Pet Store Near Me — Find the Closest Store, Compare What Each Offers

These are the questions that come up most when people search for a pet store nearby — the practical, specific questions that store websites usually don’t answer up front.

• 1
  What’s the most popular pet store in the US? PetSmart is the largest by revenue and store count — 1,522 locations · Petco is second with ~1,500 stores · Chewy leads online · Together PetSmart and Petco hold nearly 40% of the U.S. pet store market

  PetSmart holds the top spot among brick-and-mortar pet retailers, with $10 billion in annual revenue and more than 1,500 stores across the U.S. Petco operates a similar number of physical locations and added a notable advantage in recent years with its Vetco and in-store veterinary hospital network — over 100 full veterinary hospitals are now located inside Petco stores. For online shopping, Chewy dominates with $12 billion in annual revenue and an approach many pet owners prefer: auto-ship subscriptions, prescription food delivery, and 24/7 customer service staffed by people with pet knowledge rather than a phone tree. Which is “best” depends entirely on what you need: PetSmart has the most locations and a strong grooming business; Petco has the veterinary edge; Chewy wins on price and convenience for items you buy repeatedly; and local independents win on expertise and specialty inventory.
• 2
  What hours are pet stores typically open near me? PetSmart: most locations Mon–Sat 9am–9pm, Sun 10am–7pm · Petco: similar hours, some 8am–9pm · Hours vary significantly by location and holiday season · Always confirm via the store locator app before driving

  Standard hours for both PetSmart and Petco run roughly 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, with Sunday hours often shortened to 10 a.m.–7 p.m. — but this varies enough by individual location that it’s worth verifying before you drive. The fastest way to confirm current hours is through each store’s own app or website store locator, which reflects real-time hours including holiday adjustments. Google Maps also shows live hours and often indicates whether a location is currently busy — useful if you want to avoid grooming drop-off crowds on Saturday mornings. Grooming services at both chains require an appointment, and drop-off times are typically 8 a.m.–10 a.m. — separate from the store’s general opening time. Veterinary services inside Petco locations maintain their own hours, often starting earlier and requiring a separate check-in process.
• 3
  Is it cheaper to buy pet food at a pet store or online? Online (Chewy, Amazon) is usually 10–20% cheaper on recurring purchases · Chewy’s Autoship adds another 5–35% off · In-store advantage: same-day pickup, prescription diet verification, and personalized advice · Price-match policies at PetSmart and Petco can close the gap

  For the same brand of food bought repeatedly, online typically wins on price — Chewy’s Autoship discount alone can reduce the cost by 5–35% depending on the product. Both PetSmart and Petco have price-match policies that will match Chewy’s online price if you show them proof — so if you prefer buying in person but have found a lower price online, ask for the match at the register. Where in-store shopping genuinely has an edge: prescription diets (which require vet authorization that some online sellers handle slowly), live fish and small animals, grooming services, and any situation where you want to read the ingredient label or compare textures before committing to a case of 24 cans. For first-time purchases of a new food, most experienced pet owners recommend buying a small quantity in-store first before ordering a bulk subscription online.
• 4
  Does Petco or PetSmart have a vet? Petco: 100+ full veterinary hospitals (Vetco Total Care) inside stores + Vetco vaccine clinics · PetSmart: partners with Banfield Pet Hospital in most locations — separate clinic inside the store · Both require appointments for full exams · Vaccine clinics often walk-in friendly

  Both chains have veterinary services available, but the structure differs. Petco operates Vetco Total Care — full-service veterinary hospitals inside the store with staff veterinarians, lab work, imaging, and dental services — in over 100 locations. They also run Vetco vaccine clinics in many other stores that offer preventive care (vaccines, flea/heartworm prevention, microchipping) on a walk-in or appointment basis at lower costs than a traditional clinic. PetSmart partners with Banfield Pet Hospital, which operates as a separate clinic inside most PetSmart locations — its own entrance, its own staff, its own scheduling. Banfield offers wellness plan memberships (monthly payment covering preventive care) that many pet owners find useful for routine visits. Neither should be considered a substitute for a dedicated veterinary specialist for serious health issues, but for wellness care, vaccinations, and minor concerns, both are significantly more convenient and often less expensive than a standalone private practice.
• 5
  What should I look for on pet food labels in the store? Must have: AAFCO “complete and balanced” statement · First ingredient should be a named protein (chicken, salmon — not “poultry” or “meat”) · Avoid: carrageenan, artificial dyes, vague by-product terms · Check life stage: kitten/puppy, adult, senior, or all life stages

  The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutritional adequacy statement is the single most important thing to find on any pet food label. It means the food meets the minimum nutritional requirements for its stated life stage. Without this statement, the food is not a complete diet. Beyond that, the ingredient list follows a weight-before-cooking order — so the first ingredient is the heaviest component by raw weight. A named protein source (chicken, beef, salmon) as the first ingredient is a good sign. Vague terms like “meat” or “poultry” indicate lower-quality sourcing. Carrageenan — a seaweed-derived thickener found in many wet foods — has drawn increasing scrutiny for its potential to cause low-grade digestive inflammation in sensitive animals. Artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5) have no nutritional purpose and are worth avoiding. The FDA pet food label requirements are publicly posted at fda.gov/animal-veterinary for anyone who wants to verify what’s legally required to appear on the packaging.
• 6
  Do pet stores sell live animals — and should I buy a pet there? Both PetSmart and Petco sell fish, birds, small animals, and reptiles — but not dogs or cats · Most dogs and cats sold at pet stores historically came from puppy mills · Both major chains now partner with rescues for adoption events · Always ask about an animal’s health history before purchasing

  PetSmart and Petco made commitments years ago to stop selling dogs and cats from commercial breeders and now host adoption events in partnership with local shelters and rescues — typically on weekends. They do continue to sell fish, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards, and other small animals. The quality of care for these animals varies by individual store — fish in particular require healthy tank conditions, and it’s worth scanning the tanks for signs of disease (cloudy water, dead fish, visible illness) before purchasing. Smaller independent pet stores may sell puppies or kittens, and the sourcing practices vary widely. The Humane Society advises asking for documentation of where an animal was born, health testing performed on parents, and a health guarantee before purchasing from any retailer. If you’re looking to add a dog or cat, contacting local rescue organizations or visiting Petfinder.com to find adoptable animals at nearby shelters is often the more ethically straightforward path.
• 7
  What services do pet stores offer besides selling food? Grooming (bath, haircut, nail trim) · Training classes · Boarding and daycare · In-store veterinary clinics · Microchipping · Vaccine clinics · Self-wash dog stations · Prescription diet dispensing

  Both major chains have significantly expanded beyond pet food retail into service businesses — and for good reason, since services produce recurring, appointment-based revenue that’s less vulnerable to online competition. PetSmart’s grooming business is one of the largest in the country, with certified groomers in most locations. They also offer training classes for dogs at various skill levels, boarding through their PetsHotel program (available in many locations), and doggy daycare. Petco offers similar grooming and training, with the addition of its in-store Vetco hospital network. Self-serve dog wash stations — where you bring your dog and use the store’s raised tub, shampoos, and dryer — are available at many PetSmart locations and some Petco stores for a flat fee. For people who want the experience of bathing their own pet without the mess at home, this is genuinely practical. Independent pet stores often offer more personalized training programs or partner with local trainers not available through the chains.

No single store wins for every pet and every need. Here’s an honest comparison of the main options you’ll find across the U.S. — what each excels at and where its limitations are.