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Can anyone recommend a nice pet shop within or near the city? My daughter is looking for her first pet so I want to take her shopping and help her make a responsible decision. We already told her it won't be a kitty, puppy or pony.
I'm not fond of Petco, Petsmart or Petland since I have had bad luck and don't think the knowledge base of the employees or the overall health of their pets is that great. Plus, they tend to have a very small selection. If anyone knows of a shop that has a good selection let me know.
Hm, I can't think of any in the city or too near, but I'm sure I don't know all of them. Smiley's Pet Pad, on Highland Ave, I was thinking might have had a few small pets and/or birds in there, but the web site says at this point they do supplies only. You could call and check. I've bought cat food there a few times. I distinctly remember there being birds, but it's been several months since I was last in there so they may have gotten out of that fairly recently.
There is a Petland in the city, in East Liberty by Trader Joe's, but I highly recommend NOT going to Petland, ever. Other chains like Petsmart and Petco at least know better than to sell dogs and cats (instead partnering with local shelters to have cats and occasionally dogs in the stores), but AFAIK Petland has still not given that up.
You say no cat/dog which of course if you were looking for those I would suggest one of the shelters. If you are considering a rabbit, though, all three main Pittsburgh shelters have rabbits, and the Animal Rescue League and Humane Society appear to have occasional others, like ferrets. (I don't know that Animal Friends goes beyond dogs, cats and rabbits.)
I don't have any other direct suggestions, but I may find something if I dig a little more.
Yeah I don't think it was cryptic. Sounds like want to give daughter the choice within certain parameters (no ponies, hehe). Seems like it's going to be tough to have too many choices outside one of the big stores. Dunno. My favorite shop is Leone Animal Supply, but AFAIK they don't sell any pets, just supplies and foods.
BTW, if you go searching you might find reference to West Hills Pet Center being voted best store. I wasn't impressed with that place at all, though. I'd sooner get a small pet from Petsmart really.
Burton's Total Pet, which is a smaller chain (many locations used to be Pet Supplies Plus, including one not too far from the city on McKnight Rd), is not bad. They have some fish, some birds and some other small animals in the stores (most often see ferrets and/or rabbits, but I haven't been in there in months since the food I get all comes from Leone's now).
Elmer's just mentioned above does seem like a good bet. I haven't actually been there. They used to have a north hills shop too, which I visited once that I can remember, but that closed years ago. Always seemed to be very focused on fish but appears to be a decently run shop. It says the hamster and gerbils and rabbits are locally bred, for example. Sounds good. Not in the city but if you have to drive one place, seems worth it.
My first non-fish pet when I was a kid was a parakeet. I'd say the furry kind like a hamster would be more fun, but that's just me. Maybe because I didn't have one back then? I made up for it by getting a cat!
Elmer's in monroeville
Wet Pets in Peters twp
Aquaworld on 65 in Emsworth
Wet Pets is the nicest if them, but most pricey.
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