Very clean. Nice variety. Some large snakes. We came to set up an aquarium and left with some…read moreexcellent ideas.

They have friendly, helpful employees who answered all our questions and helped us get the fish we…read morewanted. They have a nice selection on dog food and treats so we picked up some things for the pups as well. While husband was taking care of somethings I did explore and look at their reptiles and spiders. Blech! They were interesting and neat but....blech! The snakes were actually rather cute yet at the same time....blech! At the time, they didn't have any birds. They were cleaning and reorganizing but they normally have them. They also get bunnies. I almost took one home but I fear one of my dogs would be obnoxious about it and there is no need to stress a poor little bunny. The store was clean, employees helpful and knowledgeable, and they seemed to have plenty of variety of critters and products. The fish we purchased were all healthy and are thriving. I recommend!

We have gone sporadically to The Barking Lot for a couple of years now. There was a…read moremiscommunication with the preference card recently and I was less than pleased with the grooming service provided. However, when I called to discuss it with the owner, he was more than happy to help. He went through and investigated the situation/preference cards, did not blame it on staff, all while trying to provide the best customer service he could. They were able to fit my two dogs in last minute which I appreciated and they did an excellent job. Even if it was a sub optimal groom, having an owner who works with customers to try and navigate problems and make them right makes this business stand out. Thank you!

I took my cat in for a lion cut. He has very long hair and it was getting matted. Luke greeted me…read moreat the door. He listened to me tell him about my kitty, who had never been groomed other than at the vet's office, and assured me everything would be fine. Luke did a wonderful job! Ozpin looks great! They also tried to bathe him but he wasn't having it..lol! Price was very reasonable, too. Luke and The Barking Lot now have a customer for life!

This is the oldest locally owned pet store in the city and one of the few places I can find my…read moreShepherd's favorite dry food, Natural Balance. The staff is really friendly here, and much more knowledgeable than the young kids that work at chain stores like PetSmart and Petco. They stock a lot of specialty products that you can't find anywhere else. I shop for my dogs and cats, and always pick up a special treat at the gourmet bakery here. They also have tons of fish and aquarium stuff if you're into that. It's not always cheaper than the big-box pet stores or grocery store, but they do have coupons and specials on their website.

I have stopped by this store in the past because they carry some of the harder to find premium pet…read morefood brands. My most recent experience there will be my last. This store carried puppy mill bred puppies, and has the audacity to have signs up claiming they are not from puppy mills. These dogs are the result of parents kept in inhumane conditions who are bred over and over throughout their lives until they cannot have puppies anymore, at which point they are dumped on shelters and rescues. This is such a disgusting practice, when so many animals are being euthanized because there are not enough homes to care for them. In addition to the puppy mill puppies, I saw 6+ fancy rats crowded into a tiny 10 gallon fish tank. One of the rats was pregnant and couldn't move around much, so the other rats continually stepped on her as they tried to move in this cramped environment. She was covered in sores. I let an employee know but they did not seem to care. Stores like this go against everything that animal lovers care about.

I had Serpentes Reptiles come for my sons 9th birthday party. They had no problem traveling from…read moreRichmond to Williamsburg on a Sunday evening and were very accommodating when I had to reschedule the original party date due to my son being sick. I personally do not like snakes but they allowed me to stand back and took care of the whole show, handling the animals and teaching them lots of fun facts! The kids had a blast holding the reptiles and I got so many awesome pictures ! It's definitely a birthday my son will never forget!

I've taken my dog here several times for grooming and I've purchased dog food here. The people are…read morenice and I have zero complaints about the grooming services. Very nice. The thing that stands out is how nice the people are. I don't know if they're paid more or if they're treated better in another way, but it makes a huge difference. Thank you.

Stopped by after work to grab a few things to make my dog feel better as she's having stomach…read moreissues. I enjoyed talking with Angel for a little bit. She was knowledgeable and had her own story to share, which made me feel comfortable about what my dog has going on. When I walked outside, I took a shopping cart with me and one of the gentlemen on break walked it back. This made me realize I had forgotten a bag that he was so kind to run back in and grab.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a quality review from this visit as it seems they had a fire…read more It was hard to breath in here. It was crampt and dirty. I hope to try visiting again, after things are cleaned up, to adjust this review.

I am relatively new to the area but an old-time aquarium hobbyist and retired professional in the…read moreindustry. I visited another highly recommended fish shop in the area and was highly disappointed and disgusted. I did review that shop today too. I really want to find some good shops near where I live instead of driving to my trusted old haunts in the Viginia Beach/Tidewater area. I found Azalea Aquariums on Yelp and saw it was close to where I was and took a chance. I got there 10 minutes before closing, but I live about 30 minutes away so I thought I might as well check it out, get the feel for the place, and come back later if I like the vibes and am interested in the stock. I wasn't planning on getting any live plants or fish today, but I have a new tank set-up to review for a company and I will need to stock it when it's cycled. I wanted a plan and was just hoping to window shop today. I walk in, and while it's not the cleanest or most professional looking shop, it was clean enough and the fish looked cared for. It had that worn-in, well-loved feel about it and even had a cozy cat napping on the bottom shelf of a tank. It had a saltwater side and freshwater side of the shop, which I thought was an organized way to present them and care for them. The lights were low and there was just one alley with tanks on either side which was a bit uncomfortable, but I could see all the fish easily. There were very few empty tanks and species names and prices were visible. I didn't see one floater or sick fish. I was impressed by the health of the fish. Even most of the bettas were in nearly full-color, which shows that they are not super stressed out. Five minutes after I entered, I was ushered out of the store by a woman who came from the back room; previously there was just a man helping a customer. I looked at my watch and it was 4:55; it was five minutes until closing. I didn't argue but said something like, "Oh, I thought you closed at five." She said she would get me something if I needed it, but they were closed. She passed by me in the aisle, went to the front door, then went back to the back without a word. When I got to the front door a minute later, sure enough it was locked. It was off-putting. I was 30 minutes from home and not easily able to get back anytime I wanted. I was interested to see what gravel stock they had, how healthy their fish seemed, and just get an idea of the species they carry. Another five minutes would have fully satisfied my whole reason for being there in the first place. She didn't even ask if she could help me. She didn't introduce herself and was wearing street clothes. The tanks could be maintained better, and while it wasn't as bad as the dump heap of a fish shop I visited earlier in the day, it did leave a sour note that I won't forget. I probably won't be back.

I recently adopted a dog, and this was a great place to get her a collar, harness, and an enzyme…read morebased cleaner for if she has accidents. It's a nice sized store- definitely much smaller than a place like pet smart, but the people working there seem to have a lot of knowledge about their products. They also adjusted the fit of the harness and collar to my dog, which was great. The prices seemed on par or lower than you would get at other pet stores. I also appreciate that although the store is located inside the spca, it's at the very front, so if you're just there to shop it's easy to access. I'm sure I'll be back when we need more pet products!

I love shopping in this store. The products are always right on target - exactly what I need…read morewithout having to dig through giant aisles in a big corporate store. The inventory is always updated and fresh, but you can also trust that you'll find your favs and staples , too. The prices are good and, best of all, the proceeds to back to the animals in the care of the organization. Buying toys, treats, leashes, you name it, while giving back to homeless pets? Yes, please! I think this shop is a bit of a hidden gem because it's physically small and placed within the SPCA itself, but do not let that fool you! They have more than you'll ever need. I've gotten everything from an adorable kids' book to doggie life jackets to cat litter there and been pleased with the products, service and overall experience every time. And, even if you have a special request, they can still order it for you, just ask. The staff is very knowledgeable and can tell you about the use of each project (like gentle leaders and special harnesses and such) and really help you help your pets, not just sell you stuff. If you live in the Richmond area and have pets or friends and family members who love animals, this is the place to go for gifts and supplies.