I frequent this particular PETCO for all my fish needs. I have had fantastic success with their fish -- although their selection can be hit or miss. My fish tank has been up and running for just over a year. Of the original 20 fish placed in the tank -- 15 originals remain (I had a water change mishap and problems with tank temperatures this summer, which led to an early demise for some species). The staff in the fish department does not go out of their way to help you, which can be frustrating. However, if you engage them and ask questions they are very helpful -- the Ginger, Bob Ross-looking guy is particularly helpful and has managed to answer many of my questions. In fairness, I think the fish department is the ultimate "just looking" section of the store, so the staff is inclined to give customers their space. I would prefer an independent, strictly fish pet store, but I don't know any in Boston. Notwithstanding, Petco manages to do the job. read more

I bought four fish here yesterday and one of them was acting strange (yes, strange even for a fish) as soon as it was bagged. Even the clerk noticed. Anyway, I specifically asked what happened if a fish died and was told to bring the fish back in with the receipt.... ...This morning I found the strange acting fish dead in the tank and was really bummed (all of my other fish, including the three other new ones, are veyr healthy anf happy). After work I made my way through traffic (with my dead fish and receipt) over to the Brighton Petco and tried to get a replacement. The storeclerk (reddish hair with initials BAS) was VERY rude and bordering on hostile--he acted like I had spat on his grandmother and was a complete bother to him. He told me that he could not replave my fish without a water sample from my tank ASAP (that night). When I told him A) I did not live close to the petstore and would not be able to come back again tonight and b) that i had specifically asked about the dead fish policy the day before and had simply been told to bring in the fish he said, "it wasn't me--I wasn't working yesterday." He did tell me I could ahve until tomorrow to produce a sample, but why would I rush a second time through evening traffic for a $5.50 refund? I respect the store's policy, but employees need to be informed (and tell customers) about such policies, particularly when asked. This guy was was downright socially inept and extremely rude. It is bad enough to have to deal with a dead pet--I dont need to feel like crap when I leave a petstore. Petco can keep their 5.50--I will not shop there again. read more

Just finished a Skipton's Yelp, so I'm posting on Petco... I've bought a lot of fish and supplies from here. Overall, the selection is mediocre, but the prices are very good (well, compared to Skipton's). About 10-20% higher than the internet, and you're not paying shipping. So for small purchases or the emergency needs, this is my go to place. Problems come in on the livestock end. Many of the fish look simply beat, and it's not unusual to see a dead fish or two at the back of the tank. I've now bought 9 fish there, and lost three (and those three during the dangerous set up stage of a new tank). That may be unfair though... those three died in the set up process of a new tank, and the remainder are looking great. Even still, their selection is limited. Overall, PETCO remains my goto place for the simple stuff. Try Skiptons for the rare and unusual, but once you see their prices you might appreciate PETCO a bit more... read more

This is a retail store that just happens to sell pet supplies. Most of the staff cant help you. The cages are a mess. Feeding harmful pellets to birds. read more

My shopping experience is generally nice here. I often come to this store to purchase some crickets for my leopard gecko, which was purchased from this store when it was on sale for just 14.99. Last weekend, they had a sale on their golden geckos. So I decided to grab one. The staff is very helpful regarding telling relative information about golden geckos, and he walked me through the set up of the aquarium. So I am happy that I am able to provide proper care to this little guy under his assistance. read more

I used to live within walking distance to this petco and would stop by frequently with my dog. I don't do my main (pet supply) shopping here, but I still go on occasion to dig through the clearance bins or pick up some things for my dog to chew on. Most of the staff is very friendly and my dog loves the attention! I wish I knew her name, but the tall blond girl has always been extremely nice and made it a pleasant experience. read more

Do not get your dog's nails cut here. I normally get my dogs nails trimmed at Pet Supplies Plus on Market St and they do a great job. Their groomer wasn't in this weekend, so I took my little Jack Russell to this PetCo. The groomer was very short with me and told me I couldn't stay in the room while she cut his nails. I wandered around the store and then I heard my dog screaming- I've never heard him make this noise and he has never had a problems with his nails anywhere else. The woman waiting behind me to get her dog groomed came out and stood with me and said she couldn't even stand to be in the room while that was happening. The groomer cut his nails way too short and they bled, and the nails are cut very jagged so ended up being very sharp. The groomer gave up after only cutting nails on 3 paws. My dog had his tail between his legs and was terrified of her. I've never had a dog treated this way. I called the manager on my walk home and he didn't seem to care that my dog bled or was treated this way- he tried to justify it by saying the groomer was busy so it wasn't her fault. It doesn't matter if she's busy or not, that's no excuse to hurt my dog. I will not be coming back to this PetCo, and would encourage others to avoid their groomer if they want their dog properly cared for. I will be taking my dog to Pet Supplies Plus this week to have them fix the horrible job that PetCo did. read more

the staff at this particular petco are of the redneck hillbilly variety, which is odd considering the location of the establishment. one time i saw a small hamster running itself ragged on his hamster wheel...a part of the metal wheel kept running into his eye, and a red sore was apparent. when i told a sales associate about this, he was overheard saying something along the lines of "hey john! one of your hamsters is too dumb to move out of the way of the wheel!" god only knows what happened to that poor little creature. i also took my cat there once to get a haircut, and she came back looking choppy and uneven and with some of her whiskers sliced off. cat whiskers should NEVER, EVER be cut or shaved off. it is awful for the cats perception and it is painful. i will never put my poor kitty through that again. in general petco's are awful places - the staff always seem to be completely uneducated and know nothing about the products they carry or what services they offer. petco also has a horrible reputation as far as how they treat their animals go...and that fact alone is enough to keep me away for good. read more

As far as the store goes, it's your average Petco - not much to say there. Like other Petcos they have an animal clinic relatively frequently where you can take your pets in and get vaccines on the cheap. This past weekend I took my boxer in here to get his nails clipped, and to put it quite simply I just didn't like the woman who helped me. First off, she asked me if I had been in before - I said yes, but to another Petco location. She said if I had been in before I would come up in the system, which I didn't. Turns out they had me listed under the wrong phone number. I explain to her that my beautiful boy gets nervous and that once he jumped off the table when getting his nails clipped. She tells me that she's going to keep him on the floor (which was a good idea), but then she puts a choke leash on him and started dragging him around. Absolutely no effort to talk to him or calm him. Then she has the nerve to say, "Well, if you want to go do your shopping & browse around, I should be done here in 10 minutes." Excuse me?? Don't shoe me out the door. You think I'm going to leave you alone with my most precious posession?? I think not, sweetie. I tell her I don't have any shopping to do and that I'll stay. Mid way through she trys again by saying, "You know, it really may be easier for him if you weren't here." Say what?! Lady, I know my dog better than you! Bottom line, she was pushy and I didn't trust her. We're not going back. read more

its not clean, the fish i bought there a few years back always died real fast (and no, it wasnt anything i did).... but its big, and the prices are good, adn my dog likes to go there.... but they could DEFINITELY stand some cleanliness training, with all the pets that hang out there... read more

We have brought our dog here for nail trims many times and they have always done a good job. Some places we have been only take the tip off and we have had to get them done again in two weeks but because Petco has the grinders they can trim and then file to avoid quicking the dog and get as low as possible. read more

The three times I went to buy pet food to this store, the cans or packages were covered in rat poop or rat pee. When I told the employees of the place, the only thing they asked is if I wanted a bag. Is it too much to ask that they clean then products before putting them in the shelves. This store and the people that work there have no respect for health safety and it is disgusting. read more

My four legged niece, Shamrock, loves the spa here! Sham is very scared of people she doesn't know but Sean is great with her. Every time I pick her up from her spa day, she leaves with the biggest smile & her tail wagging! It's 52$ for the spa day - includes bath, blowout, teeth cleaning, ear cleaning and nail clipping. The spa day is semi expensive which is why I gave it 4 stars. read more

This place should be called animal cruelty ! I have never seen a petco like this. The fish were dead, and the lady said they were sleeping! They were clearly dead ! The hamsters had wet tails and sores like they were fighting and haven't been cleaned ! The turtles were all stuffed in one tank ! There were like 40 turtles packed on top of one another ! They couldn't even move ! Not to mention the rats were so poorly taken care of. They were matted and scarred up like they had been bitten. I sad to say, but I have seen city rats that are in better shape. I bought a beta fish and asked if she had fin rot and the lady said she didn't know because she usually works at the other site?? What did that have to do with it?? This place is disgusting and poorly managed! I definitely wouldn't advise anyone to go here if you want a healthy pet. read more

i like this petco better than most. that said, i only go here for convenience (though it's not close to my house, it's large and comprehensive and the closest reasonable pet store around) and because of the prices/coupons. staff is usually friendly enough, though not always on the ball... i do prefer this petco to the one in waltham which is way sketchier. the one in falmouth is smaller and has almost no reptile section... and the local independently owned petstore is tiny, filthy, and has pretty much nothing i need- so there you have it! read more

Don't use the grooming here. I've taken my dog here 4-5 times, and the first few times, it was fine. The 2nd to last time, it took way longer than it should have. This concerned me as they don't give the dogs water while they're there .. and 5+ hours is a long time. Also, the dog didn't seem all that clean when I picked her up, and not well brushed. I probably shouldn't have gone back, but it's convenient, and I figured it was a fluke as I'd been there several times before. The last time I brought her for a bath, I was hesitant about leaving her, as she resisted when I left her, and clung to me. Keep in mind, this is not typical for this dog. She is a dog who willingly goes to the vet, gives the vet kisses while he's drawing blood, and gets excited when we drive up to the kennel, as she loves the owner. I should have seen the signs, but I'd already signed her in and I left her at Petco. Once again, the bath took way longer than expected and they didn't call me to let me know she was done. When I picked my dog up around closing time, she didn't seem that clean, and a few hours after I got home, I noticed a (small) cut on her muzzle. They didn't mention an injury to me, and although it's minor, it's disturbing and probably reflect mistreatment as this dog is so easy to handle. When I was picking her up, the clerk was trimming another dog and I noticed the job was horrible, with bald patches and uneven fur. I won't be going back. I should have listened to what my dog was telling me and not left her the last time as I don't think they treat the animals well at this Petco. My dog forgives me but I think it will take awhile to forgive myself for leaving her there, so I am warning other pet owners about this place. read more

Only went here once but they had a good selection of specialty pet products, for cats anyway. I don't have dogs so I can't speak for that. I was able to find my cat her special snowflake kitty litter and some Feliway diffusers. If I had more time to browse, I probably would have gotten her a cute toy or some treats as well. But the way the store was set up made it easy for me to find what I needed, so I was in & out quick and I was happy with that. And the staff was nice. read more

Clean, nice staff, great selection... But most definitely overpriced when it comes to cat scratching posts etc..

This is a great Petco! The staff is always so friendly especially Jessica who is the dog trainer.

I wish,there would be an option of no stars at all,bc that's what petco deserves! It started 2 weeks ago: I called to find more about grooming prices ... The front desk connected me with grooming dept. ... nobody answered ... I tried couple times the same day - no response ... Next day I called again. They told me for small dog it will be around $20. Ok, really good. I went there few days afterwards. The grooming lady (Kim) was super ignorant, super "busy" and after seeing my dog,she said not more than $41. I was kinda curious,how they make those prices, but didn't say a word. I made an appointment and came on Tuesday afternoon, around 3. She said to leave my puppy with her and she will call me in 2 hours. I WAS WAITING FOR 4.5 HOURS!!! I started to worry so I called and all she said was "Oh, yeah, he's done, I forgot to call" ... WTF LADY??? Are you serious???? Well I was pis***d big time ... I got there and she told me the price is now $50!! Is that what they charge for "forgetting a customer" ???? I asked why that much and she ignored me again ... told me to go to the front desk bc she can't give me the dog without paying. Apparently ppl leave without paying ... Are you surprised???? On top of everything, she promised to clean my dog's ears and trim nails - non of it was done and the haircut was a joke ... Don't ever go there and support this "grooming specialist" ... read more

To call this store "bad" would be overpraising. Items are hard to find; there are no overhead signs, e.g., for the myriad food brands, so you're forced to wander from aisle to aisle until you happen to alight upon whatever you're looking for. Staff consistently interact with each other rather than being attuned to customers. If you do track one of them down because you have a question, generally they won't know anymore than you do and will read a label (same as you've already done) to try and glean an answer. On my most recent visit, a checkout staffperson was bogged down with someone's items, and lengthy lines began to form at his register and the only other open one. It was left to me, a customer, to ask why one of the other closed checkout lanes couldn't be opened, at which point this happened. Items are bagged in super-thin plastic, so flimsy that multiple layers must be requested if you're buying anything with any heft. Overall, lack of staff training and general inattention permeate every aspect of the retail portion of the store and its operations. read more

Went in thinking about getting a snake. We're first timers so we had a lot of questions. Dave (I hope that was his name?) was exceptionally helpful. He had us hold a few snakes we were interested in and talked to us for 45 minutes. He's very knowledgable and gave us some great suggestions. He recommended a vet, a tank, a substrate, the works. We felt very lucky to have gotten to talk to him. And bonus! He understands reasonable devotion to Wawa. read more

This store contributed to the death of my dog Sherry! She was only 8 years old. I purchased a black sweater for my Wire Haired Fox Terrier back in late 2007. After having it on for a few days, I removed the sweater from Sherrry only to find scabbies and ticks on it. After spending thousands of dollars for her vet bills to treat this, she became dehydrated and was suffering from Kidney failure. I had no choice but to put her down on my 41st birthday which was 9/12/09. I am considering legal action against this rotten chain. Whatever you do, do NOT buy any dog-made clothing from this chain. Otherwise you will go through the pain and suffering I went through these last 2 years! I WILL get even with Petco. read more

The cashier is the biggest a hole I have ever met. Isn't friendly, certainly is not helpful and most of all would not even attempt to do anything for me. I cannot believe it. The only stars are for the nice long hair guy helping me with food. read more

Jody, the trainer is great! I don't know who loves her more, us or our puppy. We enrolled in the basic puppy training and she did a great job teaching us how to teach our dog. She catered everything to our specific needs and helped us troubleshoot any snags we encountered. She is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. She also went above and beyond and was very accommodating when we had to reschedule a class. We considered going with a more expensive independent trainer but are very happy we worked with Jody! read more

I came here to get my dog groomed because I had a coupon and it's close to my house. I called and made an appointment for 6pm. I specified that all I wanted was a wash/dry and to get a couple knots of fur removed, maybe the nails trimmed if they needed it. I was told it would be about 45 min to 1 hour. I returned after 45 min to see another dog being taken care of, apparently appointments don't mean anything at this place. Maybe she thought I wouldn't notice..who knows. Then she said it would be another half an hour. She was apologetic but still, if you're in the middle of taking care of a dog who has an appointment, finish that one first before taking a walk-in. Finally, she was ready to go, fluffy and clean so that's the good part of the experience. Then I paid, it cost $50 after my 25% discount. I noticed there were two charges on my bill, "groom" for $44 and "full service" for $17...the total was surprising and I don't remember asking for a special full service. She said she did her teeth?? I never agreed to that. After reading other reviews all of this seems to be a common theme, I wish I had read them before I went. I won't be going back. read more

I wanted a puppy cut for my yellow lab so I called Petco as I remember you could see them while they are grooming. He is 10 and I was nervous he could freaked out. Kim the groomer picked up the phone and she was very unfriendly and rude when I asked common question such and approx cost. Despite that I decided to still take him as I called many groomers and they were booked for weeks. incredibly Petco was available for next day. ( now I know why!!) She said 3:30 Sharp and would take about 1 hr. So I arrived at 3:15. she was in the phone eating something with tons of hair around. She called someone to help me and went to get a dog in the back and continue with the cut. The little dog was crying and shaking terrible and she did nothing to calm him down. When the person she called arrive, he grabbed my dog and out him on a crate and told me to come back in 4 hrs! I asked her to bring my dog back and she simply didnt care. she just said " I cant tell you when will I be available to take him, find someone else" read more