Mabel the Rescue Dog

3 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

Many humans forget that Petco and Petsmart are two different places. They might carry the same types of pet supplies, but they actually have some important differences that humans need to be aware of. Molly and I don’t shop at either one often, but when we do, we now choose Petco. Here’s why.

Major Differences

Petco and Petsmart are both large chain pet supply stores. Oftentimes, I would recommend supporting a small, local store instead, but smaller shops don’t usually carry as many supplies. So, there will likely be times when you’ll need to turn to one of these big businesses for a specific product. Honestly, I thought they were the same stores for the longest time, but I recently heard one striking difference.

I’ve heard numerous stories by now that Petsmart discriminates against Pit Bulls. Molly and I have not witnessed this discrimination in person, but we often try to trust fellow dog lovers. So, I’m going to share what we know.

Petsmart’s Discrimination

A while ago, a story about a Pit Bull puppy surfaced on social media. The Pit Bull’s mom was heartbroken after her dog was denied from a party at the store. The only reason she was given was the dog’s breed. Petsmart later reached out to explain that this information about their store was false, but the human refused to forgive these cruel actions.

Later, someone posted text conversations that they had with Petsmart vs. Petco. They asked each one what their breed policies were. Petsmart admitted that Pit Bull breeds were banned from certain activities at their store, such as doggy daycare. However, Petco explained that they allow all dogs to attend all their events and services. This information made the decision clear for many dog parents. How can a company that claims to love dogs turn away dogs because of what they look like?

In case you don’t know, I want to point out that a Pit Bull is not a breed. “Pit Bull” refers to a group of dogs that have stocky, muscular builds. Thus, breeds like Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and even Cane Corsos have been labeled as Pit Bulls before. If someone discriminates against Pit Bulls, they can turn dogs away simply because they have a “Pit Bull appearance.” Plus, most of these dogs are actually very well-behaved, but many humans are too quick to judge. That’s just not okay!

Choose Petco

When in doubt, please choose Petco. Even if you don’t have a Pit Bull breed, you shouldn’t support companies that discriminate against any dogs. If anything, the store should conduct some type of temperament test before activities. That way, they can choose which dogs are safe based on their personality, not their looks. Any true dog lover knows that a dog’s personality is the most important thing about them.

Molly and I used to shop at Petsmart often because it was more convenient. But now, if we need to get something from there, we go out of our way to choose Petco instead. We might not know everything about the two companies, but that discimination alone is enough to steer us away from Petsmart. I hope there are other dog parents out there who feel the same way.

Pit Bulls deserve just as much love as any other dog. So, please don’t judge dogs based on looks. We’re so much more than just a pretty face.

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Featured Image: MiosotisJade via Wikimedia Commons