Petsmart or PetCo?

Question

I heard that one of them abuses animals and is a bad place to go. Which one is is or is this just a rumor? Which one is better overall?

Answer 1

Both abuse animals in some way or another.

Personally, if you ask me, i'd refer you to petsmart after you've done your research. Then you'll know if what your getting is really healthy, blah blah blah.

Petsmart is almost the same as petco except they don't have saltwater fish and they seem to care more about the animals..even the tanks with 500 goldfish are pretty clean.

Answer 2

I haven't heard of any abuse at either major pet store chain. I have been in both stores and I can say that I prefer PetSmart over PetCo. Now if you are looking more for buying animals, I would recommend PetCo. They have a larger variety of animals available. PetSmart does have animals for sale but the "breeds" are limited.

Also I am currently doing Dog Obedience classes at PetSmart and I am very pleased. The trainer has never once reprimanded my dog and they suggest positive reinforcement versus punishment. I asked about different control device such as shock collars and training colors (the ones with prongs in the neck that tighten when pulled) and they suggested other alternatives that were safer and less painful for the animal.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

PetSmart is better. Petco is only good for animal supplies. Most of the animals there are unhappy and it is really sad. All of the pets I got there accept for Hammy the hamster have died earlier than they were supposed to. Especially Guinea. They said that Guinea was 8 months old. So he was supposed to live for 8 more years. Then when he died of old age before his birthday. I realized that it was 8 years old not 8 months. I fostered some kittens from PetSmart once and found out that PetSmart was the way to go.

Answer 4

I looked up PETA and read briefly..it looks as if it was Petsmart that was accused of abusing animals. PETA was concerned that the birds were not in big enough cages and would like for them to make sure that they are selling the birds to responsible owners who will actually take good care of them. However, there was a story about a dog dying at a Petco groomers.

Personally, I shop at Petco, only because if you apply for membership (which is free) there are sales but I especially liked that every time I buy dog food my 11th one is free.

Answer 5

i am not sure about the abusing animals accusation. from where i live, petco is closer to use than petsmart so we go there. the only animals we have bought off petco are fish and their tanks have always been exceptionally clean. i did look at a bird once however and when they got him out, he was very wild and he was supposedly hand-fed.

Answer 6

there are websites out there that tell you PETCO is not a place for animals. I have a ferret and when I went in there ONCE to buy food for him. I noticed that the ferrets weren't cleaned for DAYS. They told me that they get cleaned every 4 days or so. But when I called PETCO's 800 number I was told they clean them every 2 HOURS. I called the SPCA and the local PETCO got A BIG FINE for cruelty to animals

Answer 7

I've not heard that about Petco, and I use both. Petsmart for most stuff, and Petco for my frozen mice, everywhere else sells them live. *shivers* The only place I've heard of that abuses animals is Petland, because they get their puppies from puppy mills.

Answer 8

Petco is the one who abuses the animals. Go to Petsmart. They are bigger & have more variety & are cheaper

Answer 9

PetCo was the one with problems, but really it could happen to any store, and I don't think it was company policy to be cruel to animals, just bad hiring and managment at some stores. Both stores seem to have about the same items.

Answer 10

I've always gone to Petsmart, or which ever grocery store has cat food and litter on sale at a better price.