About Us

Pet Stop of the Fox Valley has a new owner & management team that is no stranger to pet fencing.

Bruce Peterson founded Hidden Fence of Minnesota in 1992 as a Local, Hometown, Family-Owned Business.

Our team has since grown to include more family members and close friends that are equally dedicated to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction for our clients.

Pet Stop of the Fox Valley has a new owner & management team that is no stranger to pet fencing.

Bruce Peterson founded Hidden Fence of Minnesota in 1992 as a Local, Hometown, Family-Owned Business.

Our team has since grown to include more family members and close friends that are equally dedicated to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction for our clients.

Mark Beresford

Mark Beresford & his wife Kay served the greater Fox Valley area from 2000 to early 2023 as Pet Stop dealers.

Mark & Kay wanted to say thank you and express their sincere appreciation to all of their wonderful customers they have served over the years. They have truly enjoyed the journey.

Mark & Kay chose to sell the dealership to fellow Pet Stop dealer Bruce Peterson, owner of Hidden Fence of Minnesota, because they wanted to be sure their loyal and valued customers would be getting the best possible service available moving forward.

Bruce Peterson has been a dealer in the Electronic Pet Fencing industry for over 30 years and is extremely pleased to be the new owner of Pet Stop of the Fox Valley to continue Mark & Kay’s legacy.

Hidden Fence of Minnesota has a proven track record of over 800 5-star reviews as well as the staff and technology in place to provide the fastest response times in the industry to Pet Stop of the Fox Valley customer needs.

There are boots on the ground in the Fox Valley area for installation and service needs, and with the technology we have in place you should never sense that our administrative offices are 3.5 hours away in Minnesota.

Bruce Peterson

Hello, my name is Bruce Peterson, I am the new owner of Pet Stop of the Fox Valley as well as Hidden Fence of Minnesota.

I grew up in Prior Lake Minnesota at a time when leash laws existed but were seldom enforced. For the most part dogs were free to roam as they pleased as long as they didn't cause any trouble. When I was eight our dog Caesar was killed on the highway not far from our house while I was at school. It was an awful way to lose a dog. I was always concerned about having to tie up our dogs as it seemed inhumane to me.

In early 1992 after struggling unsuccessfully to make a living from our first business I was given the opportunity to sell the newest technology in pet containment systems. My wife Debi and I knew right away that it was the perfect business for us. It seemed like a dream traveling around the city helping people keep their dogs both free and safe. At that time there were no systems available with an adjustable correction level which at times made the training more stressful then I thought it needed to be. I discovered that using different values of common resistors from Radio Shack placed between the collars contacts would reduce the correction level down to as little as a tickle. Gentle training has been very core of our methods ever since.

For the longest time Hidden Fence of Minnesota remained just me and one or two employees. We have since added a sister in-law, a son-in-law, adopted sons, and a number of friends. It is very satisfying to see the next generation stepping up to continue keeping dogs all over the area both free and safe. Our entire team is very eager to serve the Fox Valley area and continue the legacy that Mark & Kay started over 20 years ago.

Mike Stephansen

My name is Mike Stephansen, and I am the Service Manager for our family-owned business.

I started with the company in 2015 as a service & installation technician and moved into the role of manager in 2021.

I have always loved animals and have greatly enjoyed being able to help families keep their pets happy and safe. I loved meeting new pets and their family every day as a technician, and I appreciate that I get to continue helping ensure that customers are getting the help and advice they need as quickly as possible as I help with scheduling and customer support.

I have also enjoyed working in a family owned business where we can quickly make changes and adjustments as needed to better help and serve our customers in a timely and personal manner.

Dominic Probst

Hello, my name is Dominic Probst. I have been with Pet Stop since April of 2023.

My love for animals started at a young age when my family had an array of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, raccoons, and horses. This set me up for attending college for Veterinary Science.

After a few years, I decided to go back to the workforce, learning different skills along the way. Wanting to get the best of both worlds with working with animals and being outside, I found the hiring ad for Pet Stop of the Fox Valley. And let me tell you, it's the best decision I've made! When work, doesn't feel like work, you know you found a good one.

Julie OBrien

Hi, my name is Julie OBrien. I have been working for our family owned business since 2019. My position in the company is billing, accounting and customer service.

I genuinely enjoy my job and all of the people that I work with. It is refreshing to work for a local family owned company. Our owner Bruce Peterson is an honest, kind & ethical man. You will not find a person who is more dedicated to customer satisfaction than Bruce!

One of my favorite aspects of my position is talking with all of the wonderful customers we have. I am an animal lover and it makes me happy to know that the product we sell is the safest and best one out there to keep your dog or cat safe and secure!