I love Assisi - it is such a good cause. They will take in any animal they have room for, and…read moreoperate a strict No Kill policy, which is fantastic and so important, because why should a pet have to pay just because their owner can no longer look after them. Assisi is well run by a team of staff and volunteers, and they are widely supported by the local community in Bangor and far beyond. They strictly vet any person adopting an animal, and do house visits before and after the animal is adopted, to ensure that they have gone to a good home. One complaint I have, and I stongly suspect that this is an isolated incident, but I feel that I should mention it anyway: My parents adopted a dog from Assisi last year, and before they brought him home, they were assured that he was friendly with cats. They brought him home, and as he was settling in, my parents elderly cat wandered into the room, the dog absolutely leapt at the cat with aggression I have never seen before and attacked her. Needless to say, the dog had to go back, which left us feeling a bit let down by their system.

I'll probably shed a wee tear during the writing of this review, purely because a) I'm a bit gushy…read more b) It reminds me of a previous story of a certain beloved cat (mentioned in my review of Gortlands Vets if you're interested). c) It has a happy ending (the review that is). When I was younger, my parents, my sister and I would head up to Assisi nearly every weekend, bringing cat food and treats for the, well, cats. We spent all afternoon with the cats in particular, playing with them, watching them, seeing how things were done. We also paid a visit to see the dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, but it was with the cats that are hearts lay. Two years after loosing our first puss, my mum, dad and sister decided to go to Assisi to select a new one. After a great deal of thought, they chose Nutmeg, a beautiful tortoiseshell and blue whose owner had died a couple of months before, and arranged to pick her up the next week. Assisi don't ask for payment, but you can make a donation, and the cats are all neutered and have undergone recent veterinary checks, so we only paid a small amount to help fund the animal shelter. Six months later, and Nutmeg is very much one of the family. Assisi do a fantastic job with all the animals, and we are very thankful we were able to help them out by homing a cat. Aww, knew I'd cry...

Love this place .. Excellent staff, horses and ponies !!…read more Cater for both adults and children alike whether you have ridden before or not. They also provide a livery service with the biggest stables around. They have extensive grass turnout in the spring and summer and a large sand paddock for riding and a smaller sand turnout for the liveries. Camps on for children at Christmas, Easter etc which are great value for money. Well worth a visit!!

This business took over the premesis of Marshall Cycles which was there my entire life and has…read moreadded a nice bit of flavour to Abbey Street. I like to see a locallly owned and ran pet shop, it has a nice feeling about it and isn't as corporate as the bigger chains and I always think the wee animals must be better treated. In this place you can pick up everything you need for small animals from rabbits to guinea pigs to fish and snakes. The prices always seems good to me and the staff are always friendly even if I did only call in to say that all the animals were cute and didn't actually spend any of my hard earned cash. A local business that is well worth checking out, if only just to see some wee animals - if that is your thing.

I jointed the Firmount Veterinary Vets in Antrim earlier this year. I've only had a view visits and…read moreI have to say Honey is happy enough going. A young assistant had lifted Honey and took to the back room to wash her ears and put some drops in. Mr Lavery is very kind and understands how you feel about handing your little companion over. There is nothing that is to much trouble and you are always met with a smile and a welcome. I certainly would praise them to anyone. The best in town. Helen

I would not hesitate to recommend Firmount Vets. I strongly feel that they always put the animals…read moreneed foremost. John has recently performed a major surgery to our Tea Cup Yorkie removing a hip joint and after only four weeks she was more mobile than before the operation and after eight weeks more mobile than she has been in the last two years. We have been using Firmount for years and would never think of trying anywhere else.

Took my wee dog here today (04/07/16) and was very pleased with the results…read more The staff are really friendly and good at what they do. I dropped my wee one in for a shedding treatment and picked him up 1 1/2 hours later. He was groomed to perfection and smelt amazing, he even greeted me with a complementary bandana which was a great touch and all for £25 Great prices and a great service, would highly recommend

Pets at Home have absolutely everything your feathered and furry friends could possibly need…read more There's food, toys, beds, blankets, leads, fleeing and worming medication and a vet counter in store. This is a proper, massive pet supermarket and it's delightful to see dogs walking their owners around the store - if only more businesses could be as animal friendly! Plus with their loyalty card scheme they post discount coupons out, addressed to your pet by name, which is cute. Staff are also very knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant. However it drops a couple of stars for the following reasons: ~ A lot of items you buy from Pets at Home you'll find at the same price or cheaper in your local supermarket. So shop around. ~ I believe it unethical to support the breeding, buying and selling of animals as pets especially when sanctuaries and pounds are filled to overflowing with unwanted pets. Stores such as Pets at Home, which sell animals, just exasperate this problem.

A couple of weeks after my lovely pooch died, my almost as lovely other half tipped me into the car…read moreand drove me to Pets At Home. 'You need something small and furry to cuddle,' he opined as he parked, really quite badly, in the massive car park. 'Apart from me, of course.' Well. I'd never thought of getting a rabbit, but when I saw Bailey, lop-eared and twitchy-nosed, in one of the glass enclosures, I became a bit childlike. I bounced on the balls of my feet a bit, tugged at the other half's sleeve and batted my eyelashes in an alluring manner. (Hang on, that last one's just creepy.) The other half went to find a staff member, while I lurked jealously by the bunny's enclosure, shooting filthy looks at anyone who came near. Especially kids. But he was back within a minute with a very impressively knowledgeable sales assistant, who told me everything I needed to know about rabbits and what to get them. (I wasn't listening by this stage because she'd taken the rabbit out for me and I was cuddling her and cooing into her fur [the rabbit, that is, not the sales assistant, because that would also have been creepy]. But a general sense of really-knowing-her-stuff came through the haze of love.) The shop in general is very well equipped with everything you could need for all types of pet, and the prices are really reasonable, with a budget range of essentials like feeding bowls or doggy poop scoopers starting at a quid. So we duly got all the equipment we needed for the new member of the household, which included a special starter deal for the cage, food, feeding bowl, bottles and toys. Then we very gently took that wascally wabbit home. She's well settled in now, leaves little poo balls everywhere and has been the cause of me electrocuting myself three times with a lead she's chewed through. But I loves her. Cheers, Pets At Home.

The PDSA is Northern Ireland's first 'animal hospital'. It opened up a few years back on North…read moreBelfast's Antrim Road and it's doing a bloody fantastic job. Apart from the tender care and treatment PDSA staff treat the animals with, the best thing about it has to be that they treat pets from low-income families for free. In North Belfast, low income families are common and extorionate vet fees even more so, so this is a much needed service.

My dog has been a member of the practise for a few years now and never ever had an issue to doubt…read morethe work ran in the facility. Recently my dogs health declined and he was back and forth numerous times from the clinic including a stay. Myself being on low income meant I couldn't afford what the set treatments price would be ( total would be in the thousands). The team answered every question and query I had and practised the covid outlines with such care. Every pet i have seen in and out of the clinic including my dog was handled with love and professionalism. My dog passed away on Sunday night at home and I telephoned the practise and due to the nature of covid they were able to help me step by step in arranging his body to be kept overnight in another vets close to my home before his cremation this week. They even went out of their way and telephoned me yesterday morning as a courtesy call to see how me and my family were managing and if there was anything else they could do on behalf of the practise for my family in arrangements. 5 stars is simply not enough to cover the love the practise has for their work ethic and professionalism and more importantly their furry and human clients. Best Wishes Bruce J the pugs family.

I'm definitely a fan of this local, husband and wife run pet shop. The couple who run this…read moreestablishment are really nice to do business with, they always ask after my dog and are open for a friendly chat about all things animal (or anything really that comes up!) I buy my dog his special food from this shop as very few places stock it and they order it in specially for me. The lady who works here is not just an assistant but a dog owner herself. She keeps her tiny little dog and her big massive dog together behind the counter and many a day I've lingered on after purchasing just to give them a wee stroke. I've purchased a lot of stuff from this shop including food, toys and Toby's grand apartment (his kennel) Toby is a great big beast and so is his home, the man who works here gladly nearly put his back out helping me carry the swanky new dog house into my van - and all this was going on while the parrot they keep by the door was screeching and whistling at us! I definitely recommend this shop - much more personal and friendly than those big faceless pet stores.

Well, I have to agree entirely with Geraldine - great local pet shop with a friendly warm…read moreatmosphere & oodles of personality from the lovely husband & wife team who own/run it daily. I've been buying our dogs food here for the past year or so and have to say, have always had a warm welcome & any queries I've had have been answered by people who take a genuine interest and actually have pets themselves!!! I have previously fallen victim to the big faceless corporations (much to my hubbies horror) but this little petshop has everything you need to continue returning and its great building up a rapport with the owners... nothing is too much trouble, large items are even taken out to my car for me. What service & prices are very reasonable too!!!! :)