Animal Krackers

i like to support local
i’ve bought a few leashes and other things here. i haven’t gotten the warm fuzzies that other reviewers have gotten, but it’s perfectly fine and has good quality items. they are small and the selection is as well, but they will special order for you which is a huge plus.

The lady was very informed about dog allergies. Saved me a trip to the vet. The salmon oil is $ 10 cheaper here than at Unleashed in Beverly. She knows all the local references (dog chiropractor etc.) They carry treats, medicated shampoo, grain-​free food. I find it well worth the drive if you need any dog-​related advise. (my dog peed on the floor and she was very nice about it). Purchases are guaranteed (including food) and free samples can help you avoid a bad purchase.

I’m not sure what else you could want in pet supply store. They have a good selection, a friendly and knowledgable staff, and better prices than Petco on the brands of cat food that I buy.

Great place. When Petco came to town I went up there to compare prices on the stuff I buy for my cats; prices were roughly the same. It was depressing and the employees there (Petco) appeared quite glum.
Not so at AK. I’m sticking with them: they’re friendly, helpful, carry heavy litter to my car, and give out quarters for the meter. Also have a frequent buyer card – my next $ 20 purchase will be free!

It saddens me to read all the reviews based solely on price. The reality is, if you shop local, most of your dollars STAY local. Yes, the prices are a bit higher, but I’d rather pay a few cents more than line Sam Wal’s deep pockets. (Not to mention their «punch card» that gives you $ 20 when you get all your stars punched.)
OK — enough rant. The selection is focused on quality products and the staff is always ready for a recommendation or advice. A few times I’ve purchased food that my cat didn’t care for. They happily exchanged it for another flavor — no questions asked. And if there’s something you’d like that they don’t have, they order it and call you when it’s in.
And, finally, they go the extra step — treats and water bowls for puppies wait at the door, there’s a bin for donations to the local animal shelter and they hand over a quarter to pay for your parking meter.
I’d rather go to AK than Petco any day.

Excellent selection for a «home town» pet store. Naturally their prices may not compete with a Petco type of store. With the price of gas, and time being a factor for many, it’s worth it to shop local. Mostly knowledgeable employees.

When I was a kid, my brother and I would walk to Animal Krackers when we were bored. 15+ years later, it’s still around. They have to be doing something right, right?
My family is adopting a new puppy. Tomorrow. My parents recently went to a bigger pet store to pick up supplies — of course they went there for the lower prices and bigger selection. But we needed to get some food, treats, and other supplies before our new pup comes home.
Both people working today were really friendly and helpful. I read that it’s best to avoid grain based food, so they helped steer me to a couple brands that were grain-​free. They also gave us three small sample bags of food to try out. Oh, and did you know if your dog doesn’t like the food, you can return it? That’s something I didn’t expect.
If you know exactly what you need, sure, maybe head to Petco or wherever. But if you have questions, and you’re looking for people who seem pretty knowledgeable about their products, I’d definitely recommend Animal Krackers.

Animal Krackers is your typical non-​chain pet food and accessory store. It’s also slightly more expensive than the chain stores like Petco. For a lot of people in Gloucester, it’s a pain to go over the bridge (which is under construction and a nightmare during rush hour traffic, but I digress) and up to a pet store closer to the mall. I don’t mind, so I don’t frequent Animal Krackers too often. I was surprised to read tepid reviews; I’m not sure what the reviewers expected from a smaller, animal specialty store.
Prices are higher than the big chains. And, the selection is not as good. They have a really good assortment of dog and cat treats, as well as dog and cat foods. You can find leashes and collars and fish and fish tank gear. Really, anything you might expect to find at a pet store. The staff is pretty friendly; although, this depends on who is there. Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of younger clerks who have no interest in being friendly or helpful and that’s a shame.
I have to laugh every time I walk by though and read the sign in the window that proclaims them the number 1 pet store in the city. I can’t even think of another pet store in Gloucester, so I guess they win by default! If you’re here as a tourist or live in town and don’t want to go up the line then this is the place for you. If you want to save money or see a better selection then you really should go to a chain pet store. It’s fine for what it is, and I’ve had no complaints with service nor products purchased.

I was happy to find this place yesterday because my grandpuppy was visiting and his retractable leash had somehow disappeared. I was unhappy to spend $ 40 on a retractable leash that would have cost me $ 10 at Target. The star is for convenience — if I hadn’t needed the leash right then, I would never have purchased it.