PetSmart Inc. is an American retail chain operating in the United States and Canada that is engaged in the sale of specialty pet animal products, such as food, furniture, habitats, and accessories, and services, such as dog grooming and dog training, boarding facilities, and daycare. PetSmart also offers a variety of small animals for sale and adoption, such as small birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and several different pocket pets, like rats, guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils, many different species of hamster, and mice.
History
PetSmart opened for business on August 14, 1986 and opened its first two stores in August 1987 under the name PetFood Warehouse in the Phoenix area. In 1989, the name and logo changed from PetFood Warehouse to PetsMart. PetsMart continued to grow and in 1993 went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange listed under the symbol "PETM". In 1994, PetSmart formed PetSmart Charities Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending euthanasia and finding homes for homeless pets. Petsmart.com made its debut in July 1995. In early 2000, PetSmart remodeled most of its stores in a plan they called "Eagle," which changed many stores from a front-half storefront/back-half warehouse feel to an all-over standard retail market. In August 2005, the company announced that it was rebranding its name from PetsMart to PetSmart. This move, which stressed "Smart" over "Mart," was designed to announce its evolution from a pet supply store to a solutions-oriented company. , PetSmart operated approximately 1,477 stores and various locations with PetSmart's PetsHotels, and Doggie Day Camps. Certain locations also share space with their corporate partner, Banfield Pet Hospital. In December 2014, PetSmart was acquired by BC Partners for $8.7 billion. PetSmart acquired Chewy in 2017 for $3.35 billion. At the time it was the largest acquisition for a US e-commerce company. In May 2018, PetSmart named J.K. Symancyk the new CEO. In 2018 it became a standalone company.
In January 2008, PetSmart temporarily suspended sales of birds in all U.S. stores as a precautionary measure after random testing found a small percentage of cockatiels that tested positive for psittacosis, a fairly common infection in birds that may produce cold-like symptoms. PetSmart resumed selling live birds again in April 2008 after comprehensive testing and treatment.
Horse products
Formerly, certain PetSmart stores included a State Line Tack section. It provided a wide selection of saddles, halters, bridles, saddle pads, etc. State Line Tack also sold feed and other equipment for the care of horses.
In 2007, PetSmart put State Line Tack, including all catalog and internet business, up for sale and effectively removed all State Line Tack merchandise from stores. State Line Tack was eventually purchased by Horse.com, one of many websites owned by Pets United.
PetsHotel
The original PetsHotel was developed and operated by David Mackstellar and Rodger Ford in Arizona. PetSmart purchased PetsHotel from Mackstellar and Ford in 2000 and presently, PetSmart continues to create and operate PetsHotels within their locations throughout the US and Canada.
Charities and adoption centers
PetSmart has helped stray pets find homes with families. Rather than selling dogs, cats, rabbits, and other larger animals in the store, PetSmart donates space to local rescue groups. Rescue groups are also provided with donations of food, litter, and other supplies. Fees from adoptions are collected by the groups themselves. With each adoption, PetSmart gives the new guardians a book which provides basic care information for their new pet. As of September 22, 2016, over 7,000,000 pets have been adopted through Petsmart adoption centers. Biannually, PetSmart hosts an adoption weekend featuring more adoptable pets than at any other time of the year. The majority of PetSmart stores include a cat adoption center. PetSmart Charities, a nonprofit 501 organization, also raises money for local adoption groups, including groups for which it does not offer in-store space. In many stores, donations are collected at the register via traditional drop boxes. Some stores also ask customers if they wish to donate a dollar at the register when they use a credit or debit card. PetSmart charities also has an annual donation drive. Proceeds from Petsmart Charities events are given to over 3,400 adoption partners. PetSmart Charities claims that of the six to eight million pets collected by rescue agencies, three to four million are euthanized simply because they do not have a loving home. PetSmart Charities Inc. is set to award the Austin Humane Society the first of three grant installments totaling $227,000 to assist in funding AHS's new Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program. PetSmart Charities is also known for its Rescue Waggin' program. The program operates specially-designed trucks that transport adoptable dogs from areas that are overpopulated to partner shelters where adoptable animals are in demand. Rescue Waggin' operates trucks in the Midwest and the Northeast regions of the United States. The program has saved more than 10,000 pets since 2004. PetSmart also operated an online Pet Parent community at Pets.com.
In March 2018, police raided a PetSmart store in Bellevue, Tennessee, after receiving video footage provided by a store employee that sick and injured animals were not being given proper medical care. Police confiscated six animals: a guinea pig, mice, and hamsters. The employee accused managers of limiting spending so they could get bonuses. Three months later, PetSmart sued the ex-employee, Jenna Jordan, claiming she was a paid PETA operative who obtained employment at PetSmart stores in Arizona, Florida and Tennessee in order to obtain recordings which she provided to PETA. Jordan was accused of committing "animal neglect, theft of confidential information, unlawfully surveilled private conversations, and filing false reports with law enforcement under false pretenses in three states."
