I purchase Nutro premium dog food. (Nutro is now a subsidiary of Mars, Inc., maker of M&M's and Snickers) from a store called Pet Supreme, on Foothill Blvd. and directly across the street from Sam's Club in Sylmar. (From the 210, take the Maclay St. exit, go west on Maclay to Foothill and then south on Foothill for about 1/3 of a mile, store is on the left hand side, next to a discount leather furniture store.)

The store itself isn't that large, but their prices for the items I buy beat PetSmart and Petco, even with those chains club cards. Pet Supreme offers a frequent buyer program where they keep track of your purchases and after the purchase of 10 like bags, you receive one free.
Often, I will find instant savings coupons affixed to the bags which lowers my price even further. I asked the owner how she offers lower prices than other independent pet stores, and she responded that she orders large quantities for their best selling brands. Because her storage space is small, she stores the items in flatbed trailers outside the back of the store (you can see them while driving south on the 210.) Product that I have purchased is well within expiration date. (Even pet food has expiration dates!)
Parking can be tight. I park out on Foothill. They gladly carry your purchases out TO your car.

They offer discounted vet services, but I haven't used them.

Pet Supreme
1907 Foothill Blvd
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 898-9599

SCRS

www.thatpetplace.com

All kinds of great deals!!!

Hi Julia - I buy Nutro for my dogs at the Red Barn on Oxnard just west of Reseda. Good prices, knowledgeable help and free popcorn! They also have the cards, buy 10 and get a bag free.

This isn't about saving money...completely, but for pet lovers, they can make a daily donation to a site that provides food/care for needy cats

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

and for those who shop at Ralph's and have a Ralph's Clubcard, you can go to:
http://www.ralphs.com/ccprogram.htm
and look up your favorite animal organization (my choice was the Meerkata at
http://www.fellowearthlings.org) You designate the org as the recipient, and when you shop a percentage is then donated to that organization.

Both ways allow me to support charities...in a small but regular way.

Once, every six weeks, I take my dog to the PETCO on Tampa in Northridge, in the same lot as Costco, and give her a bath at their self-service grooming for $10.00. Professional groomers charge me between $25 and $45 to bathe her so this is a bargain for me and I don't have to burn gas to drop her off at the groomer's and then pick her up-4 trips, and she won't be in a cage all day waiting for her bath and then waiting for me to pick her up.

PETCO provides the basin for the bath, a thick no-slip mat on the bottom of the basin, hot and cold water, a hand-held sprayer with a long hose, shampoos and conditioners including the ones for dry skin, allergies, fleas, towels and a hair blower, and to top it off......Petco cleans the mess! I call for an appointment which is usually after 2:00 before bringing her in.

Of course, I'm aware that PETCO is doing this to lure dog owners and their dogs into their store to buy things. What a terrific lure! I have a choice of buying stuff or not.

PETCO should have placed this bathing area in the back of the store instead of the extreme side of the store so consumers and their consuming pets could see all the great stuff they have but I won't tell them!

It works for me! Will they let you wash your cat? Why not?

To help get rid of fleas, vaccuum often after dispensing flea powder on the carpeting or floor. If you don't use the flea powder, the fleas simply live on inside the vacuum, eventually finding a way out. I suggest getting the cheapest brand.