Local pet lovers will soon have a new place to buy supplies for their furry friends.

Petsense LLC has begun construction on a 5,000-square-foot building located along Highway 395, sandwiched between Big 5 and Cycletown.

Mark Morgan, assistant city manager for the city of Hermiston, said he has been involved with the planning and building process of the project for about six months.

The land developer, Dickerhoof Properties, was also behind the Big 5 nearby building. Dickerhoof will lease the property to Petsense.

Petsense is a chain store that bills itself as “America’s Hometown Pet Store,” with an emphasis in rural markets. The company specializes in pet supplies and pet services, but does not sell animals.

The company was founded in 2005 by Jim Dougherty, who also founded PetSmart in 1986. It operates more than 120 stores in 24 states, and Hermiston will be their second store in Oregon. Ontario also has a Petsense location, which includes a grooming salon.

An opening date has not been announced.