Part of a national chain promoting themselves as being the big boys ' A one stop shop for all your pet needs'. So you would think they would be getting it right huh? wrong.
I guess I am a bit biased to start with, in my book its this kind of place that has killed off all the little family-run pet shops I frequented as a kid. The ones you would go in and beg your parents to PLEEEEZ let you have the bunny with the big brown eyes ( I never did get one).
Well, Pets at Home certainly have the space, and because of it a wider range than your little local guy, they stock pet food, accessories, and livestock including rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and other small mammals, also birds and aquatics. They also I have found are reasonably priced - I guess cos they buy in such bulk. However they are missing the magic ingredient - 'love'. None of the staff in my opinion have that genuine absolute love and dedication to the animals that I like to see - and becuase of this are lacking in-depth knowledge and enthusiasm.
I have rated the Tamworth store a 3 broken down as follows;
Overall as a general Petstore 4 - not bad in terms of range and a good layout - just lacking that x factor in terms of service.
The aquatic section I have only given a 2, its really bad. I would NEVER buy stock from there - the tanks are often quite badly maintained and I have seen far too many 'floaters' and diseased fish for my liking. I think that reading between the lines they do not quarantine properly - and the staff seem pretty clueless regards proper care regimes.
The Vetinary practice in store I have to give a 5 for however - its outstanding in terms of service, price and ethics,. The husband and wife team that run it used to own/manage a farm in South Africa and are dedicated with a capital 'D' to animal welfare. Just don't ever take him a snake though- bizarrely for a South African he is frightened to death of them and refuses to touch 'em. read more