We've been coming here for years, but only recently tried the grooming- and honestly we've been missing out because Dana is just incredible. From the start she was sweet, easy to talk to and really takes the time to really listen and pay attention to what you want. She handled our dogs with so much care and confidence and adapted perfectly to each of their special needs without ever making anything feel rushed or difficult. The grooming itself was flawless. All of them came back fluffy, silky, clean, and honestly the happiest I've seen them after grooming in years! Beyond the grooming she also gave us genuinely helpful insight on maintenance care and specific things she noticed with each dog, almost like a personalized care report for every one of them including what to watch for and how to stay ahead of common issues...like are you kidding!!? The whole experience felt so thoughtful from start to finish. It is rare to come across someone so patient kind and genuinely full of heart in what they do. We genuinely will not go anywhere else after this! read more

The Pet Department - Pet Groomers Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

Their groomer did a hack job on our two rough collies. The woman is incompetent. Has no knowledge of breed standard. It will take months for their coats to grow back. Both look like they have mange. The manager said the groomer was new. No excuse. Professional groomers should know breed standards. read more

The Pet Department - Pet Groomers Near Me - Paso Robles, California

See all

I stopped in after not having visited for years and was pleased with the store. The new owner, Kieth, was very proactive to ensure I found what I needed. Thank you! read more

I wanted to wait 2 months, to see how the fish would do, before reviewing. Located on Spring St, is the Pet Department. Now, one of two, freshwater fish pet stores, in SLO county. When I went in was promptly greeted, helped out and had some knowledge imparted on me. Prices are good, fish are decent. I would definitely recommend. *Some caveats. The tanks and fish could be in a little better shape. Just looks like they need some TLC* read more

See all

Great people, i wouldn't go anywhere else, I've gotten some lil pets from here and they're just the sweetest. I've been coming here for years and I have a good experience every time, I have absolutely no complaints. read more

Great local shop with knowledgeable staff and good prices and quality products. Buy 10 bags of dog food and the 11th is free

The Pet Department is a full grooming service for pets, and carry a huge assortment of anything you would need to care, provide treats and specialty items, select and purchase fish, birds, small animals, food, supplements, toys, books, etc. It is one of the rare pet stores of "years gone by" that has everything and anything to do with pets! The store was well stocked, clean and COVID protocols in place though the gentleman cashier did not have his mask on as he helped customers. The young woman clerk who was cleaning the display areas for live specimens did have her mask on. Pet owner friends who went with me in this first time ever visit, commented that the prices were a bit higher than their comparable stores but perhaps the "norm" for Pasa Robles. read more

The groomers do a wonderful job grooming our labradoodle. The cut is just right. They are very kind with her.

First-rate local service! They know their business. This is my go-to place for all things pets. And our pets love Lynn the groomer!

FRIENDLY STAFF We have been going to this store for so many years! The staff has always greeted us with a smile and are always full of helpful answers. The owners are also so helpful! FISH SUPPLIES My son has an addiction to fish keeping. We frequent the store for supplies and also fresh victims... for our larger fish. A great place to find a good variety of fresh and salt water fish! CAT FOOD The staff helped us select a food that our two outdoor cats would eat and refrain from sharing hairballs with us in the front porch. A BIG THANK YOU! DOG FOOD Our Chuck was a rescue dog and needed a good diet and especially one that he would like to eat! The staff gave us samples and helped us through the month long process of our dog finding a food that was agreeable to his insides... so it didn't come outside prematurely! :-) BOTTOM LINE Great staff, helpful information, good selection, and local! Shop local I say! You won't be disappointed! read more

Hands down the best pet store on the central coast, especially regarding their aquarium section. Excellent fresh water and salt water varieties, fantastic prices and great customer service. read more

The staff is always so helpful and polite. This store has everything I ever need. They carry Avoderm which is an awesome dog food that is hard to find. I love the birds and fish... great place read more

Awesome place, super helpful and friendly, amazing selection, and comparable or better priced than big pet stores read more

The Pet Department - Fun aquatic plants - Pet Groomers Near Me - Paso Robles, California

If I could give this horrible place zero stars I would! I brought my cockatiel in yesterday to get his wings clipped. It was shady from the start as whoever clips birds wings was not available. Whoever was working there said "oh! My wife can do it, let me call her." His wife shows up & supposedly "clips" my birds wings and hands me my bird back in a shoe box. I paid her cash without even being rang up. Big mistake! I learned my lesson. When I examined my bird his wings were totally butchered along with his tail feathers. He hardly had any left and his beak was all bloody! This place is weird, shady, and absolutely cannot be trusted! Never again! read more

The pet Department have a very friendly and knowledgeable staff. They are always willing to answer any questions that you might have. Lynn is a great groomer she always makes my little dog look so pretty. read more

See all

I've been coming here off and on for years, the staff is always very helpful and knowledgeable with animal care. There's a reason this place is still around even with the big box store down the road. read more

Although my dog looked really handsome every time I picked him up, he was increasingly scared and would act absolutely terrified when I would take him in to this groomer. One time I showed up early and he was soaking wet inside one of the kennels with a cold fan blowing on him, he was shaking like a leaf, he is a small shih tzu so I felt it could be dangerous for his health considering I had no idea how long he'd been wet with the cold fan on him. I also didn't want him to be more afraid of getting groomed, prolonged stress is not good for pups! I started bringing him to a different small dog groomer and he is much calmer with her. This groomer does a great job but it was not the right fit for my dog so we decided to find a different groomer. read more

This is a great local pet supply store. Let's support small business in our town.

I came to Paso from the Fresno, Ca area and decided to check out this pet store. boy was I pleased!!!! The Staff there was soo polite and knowledgably. They Made me feel so welcome and appreciated. Seeing them without masks on was a complete relief and made me feel like a human again. To all the negative reviewers about the masks.... You should be ashamed of yourselves... Will come again!!!!!!!!!!! read more

A decent pet store though not a great selection of animals. A few fish and rodents and shelves crammed with supplies. Unfortunately, the employee who helped us did not seem to want to wear a mask. This sends a bad message to children and endangers the safety of others. read more

Pet Dept. has the best selection in SLO county and has been locally owned and operated for over a decade. Anything this store doesn't have, they will order for you. If you are looking for the best quality food for your pets with adequate savings for repeat purchases, this is the place for you. It is only place in downtown Paso to acquire rodents, fish, birds, and reptiles, as well as their food. read more

We can't say enough about Lynn! Today she pampered and groomed our Little Phoebe. The care and attention that she gives to our dogs is phenomenal. Thank you Lynn read more

The Pet Department - Pet Groomers Near Me - Paso Robles, California

I go here every week for my snake! They have a wide array and some of the most reliable feeder mice around. The employees are very helpful and knowledgeable about different animals. 10/10 would recommend! read more

honestly wanted to like this place but the staff here just don't know what they're talking about, they're not educated to be working with animals or to be recommend us customers advice to take care of these animals, came in here the other day looking for sand for my hamster and honestly didn't know which one to get, i asked an employee for help and they directed me to the chinchilla dust, i purchased it, took it home and put some in my hamster cage, i notice my hamster was acting very slow and panting a lot a few hours later and figured what else? that dust is the only thing i've changed about his cage and he's never acted like this before. i decided to do some research and found out the dangers of using this dust for hamsters :( i wish if they didn't know they just didn't say anything at all. my hamster has been acting funny ever since. please don't take any aduce from the workers here THEY DONT KNOW! read more

Have an Australian Sheppard that was matted and rarely gets groomed. Called a few places in town and they weren't willing to groom her. I called and spoke with Lynn and was willing to groom Zoey. She asked questions about the dog and said bring her in, and would have Rebeca groom her the very next day. We brought Zoey in and explained to Rebeca (the actual groomer) how unsure we were about Zoey's temperament, she was very accommodating and understanding about how timid Zoey is. Rebeca did a GREAT job w our dog! She removed all her mats and was gentle with her! Will recommend them to anyone! read more

I still remember my puppy's 1st haircut, Lynne did it. I cried. He was so beautiful. She is the only one that I let cut Coals hair. He will be 9 years old this year. I am overprotective and Lynne understands that about me. She gives me what I want, she hears me. Coal loves her. read more

This is by far one of the best pet stores in North County. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and they are willing to go out of their way to help you to make sure that you are satisfied. They have an awesome selection of freshwater and saltwater fish. I would definitely recommend this pet-store to anyone who is looking for pet supplies or a new friend. read more

See all

This review is specifically for the Pet Department in Paso Robles. My quick tip: Breedist. Also not terribly friendly. Avoid. The backstory: I typically shop at either the Pet Dept. in Atascadero, because it's a small (I assume family owned?) chain, and I try to support small business. I went into the Paso Robles store while running errand in Paso, looking for a dog crate. When I walked in I saw two employees, neither said hello ... one ignored me and walked away (maybe she didn't see me?), and the other looked at me for a second (we made eye contact) and turned away. I walked to the back of the store and looked for their dog crates. I couldn't find any besides a row of travel kennels that didn't look like it was for sale around the top of the store's shelving. The employee (maybe owner?) who made eye contact came up, and asked "what was I looking for?" Not how could she help me, but what was I looking for? It's hard to describe, but it did not come across as helpful. I told her dog crates, specifically, for sleeping, and she showed me the one kind they had. (There was more rude-ish conversation in there, but it's not worth recounting.) As she was showing me the limited selection of crates, she asked "What kind of dog do you have?" My dog is a mutt, so I just described his weight. She persisted, "what KIND of dog?" I told her I didn't know, he's mixed. If the experience were less weird, I don't think I'd have thought anything of this, but after a few minutes with her, it all just seemed a strange mix of persistent, rude, and condescending. Finally, I stepped away to look at another tent/crate, which she waved me over to, saying something unhelpful. While I did this, another man came in with his young daughter, and I overheard him ask the employee if she knew of any good local Rottweiler breeders. Their conversation: Him: "Do you know of any good local Rottweiler breeders?" Her: "I don't sell those here." Him: "I know you don't sell Rottweilers here, I was just asking if you knew of any reputable breeders." Her: "No, and those aren't very good dogs." Him: "What do you mean? I had Rottweilers growing up!" Her: "They're bad dogs. My friend had her face bitten off." At that point, I just walked out. That kind of attitude is uneducated in a typical person, but in a pet shop where people listen to you? It's unethical and grossly misleading. If someone could tell me if this was the owner of the chain or not, that would be great. If she owns the store, I'll take my service to Tails in SLO (Which is a great, small business, but a little far). read more

I needed to get some snails for my fish tank. I like to do business with locally owned stores. So I came here. They have most everything I need. Very friendly staff. However, the store is not adhering to Covid safety considerations. None of the staff was wearing a mask. There was not a plexiglass shield in front of the register. So I can't see myself going there ever again for my own safety. To me they are not caring about their customers or employees by not enforcing safety. I asked the man behind the register why there weren't wearing a mask, and he said they do sometimes. So I suppose I'll have to go to Petsmart. read more

This store has great inventory. However, the staff was condescending and acted as though my being there was a nuisance. Further, the groomer was yelling at the dog in her station. Disturbing. read more

Amazing selection and variety, knowledgable staff! Great source for first timers or fish hobbyists. Great selection of dog food products and occasionally they have puppies in store to play with. Great place! read more

See all

I have been to this pet store so many times, and its always the same experience. Staff is very unfriendly and not at all knowledgeable about saltwater fish/corals. I asked a young staffer about her live rock and she brought me to a bin of lava rock and said "I use this", which was not what i asked her. Also the owner is not friendly at all. I have spoken with him several times, and always seems like he is angry. Anytime I ask questions they refer me to someone else who also doesn't know the answer. The coral tanks look gross and half the corals are dying. What this place does have going for it is low pricing and a huge selection of aquarium supplies. This is the only reason I come to this location. read more

I bought a black masked lovebird from them and did everything right had all my research done yet not even two weeks later my bird passed away. She clearly got sick and died. I went into the store today to talk to them about selling me a sick bird and all I got was a very insincere "Well you bought it two weeks ago so we can't do anything." The owner is very rude and only doing it so he can make money. They don't care about their customers, don't come here let them go out of business. Update: I just found out my bird died of ABV (Avian Bornavirus) it's very bad and infectious don't go in this store if you have birds, and absolutely don't buy a bird from them the majority of the birds in their store will die. Again absolutely do not buy any birds from their store, and don't go near the birds in the store if you already have birds. read more

I go here at least once a month.Sometimes its just to see what they have.I only go there for the aquairium supplies and fish. Im not sure why there are so many negative reviews for The Pet Department.I will say that the prices are VERY high.But as far as the employees....Great people.Ive always been treated great.Perhaps the reviewers that complained about customer service were actually jerks themselves.The only reason I dont give them 5 stars is because thier prices are sooooooooo high.But they have clean tanks and healthy fish.If I want food or other supplies,I go to Petco because the prices are so much better.But Petcos live fish are horrible.Petsmart in SLO are good also.....But thats a whole different review. read more

I love going to the Pet Department! They always have what I need for my critters and are happy to help with any questions. Lynn is also the only dog groomer I will use. She does a great job with my two somewhat difficult dogs and they always look amazing when I pick them up. We will always give our business to this small town store. read more

I have a cockapoo that needs grooming and took him to other places locally. He would come home with weird behaviors and knicks from the blade (the pst two visits). I tried out The Pet Department and I'm extremely pleased with my dogs cut. He came home so happy and full of life. From now on I'll only be taking him here. Seems like they treated him with love and didn't cut him. Thank you so much!!! read more

I love the Pet department. It's such an amazing place to go, I buy all of my Pets needs here. Everything's so much more affordable so much cheaper than Petco and Lemos And I never feel like I'm interrupting someone or causing an issue if I have a question, the staff is so friendly and nice they're easy to talk to and they make you feel comfortable. And when I bring my dogs in the groomer Lynn makes them look absolutely beautiful and she's so nice to them they love going to see her. The fish tanks are always so clean and pristine the fish looks so healthy and there saltwater tanks are beautiful. They have some of the prettiest bettas I've ever seen some of them look like they're glowing the way they shine and shimmer. And you can't forget about the puppies(all puppies are from local breeders or rescued) & kittens(all the cats are rescues) they're always so happy and friendly! The care and love I've seen the staff put into them it's so wonderful. They get new toys and treats all the time they get to run around the store and play with everybody the groomer keeps them nice and clean giving them cute little haircuts and making them smell so good. This is an amazing place for children and adults alike they're extremely friendly knowledgeable and they love their animals I always feel safe bringing mine here. read more

This pet store has the WORST customer service that I've come across. They are not only unfriendly, but outright rude to customers. Their selection is fair but the prices are very inflated. They are one of the only stores in Paso Robles that have dogs, cats, bunnies and more, however, I cannot advise strongly enough to steer clear of this establishment. I have been a longtime customer and I've seldom come across this caliber of horrible customer service. I have spent a lot of money at this store in the past, I can say that I will never return. Other people that I have spoken to have had very similar experiences with the staff. If they hired employees that would treat the customers with respect, it might be worth it to return as a customer. read more

I saw some poor reviews, but I'm happy to report this is a solid 3+ star pet store. The staff has been very nice the three times I've been in. We've bought fish and rats for the kids and they just love it. There are big box pet stores around, but I like the small town feel and good service here. read more

Mostly clean tanks and healthy looking fish. Their prices are borderline unreasonable. Everything they sell is more expensive than PetSmart and Amazon. However they have a ton of replacement parts for the filters, so its nice if you don't have the time to order one online. The customer service is a little unfriendly. read more