We boarded our bearded dragon here while we were away for three weeks and could not have been happier with the experience. The pricing was reasonable, the staff were friendly and helpful, and most importantly, our little dinosaur was well taken care of. We are pretty sure he enjoyed his vacation almost as much as we enjoyed ours. We would definitely use them again in the future! read more

The Animal Connection - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

I swung by to buy timothy hay for the guinea pigs I'm fostering for a local rescue and I was so thrilled to see that The Animal Connection also had rescued guinea pigs (as opposed to guinea pig from a breeder/breeding mill like the ones at Petco/Petsmart). The person working there was very nice and I think they care about animals... but they still buy some animals from breeders/breeding mills to resell them... It's really sad that some pet stores still do this, while so many rescued animals need homes. I hope The Animal Connection with do the right thing by transition to rescue-only and partner with local rescues to help get animals adopted who needs homes, and stop buying/selling any animals from breeders/breeding mills. Please do the right thing! Myself and soooo many other animal guardians really want to support businesses like yours, but not animal exploitation. read more

The Animal Connection - Rescued guinea pigs :) - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Staff was friendly but I have to leave a review in hopes the conditions of this store improve, for the health and well being of the animals that are in tanks and cages here. When I walked in to buy dog food I was floored by the intensely putrid smell. I felt like I was going to be sick and had to leave immediately. There are guinea pigs, bunnies, lizards and birds in cages here and the whole scenario left me feeling concerned and depressed for these animals. I saw in an earlier review that they come from breeders as well. read more

Great independent shop. I come here for my crickets and toys for other people's pets. They have a very cute parakeet that hangs out at the counter that makes me want to have one again. Highly recommend. read more

I mustn't have looked at all the pictures cause when I got there it was such a small and jampacked store! They utilize every square inch and there are so many wonderful products there. I went in for a big bag of dog food and some nail clippers for a medium to large dog. I really appreciate it that their selection of nail clippers were Hardy and didn't look like they were gonna break like my last period did. I totally recommend this place. read more

I got my first pet from the Animal Connection. She's a hamster and her name is Elena and I'm so grateful to the owner and staff for helping me provide her with everything she needs to be healthy and happy. The store always has what I need for my hamster including food, toys, tips to keep her healthy and safe, and interior decorations for her living space. The owner and staff are all very friendly and helpful and I love it everytime I go there. Thank you Animal Connection!!! read more

The Animal Connection - My hamster Elena - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I recently got a kitten this past June, and this is my #1 favorite one-stop pet shop in the city. The store has a great selection of items for cats- wet and dry food, litter, treats, stainless steel water fountains, super cute Squishmallow beds, toys, the list goes on. I'm find myself spending at least an hour in here because the staff love to show off their little critters and it's such a fun environment to be in. I've seen the store progress exponentially in the last 6 months. It's much cleaner and more organized every time I visit. I can tell the staff really cares for its animals and the local pets in the neighborhood. read more

I really wanted to love and support this local pet shop, but after my previous visits, I truly cannot. The moment I walked in, the smell was overwhelmingly bad -- not your typical pet store scent, but something genuinely foul. The shelves were dirty and looked like they hadn't been cleaned or organized in a long time, which didn't inspire any confidence. The selection was really limited, and even basic items were hard to find. The employees also weren't very welcoming or friendly; no greeting, no offer to help, just an overall cold vibe. What bothered me most was how sad the animals looked. A few of them seemed stressed or lethargic, and it was honestly heartbreaking. I love supporting neighborhood businesses, especially ones that care for animals, but this place needs serious attention and improvement before I could ever consider coming back. read more

They have a decent variety of things at the store! I came here for cat food and was really happy to see their prices much better compared to the big retailers like Petco and PetSmart. They also have birds, fish, and so many fun toys for pets. Love this place! read more

Locked myself out the house with the dog so I decided to take a walk to the pet store closest to me. Smells like a pet store but times 5 lol I don't mind though. It was warm inside. The selection is a little bit of chaos so it seems like they don't have a lot but they have a large variety. I wished they had baggies for the dog treats like the duck heads, I searched for a long time and only found bags for some other animal I think. I technically could've used it but it said specifically for the millet or something. The guinea pigs and birds they had there looked very very healthy and in tiptop shape. They also carry a small selection of plants. I saw reptile, bird, fish, cat, rodent, dog and bunny stuff. Definitely taking my dog on a walk here again someday! read more

Love this place!!! I highly recommend this store for your pet needs. Great service and customer attention!

I've been meaning to leave a review for some time now. It is clear that the new owner has more experience running a pet shop because very quickly I have observed a noticeable improvement in operations from fair pricing, quality stock, happy animals, cleanliness, and customer service. This is my neighborhood pet shop and I am so grateful to new ownership for the revival of a shop that many of us rely on to take care of our furry family members. My family and I cannot wait to see how else the Animal Connection transforms over time. Thank you, and sorry for the late review! read more

I passed by and went in looking for aquscaping stuff. I met the new owner who's so nice and friendly, and pointed me in the direction I needed. They're also in the process of revamping the place and getting new inventory in so I'll be looking forward to it! read more

I needed a few items and was in the neighborhood last week. What a disappointment and waste of time. Employee did not care to help me and quite frankly didn't seem to know anything about their inventory! Really crappy cheap products and super high prices on what they did have! I will stick to Jeffries and others! Don't WASTE YOU TIME COMING HERE! read more

I swung by this past weekend to get some tips on feeding our new leopard gecko, as she wasn't eating the Dubia roaches. We're first time gecko owners, so there's also a little concern that we're missing something. The gentleman who helped me answered all of my questions and recommended grubs. We put a few in her tank and the next morning they were gone. Success!! Thank you! See you for the next round of grubs. read more

We had such a great experience getting a tamed budgie from Joe for my 9 year old son. Joe communicated with me through phone calls and text messages for photos and updates during the entire process (from reserving, availability updates, choices, to weekly photo updates on the one we picked) I wanted a male but when budgies are this little it is almost impossible to identify gender. Joe helped me get feathers from two budgies and filled out the form. All I had to do was sent them out to the lab and wait for the result. We were also able to get all the supplies and food from the store with Joe's help, since we are new bird owners and had no idea how to start. We got what we wanted, a tamed and sweet budgie, plus a 10 stars great experience! Thank you Joe and The Animal Connection! read more

The Animal Connection - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been coming here for well over 15 years now! I've always appreciated their friendly customer service and through the years they've always been able to support my variety of pets! Now I regularly order dog food from them and it takes about a week to a week and half for them to get it in. They they message me or call me to let me know it's in. I'd rather come here and support a small local business instead of the big chain stores. read more

We got this beautiful hand feed budgie from the animals connection, I can't be happy enough to share this experience. The owner gave me so much helpful informations about the bird, the budgie is very healthy and clamit love to cuddle with people, unbelievably sweet. highly recommend it. read more

The Animal Connection - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is awful. First and foremost: there are rodent droppings all over the shelves where the food is stored, and the staff didn't seem to see the cleanliness and hygiene of the area as a priority. Second, the available selection of their inventory is awful. I asked for cat scratching posts, and they only had one product type that was previously unsuccessful with my cat. I stated that my cat preferred twine scratching posts. Although the staff helpfully asked for my phone number to call me after a more thorough inventory check, they never called me back. read more

Not your average pet store - for all the right reasons. I happened to be on the very west side of the City and Yelp brought me into The Animal Connection looking for canned cat food. While they didn't have Royal Canin because the manufacturer now demands retailers order enormous quantities to carry the brand, I think I found my cat's new favorite canned food made by Nulo. Nulo's ingredient list is impressive and it doesn't have any grains or binders. Both cats gobbled it up. I was very directional needing a few cans of food. I'll be back to buy more of this Nulo brand and look forward to petting their bunchy, sweet rabbits Neptune and Jupiter featured on the Animal Connection's Yelp page. The Animal Connection is right on the N-Judah line, very convenient. read more

Best pet store ever they are very friendly and knowledgeable. They gave me a lot of pointers when it came to my Guinea pigs and sulcata tortoises. Prices are very reasonable. Owner and staff truly care about the animals. It's a great experience every time I go to the store. Only down side is I live so far away. read more

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Friendly neighborhood pet store. Clearly love animals. Bonus points for selling bird seed in bulk.

Take it from a 25-year San Francisco/Sunset district native - THIS PET STORE IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!! First, the people - the staff members are incredibly helpful. Everyone is always happy to show you around, find something for you, or just chat! You can tell everyone here really loves animals of all kinds. Which brings me to my next point - they've got you covered for all of your pet's needs. They always have exactly what I'm looking for. Dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, fish, rodents, you name it! From food to toys and everything in between, you can find it right here. There are even plants for sale in the front! And you can't beat the location. Situated right in the heart of the Sunset, this is what the community has needed for so long. More than a pet store - this is a melting pot for the community to gather and bond. All in all, if you're a pet owner, they have what you need at The Animal Connection. Don't have a little friend at home? Spending 5 minutes here will make you wish you did- and they can help with that! read more

Just bought some feeder insects and a cat toy here. While they have dog and cat things, this is definitely more a reptile/bird/critter store, which is harder to find and therefore much more valuable. The cashier was super helpful, very friendly, and she was masked up appropriately. I was excited that I could buy only the bugs I needed (instead of big name pet stores where you can only buy most feeders in large quantities, which means I end up wasting a lot). Also, all of my wax worms were alive at the time of purchase (again, not always the case at big name places, since the feeders are pre-sealed in their containers). Plus, the catnip toy has my cat absolutely losing her mind right now, so yay!! Thanks! read more

The Animal Connection - She's freaking out over this new toy. A+ - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is a nice local pet shop that I've been coming here for frozen mice for the past 20 years now. Since moving from Judah to Irving, there's noticeably less animals on display, but that's ok. I do miss the hamsters, rats, and ridiculously loud parrots that would squawk and say hello to me. Most of the staff have been working there for as long as I have been going. You can tell that they love animals and are very knowledgable about caring for them. They're also very friendly. The frozen mice is pretty fresh and looks like they lived a healthy life. I've bought frozen mice from online and large retailers and they don't look as great as the ones I get here. They also have free stickers sometimes. I'm glad they're around for my pet needs. read more

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Awesome staff. Beya the owner seems to be very knowledgeable about pet food (dogs in particular). My dog's blood pressure is on the high side. Beya suggested a special diet. I am so thankful for someone to give me good advice. read more

This pet store is absolutely magical. I have a gulf coast box turtle and she loves coming to this store and so do I! The staff are the best and are very thorough in explaining the benefits of different insects and frozen mice to feed her. I was a little apprehensive with the mice, but i got used to it. Chanel (my baby) loves them! Her shell is very healthy and I'm so glad she's getting the nutrition she needs as she continues to grow. Thank you, Animal Connection! read more

The Animal Connection - Chanel's cousin - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very glad I came to check out this establishment! Joe and staff were extremely helpful on educating me on budgie care, and offered suggestions on when to clip the birds wings and/or nails. I have a tame budgie and an untamed one and had many questions on how to get the birds to warm up and what are best for them to eat. Definitely worth visiting for any animal needs and concerns! read more

We got our first pet...a budgie! Joe was so incredibly kind and helpful! We had lots of questions and he was so knowledgeable and patient with us. We were able to get the supplies and food there too. I was a bit reluctant at first but after visiting Animal Connection a few times and better understanding how to be good budgie owners, Joe made my 12 year olds dreams come true with our little budgie. Thank you Joe and the rest of the staff at Animal Connection. read more

The Animal Connection - It's a budgie! - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is great. Good customer service (Malcolm was extremely helpful over the phone, something I really appreciate). They have a great selection of products for your pet, and not just dogs and cats. I've purchased two pet rats from here. It's been two weeks since I bought my new animal and he and I are totally in love. A huge shout-out to Beya, the young lady who handles the small animals. This rat was the runt of a rescued litter. She hand fed him since he was too small to eat on his own. The result is an incredibly social, curious and friendly little rat. So much fun. Thank you to Beya and everyone else at the Animal Connection. Super! read more

The Animal Connection - This is Abner, my first rat from animal connection. - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

Speaking of pets...man I love pets. Yes I do. Went to this store couple times and I really like what I see.., they had tons of variety of products for pets and live rabbits, birds all kind of birds, lizards, hamsters v.v... Customer services are great, they explained to you in every details base on your questionnaires. The most thing I love about this place is the birds.. Yes I would recommend anyone to this pet store. I lived really far from here more than 50miles drive but I still come here... Went to Petco and PetSmart and some other pet stores; most things are very expensive or do not have enough products that I look for. Definitely will come back again if my birds need something.. read more

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Can't say enough about the great experience we had at The Animal Connection and how much we love our new Budgie. Yes ... we were 9 months on the waiting list but the wait was well worth it. Per the instructions we let Limón settle in a couple days when we got home. Ever since S/he has blossomed into the most calm, confident, demanding, playful bundle of feathers. Joe was full of great advice and new his birds. If you really want a great pet bird a Budgie is an amazing choice. And if you have the patience to get a hand fed one from Joe you won't be disappointed. read more

The Animal Connection - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I live about an hour away from Animal Connection but that doesn't stop me from making purchases remotely. It is well worth it for their expertise. This locally owned pet store is special for so many reasons. They have hand fed baby budgies and take care of them for you until they are able to go home with you. In April, I visited the store and talked to Joe (he takes care of the bird department). He is friendly and extremely knowledgeable about birds and placed me on the waiting list for the hand fed baby budgies. In May, he gave me a call and I wasn't able to make a trip up to take a look at the baby budgies so he sent me photos of 6 baby budgies with detailed descriptions. He made it easy for me to decide and I simply texted him back and he put the budgie on hold for me. I also called him the next day to ask him about another baby budgie too. He is very helpful and pleasant to work with. He makes choosing a baby budgie a very convenient experience even from afar and I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone who is interested in hand fed birds to visit or call the store. Their website is also very helpful: http://www.animalconnectionsf.com/#!hand-fed-budgies/c1vp I have also attached a few photos of the baby budgies he took time to take and send to me. read more

The Animal Connection - Very young, hand fed baby budgie - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

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we went to look at lizards, we had our heart set on one kind. however after talking in depth with Jeremy we decided the type of lizard we thought we wanted wouldn't be a good fit and we decided on getting one that was surrendered. i highly recommend this neighborhood gem! they take the time to share knowledge. they're not just looking to sell you an animal. read more

I feel this update is long overdue but the owner did in fact reach out and we settled the issue and she was very kind and understanding. I don't blame them for my hamster escaping because things happen, I did wish that my hamster received medical help as soon as possible when under their care. But my hamster is doing well now and that is all that matters. I do have to say they have great hamsters if you're looking for a little furry one. read more

My senior 4-legged baby was just diagnosed with stage four kidney disease, so I had to change her diet. She's a picky eater and all the kidney diet food seems to be really expensive. I didn't want to purchase a lot of food just to have my baby reject it. Beya, at Animal Connection, gave me several pouches of food to sample. She was so generous and knowledgeable. She told me what has worked with others and what might help with kidney problems. I really appreciated her time, generosity, and suggestions to help my little one. I will definitely be back to purchase whatever my little pooch will eat! read more

We love this place so much. A few years ago (2014) we enlisted the help of Joe to reserve a hand-raised budgie. He told us everything we needed to know about them. A couple months after being on the list, he told us we could come pick a baby bird. So we did. Another month or so later, we got to pick it up. That was Kiwi. He's now 3 years old and knows about 50-70 words. This year, we decided to get Kiwi a friend. We went through the same process, but with one enhancement: we wanted another male parakeet. Joe suggested we have the bird we chose DNA tested to verify its sex before committing to taking it home. We followed his directions and sent some freshly-acquired feathers to a lab in Florida where they do avian DNA testing. A day later, we had the sex of the bird. Male, on the first try! We reserved him and took him home about a month later. We now have two happily-adjusted, healthy budgies in our house. They even have an increasingly popular YouTube channel as they are both prolific talkers and entertain us all day long. I highly recommend The Animal Connection! read more

The Animal Connection - Pixel (left) and Kiwi (right). Kiwi knows about 50-70 words. Visit videos of them on YouTube under "Kiwi and Pixel the Parakeets." - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

I went there yesterday to get a swing and more cuttlebone for my budgie. pricing was good, and they had a good variety of things. they ran out of smaller concrete perches, but told me theyd have more coming in on friday. in the bird room i stood there for a long time looking at the big parrot. he/she kept saying hello and i felt very welcomed. it didnt bother me that the workers didnt say hi when i entered & also didnt come to see if i needed any help, bc THE PARROT. his cage looked a bit small though bc his tail feathers kept rubbing against the bars :/ 4 stars bc of that, and also there was a dead bug in the corn feed. read more

The Animal Connection - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

The last time I was there it was so smelly that I couldn't wait to get out. I try to support local shops but it was hard to be inside there.

Made my first visit and Robo hamster adoption here! The place is conveniently located in one of my favorite neighborhoods. Although, It's a smaller business than you would normally expect, they do carry a great selection if you're not looking to buy things in bulks. It took a while to bring Pipp home but the staff were very sincere and generous about it. He's slowly settling into his new home and I'm glad to have him be a part of our family. Would highly recommend this place! read more

The Animal Connection - Hamster - Pet Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California