Are You Looking For A New Best Friend? Or Pet Supplies for Your Current One?

Are You Looking For New Best Friend? or Pet Supplies For Your Current One?

Dial the local number for PetSmart on Route 59 in Nanuet and you will hear the first question. However, ask the manager of PetSmart any questions about PetSmart and they will quickly refer you to their corporate office. The same is true of PETCO, another pet and pet supplies "chain store."

Both of these larger pet stores are located on Route 59.  PetSmart is located in the Chili's Shopping center near Pathmark, Marty's Shoes and McDonalds. PETCO is to the right of the Nanuet Diner. Both offer grooming salons, pet training clinics and adoption services most weekends in addition to selling food and pet supplies. PetSmart has either North Shore Animals or local organizations come on Sat. and Sun. 10-6 and every other Friday from 1-6. Their "Second Chance for Love" event is scheduled for Sept. 10-12.  They offer a variety of birds, reptiles and small animals, such as gerbils, rats, hamsters and chinchillas.

"We have a veterinarian on premise and our store is neat, clean and inviting," said Mike Dolan, manager of PetSmart. Both chain stores offer a wide range of products and are able to offer competitive prices due to the larger sizes of their premises. In addition to selling food and most pet products and equipment, PETCO also sells pet insurance and PetSmart offers doggie day camp and boarding.

Pets Place II has been privately owned by Robert Keywork for 27 years at 120 E. Rt. 59. He has a friendly staff, some who claim to have been customers there before becoming employees. According to Keywork, "Arianne [one of his employees] is studying to become a veterinarian."

A colorful fish aquarium mural greets customers as they enter and a delicious array of bakery decorated dog cookies looks enticing enough to have tempted his staff to have eaten them as they stocked the display case. One 10-year-old customer from Orangeburg said she goes to Pets Place II at least three times a week to play with the hamsters and likes how the animals are kept there.

"Most of the other stores call here to ask questions," said Keywork when asked what his secret was for staying in business for so long. He also said that he has seen families grow up there "and then their kids come back and shop for their pet supplies." While they do not have adoption services, they sell baby birds, such as parakeets, cockatiels and cockatoos.

"The fastest growing part of the business is salt water aquarium fish," Keywork said.

They sell pre-paid "cricket cards" for people who frequently purchase crickets to make it easier and faster to purchase them and offer a seven-day health guarantee on all fish and animals they sell.

Pet Nutrition, Inc. is across the street from Pets Place II and is strictly a pet food and supply store that guarantees the lowest prices in the area. If you bring proof that another place sells it for less, they will match the price. Pet Nutrition, Inc. is currently doubling its 75,000 sq. ft. capacity after having been in business for more than thirty years, according to Pete Sherlock who manages the store for Marty Fazio. He says that the business has moved around a bit on Route 59 before settling at its current location where it has operated for the past ten years.

Sherlock said that while they do not currently offer animal adoption services, they have in the past and will most likely offer it again once the expansion is completed in a week or two. They sell food for most small animals, dogs, cats, goats, duck, deer, chicken and birds as well as all pet supplies. Sherlock encourages a visit to Pet Nutrition for people to see the store and says that with the expansion, it will be every bit as big as one of the chain stores. One customer liked the fact that they give you a treat for your dog if you bring them with you to the store.

Whether you prefer a full service chain store, a knowledgeable privately owned business or simply the cheapest prices around, there is something for every pet owner within a short distance of each other on Route 59 in Nanuet.