If you love animals, do NOT work for big-box pet stores - Associate PetSmart Employee Review

1.0
Aug 29, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-You get to work around animals

Cons

-You are not allowed to improve animals' living conditions past what is deemed corporate policy -You watch as animals get sick and die in front of you -You are not staffed enough to properly care for the animals -You sell animals off to people you know will abuse or kill them -You have to give people their money back with a smile as they hand you the limp, lifeless animal you had befriended before they bought and killed it In short, you can easily suffer as much compassion fatigue working in an industrial pet store as you would working in the medical field. It's not worth it for the dismal pay and the damage the hard concrete floors will do to your feet and hips. I do not make this review just to smack-talk Petsmart, but rather to warn anyone considering turning their "love for animals" into a career through retail. You're signing up for retail, not animals, and it's crucial to remember that.

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PetSmart Response
4y
Hi! Thanks for taking the time to review. We'd enjoy getting to speak to you further about a few of the things you mentioned above, as this is not in line with our values. The safety of animals in our care is our #1 priority. Please feel free to reach out to the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693.

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5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

everyone communicates and willing to pass on knowledge

Cons

no cons that i can think of

1.0
Jul 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The staff care a lot and try their hardest but it leads to burn out and being taken advantage of by a company the does not care about YOU.

Cons

Poor management. No work life balance. Bad scheduling. Bad pay. No communication. Leads expected to work more than 10 hours a day during high volume periods, Be responsible for too many things. You run around like a chicken with it's head chopped off the whole time you're at work. Staff are snippy, and rude. A few are okay. Company has you working bare bones, and does not care. Pet parent's are weird, and I don't think have realistic expectations that the boarding facility is more like dropping your dog off at a dog shelter for a week while you go on vacation than a "fun time" for your dog. Dogs get fed, watered, pottied. If that is all you care about, then use the PetHotel. If you want your dog to have fun, and be out of a stressful environment (few dogs do well with constant barking and noise all day, plus being stuck in a cement run, thrown in with a bunch of other dogs who have never been properly socialized) just do in home boarding. I would never board my dog at a place like this.

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