What Is the Best Pet Store Near Me?

There are more than 15,000 pet retail locations in the United States — from PetSmart’s 1,534-store footprint to independent specialty shops that stock raw food brands and rare fish the big chains don’t carry. The real question isn’t which store has the best logo. It’s which store is best for what you actually need today: a quick bag of food, a grooming appointment, advice on a sick fish, or a live animal from a store that treats them well. The answer is different every time.

• 1
  What is the best pet store overall — PetSmart or Petco? Neither wins outright — it depends on what you need · PetSmart: best for grooming and sheer number of locations · Petco: best for in-store vet access and premium food selection · Chewy: best price on recurring orders delivered to your door

  PetSmart has slightly more stores (1,534 vs. Petco’s ~1,500 U.S. locations) and operates the most established grooming program in the country, with stylists completing over 800 hours of training. Petco countered by building over 100 full-service veterinary hospitals inside stores — the largest retail-embedded vet network in the U.S. On everyday supplies, PetSmart typically edges Petco on base price, while Petco’s Vital Care membership ($19.99/month) provides ongoing savings that can offset that gap for frequent shoppers.
• 2
  Do pet stores still sell puppies and kittens? PetSmart and Petco stopped selling dogs and cats from commercial breeders years ago — both now exclusively host adoption events with local rescues · Independent stores vary: some source from small ethical breeders, others do not — always ask

  Both major chains made commitments to stop selling commercially bred dogs and cats. They still sell fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, lizards, and other small animals — with care quality varying by individual location. If you’re hoping to see a live puppy or kitten in a store, both PetSmart and Petco hold periodic in-store adoption events with local shelters and rescues. Check each store’s website for upcoming adoption events near you.
• 3
  What is the biggest pet store in the U.S.? PetSmart holds the largest physical footprint with over 1,534 stores nationally · Chewy is the largest by revenue at $12.89 billion annually · Pet Supplies Plus is the largest independent retailer with 700+ locations in 30+ states

  Size matters differently depending on what you need. PetSmart’s footprint means there’s almost certainly one within a reasonable drive in any suburban market. Chewy’s revenue dominance reflects how much of pet supply purchasing has shifted online — but Chewy has no physical stores at all. Pet Supplies Plus fills a specific niche: neighborhood-feel stores with large-chain convenience and competitive pricing.
• 4
  Are independent pet stores better than the big chains? For prescription diets, raw food, therapeutic brands, exotic pets, and genuine expert advice — often yes · For convenience, price, hours, and grooming infrastructure — the chains usually win

  Independent pet stores punch above their weight in a few specific areas: specialty nutrition (brands like Fromm, Primal, Small Batch that the big chains rarely carry), hands-on advice from staff who genuinely know their products, and exotic pet care for species the chains barely stock. But they often have shorter hours, less consistent inventory, and no grooming salon. The best approach for many owners is both: a local independent for advice and specialty items, and a chain or Chewy for recurring bulk purchases.
• 5
  Where is the cheapest place to buy pet food? Chewy autoship: typically 5–35% cheaper than in-store prices on the same product · Walmart: cheapest for budget brands · Amazon Subscribe & Save: competitive for many brands · Petco/PetSmart in-store: often 10–20% more than Chewy for the same bag

  The single biggest driver of pet food cost savings isn’t brand switching — it’s how you buy. Chewy’s autoship discount, combined with the ability to compare cost-per-pound across every brand it carries at once, makes it the most efficient place to buy food you already know your pet does well on. For the first purchase of a new food, in-store is often better: you can see the bag, read the label, and return it easily if your pet refuses it — Petco and PetSmart both offer 60-day and 30-day return policies respectively on pet food.
• 6
  Which pet store is best for fish? Scan the tanks before you buy — cloudy water, dead fish, or sick-looking fish in any tank means those fish are at risk · Independent aquarium specialty stores usually have healthier fish and better advice than chain stores · For equipment and supplies: chains and online are fine

  Fish quality varies enormously by individual store and even by individual tank — not by chain. Before buying any fish, look at the tank it’s in: cloudy water is a red flag, dead fish in the same tank means disease risk for every animal in it, and listless fish near the surface often indicate oxygen or ammonia problems. At an independent aquarium store where fish is the specialty, staff can usually tell you the fish’s source, how long it’s been in the store, and what it’s been eating — information that’s rarely available at a big-box location.
• 7
  What should I look for to know if a pet store treats its animals well? Clean enclosures · Animals alert and active, not huddled · No overcrowding · Staff can answer species-specific questions · Animals are appropriately separated by species and temperament · You’re allowed to ask where the animals came from

  A well-run pet store is transparent. Staff should be able to tell you what a hamster eats, what temperature a bearded dragon needs, and where their fish come from. If questions about animal origins get vague or defensive answers, treat that as a signal. Look at every enclosure: are the animals active, is the water clear (for fish and aquatic species), are the cages appropriate in size? Overcrowded enclosures and sick animals visible on the floor are the two clearest signs that a store’s animal welfare standards aren’t where they should be.
• 8
  Is it better to buy pet supplies in-store or online? Online (Chewy, Amazon, Petco.com) wins on price for recurring purchases · In-store wins for: first-time food purchases, urgent needs, food your pet might refuse, anything you want to return easily, and grooming or training appointments

  The most cost-effective strategy most experienced pet owners use is a split approach: buy food, flea/tick prevention, and high-volume recurring supplies online through autoship; buy first-trial foods, toys, and anything perishable in-store where you can return it same-day. Online retailers now handle over 50% of the global pet food market specifically because the autoship model works so well for predictable, recurring purchases. But in-store remains irreplaceable for same-day needs, behavioral advice, and services.

These aren’t ranked #1 to #10 — they’re described honestly so you can pick the right one for your situation. No single store wins everything.

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