrived since, expanding her business to focus on preventative care.
However, that move has led to current conflicts.
ACCUSATIONS
“I’ve had a team of licensed vets that comes on the property and offer $10 rabies vaccines. So, the problem that I’m having now is I’m disrupting the vet world by offering affordable services. And now I have a target on my back from the vet industry,” said Davis, who added that she’s been accused by that industry of practicing vet medicine without a license.
“Everyone knows I’m not a doctor and I never claim or act like I am. I offer preventative care services at affordable prices. At the vet, just the office visit is $65, plus the cost of their services and take-home meds, usually costing $120. My clients also have the option to buy the products and DIY for less than $20,” clarified Davis.
Davis’s response to the vet attacks: “Because I’m offering rabies vaccinations for $10, you’re upset because I’m taking your clients. But you could afford to bring your preventative care prices down and stop price gouging.”
Davis, who partners with BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions, says many pet owners can’t afford many currently-priced vet services, leading them to neglect their pets, which leads to more strays on Houston streets.
“That’s the number one reason why BARC says their shelters are overwhelmed, because people can’t afford their dogs, they don’t feel like they can get preventative services or when it comes down to the surgery, people take their dog on ‘the big ride’ or leave that fence open.”
MISSION TO EDUCATE, EMPOWER
For Davis, though, it’s all about educating and empowering pet owners.
“Rabies vaccines only cost $2, but they make you come into the office and they charge you $120. I’m coming from an educational side and making sure that I advocate for not just my community, but people that have pets. The pet industry is a billion-dollar industry. The vet industry makes even more than that.
“You know how pharmaceutical companies are raising the prices of medicines for no reason other than to be greedy? Those same pharmaceutical companies make the same medicine for dogs. I know this because my stepmom works for a pharmaceutical company and they have a whole pet care side that offers all of that.”
Davis traces her passionate customer advocacy to experiences with her dog, Mina.
“So, I can understand and sympathize with the average American who has a pet and just doesn’t know their options. I just want them to know there are a lot of preventative care stuff that you can get from a feed store.”
The Community Speaks on the Value Davis brings to the neighborhood:
“Not only is she running a family-owned business, but Marcquis is a part of our local community. She provides supplies needed for our animal companion, low-cost services to help those who struggle with medical costs, and upfront customer interactions. I support this local business because genuine care can make a big difference in the overall experience.”
– Leslie Roberts
“We are black pet owners and it is so nice to have a good black own business to support. My pets are important to me and having a black owned business in the community that cares for the animals and their families is something hard to find. Ms. M. Davis has so much knowledge when it comes to animals I feel very confident that the care for my pets will be done.”
–Sheree Roberts
1) I support Marcquis and the staff at Big Tex because they care about helping the community, taking good care of our pets, and have great services at great prices!
2) I think that it is important to Black owned pet related business because the community needs to see that this too is an option. If you love pets, you can work at a place like Big Tex, help your community with their pets, and learn how to do more.
–Justine Randle
“I Demetris support Marcquis and Big Tex Feed because of her unwavering care and support for the community and her customers. Always informative about the products that are sold and also has supported me and my business as well.”
–Demetris Williams
“Black pet owners matter just as much as any other pet owner because our pets are near and dear to our hearts. My pets are not just animals in my home they’re family. I’ve almost lost 2 of my dogs and am glad they’re still here years later due to the help of Marcquis and Big Tex Feed.”
1. The reason why support Marcquis Davis establishment is because she is educational, hands on, and she cares about my fur baby. When I am overwhelmed with worry she is calm and explains what the possible problem could be or recommend i seek further assistance if need be. All in a nutshell she cares and she wants to help us in the community with our babies. Something we truly need.
2. I believe we matter because we don’t always have knowledge of what is going on with our baby and if we could have more people like her in this community there would be less stray dogs on the street. She is a Heaven sent for our family. And I want to thank her so much for “ALL” that she does.
–Shante Hayward
