Collar & Leash

COLLAR & LEASH: WARNING
To all of my friends who have pets, a warning. Avoid Collar & Leash pet store on Wells Street, just north of Goethe, in Chicago at all costs. They also have a boarding facility at 3541 W. Columbus Ave. In fairness a Google map walk around of the place looks neat and clean, but, I’ve now lost all faith in these people.
Ordinarily I totally support small mom & pop stores over big chains or big box stores. And I had hoped to do so in the case of Collar & Leash. My expectations of my experience there were high. They have been in business as long as I’ve been alive. Ordinarily, a business that has been around for that long can be relied upon to be good at what they do.
The store was founded by the current owners’ mother. If Mom is watching them now she is surely ashamed.
I had to return the coat I bought for Elmer last week because. .. well, he’s Elmer and the coat was not big enough. Little did I know that they do not refund returns of even unused merchandise. They will only issue store credits. Further, they will only issue the credit for the price of the merchandise. They do not credit back the tax you paid. Is that even legal? I would not think so. Further, they place a 30-​day «use it or loose it» condition on the store credit. There are, I am sure laws against this practice, as well. AND they give you NO documentation of the credit. They put your name, address, and phone number on an index card and put the card in an index file and wonder why you haven’t left yet. You have no evidence of having returned the item. You are supposed to trust them.
This store is NOT convenient for me. The only reason I stopped in the first place is because they purportedly carried a nutritional supplement that we use for Elmer and we were running out. And because I like to support small local businesses. For me to stop at 1400 N. Wells near LaSalle (which is 300’ish West), when I live at 4100 North and nearly 4000 West is not convenient. When I ranted at the woman about how terrible their business practices were she said «sorry for the inconvenience» and I said look at my address and then talk to me about how sorry you are for the inconvenience!!!
I don’t care how desperate you are for whatever you are heading over there to buy. Turn around and go elsewhere. It is not worth it. Furthermore, they are notorious for selling puppy/​kitten mill babies and have only recently stopped because they were SHAMED into it not because they felt any regret about it.

I echo most ever other comment, I wish I could give this place a 0!
I bought a collar and when I went to put it on my dog, it didn’t fit. I tried exchanging for a small but they didn’t have any so I ask for a refund but all they would give me was a store credit! So annoying!!! I won’t go back and they are right in my neighborhood. who treats their customers like that??? Don’t go, there’s another store nearby.

Hey Everyone:
As of April 1^st Collar and Leash has agreed to stop selling puppies and will utilize adoptive services!
Might update my review once they stop doing that– but a step in the right direction!

Darn. I can’t give this place zero stars? This place is puppy mill hell. Even if you go into this store to buy fish food, you are doing a disservice to your community. Don’t set foot in this amoral, depressing, inhumane institution. I look forward to the day the doors close for good.

There is something deeply sad and not right about this store. I’ve been in a few times because I am a dog lover and a sucker for place (even ones that smell like urine) where I can pet them. But I think this might be my last visit.
I was up on the third floor where all the dogs are, and I noticed that three out of the five dogs had some kind of eye condition. I asked about the one of them and the employee said, «I think he’s blind in one eye. He’s still lovable, you could buy him.» I told him that I, «wouldn’t pay $ 1200 dollars for a half blind dog.» Then he asked me, «how much would I pay?» I said «nothing», because it that blind eye, in that particular breed was a sign of much more expensive and incurable medical conditions.
What kind of place openly displays that they use poor breeders? It felt like they were trying to pull a Charlie Brown Christmas tree stunt with sad looking puppies.
Don’t feel bullied into going to an animal shelter if it’s not what you want. But at least get your new pup from a place that cares about animal welfare and proper breeding practices.

I have lived in Old Town for two years and always stopped into Collar and Lease to see the puppies – how could you not?! When I finally found one I wanted to purchase, I wrote down the name of the breeder from the back of the puppy’s card to do some research despite the fact that the staff assured me the dogs were not from puppy mills. This is what I found on the breeder Wanda Kretzman:
I am really saddened and disappointed by my findings. I had hoped that there was some good in their business, but alas, I am wrong. Even though they have such sweet puppies, PLEASE do not buy your pet from someone that uses breeders like Wanda Kretzman.

I’ve been here twice, and the second was because some sick guilty thing inside me, called a soul, called me in to torture myself again.
I am a cat lover like no one I know. I admit I am not a dog person.
I am not a ‘political’ type of person who «calls for action» or normally demands the most green/​fair/​philanthropic/​local/​activist businesses.
But don’t shop here. I was shocked it even existed, and in a place like Old Town. I never thought to look it up on Unilocal,and I“m so glad everyone feels the same way.
The word is creepy. Creepy sums up the third floor perfectly. Have you seen «Taken»? The one where all the girls are locked to beds and drugged and used as sex slaves? I honestly feel similarly about the cats and dogs here. The smell is awful. They look at you either in fear or total desperation. I swear, I could feel their desperation.
Then I started noticing the dates on the cages. It says when they got there. Some of them have been there for, I kid you not, six years. Then you see the price. Some are like, 900 freaking dollars! No wonder nobody is buying your pets!
I got my cat at AntiCruelty for $ 35 and she has behavior problems because she spent a couple years in a cage.
These animals are spending six years in a life of nothingness, shitty cages, no attention. If I had a farm, I would take them all. But then you’re giving them business.
It’s tough, because you care about the animals, but you don’t want to give this place business. So you think about the poor babies on the third floor living out their death sentence. Hence, the second time I went in to give the cats some attention. But if you do stop in, beware of the horrible feeling that will linger with you long after leaving.
I wonder how to shut this place down? And I wonder what would happen to the cats? What if they get euthanized? Someone horrible runs this place, I’m sure. I think it might actually be some illegal shit going down. Just like the guys that run the sex house in ‘Taken.“
Yeah, this is dramatic. But we’re talking about cats, here. And talking about cats makes me very passionate.

Ugh… I almost feel the solcial duty to write this terrible review (even though I hate to do it).
So my girl and I stopped in to look for a puupy as she has been houding me for a «car ride» buddy forever. At first glance, the store looks good, but stepping inside it has the appeal of a well managed trash dump.
Braving the odor, we ventured up to the 3^rd floor where we were told curtly by a rather flamboyant (and poorly dressed) young man that «if we were not serious about getting a dog… he wouldn’t take it out» RED FLAD #1.
We assured the boy that all was well and we were, in fact, in the market. He took us to a dirty back room to play with, what turned out to be, a really cute Yorkie with a great personality. As we were playing with this little guy a man walked up and used the public restroom. As he left the bathroom the young man that worked there chose to ask him «who gave him permission to use the bathroom?» …
The patron, clearly shocked by the rude nature of the question walked away not knowing wether to laugh or knock the kid out… Im sure.
Unfortunately, the fun didn’t end there. The boy then told us in a truly rude manner that he was taking the dog and we had to leave. When we asked «why?» he told us the 3^rd floor was closing… I asked him when the store would close. He told us in 2 hours.
It got worse from there, but honestly, I was getting so upset I would rather not revisit…
Simply said this was the most rudely I’ve ever seen an employee treat another patron… as well as myself.
I would avoid this place at all costs, and honestly, had the kid kept pushing, I would’ve felt the need to defend myself…
Hopefully they can clean the store of the odor and the bad element as the pup selection was decent.

Please everyone help to get this place shut down!!! Call non emergency line 311 to file a report or the Springfeild department of agriculture at 217−782−4944!!!
After visiting this place I am left horrified and upset that a place like this is even around still. The puppies were either to big for their cage or looked sick and to young to even be for sale. When I asked the age of one puppy the man was quick to respond as 5 weeks!!! It is sick to treat aniamals the way they do. please do not support this store!

This story is difficult to write. I wish that I had read the reviews before walking into this place. My mother is a cat lover and lost her cat a year ago. She was very attached to the family cat, Frank, and when he passed away it was not easy for her. Fast forward a year when I walk into Collar and Leash and see a cat who reminded me of little Frank. He was such a cute little guy and in a cage without even a blanket. I could tell that he was not let out of his cage very often and he had been there for a month. I really wanted to take him home with me. A dude with a ponytail working there said that he would give me the guy for a discount because quote, «We care about making people happy.» I should have been suspicious of this looking back. He even took me to the front of the shop to show me photos of the pet shop years ago with people grooming the animals on some kind of barber like contraption.
So I made a phone call to my father and I texted him a photo and he said, yes go ahead and buy him and that we will surprise mom on her birthday. I spent over a thousand dollars on the cat and pet supplies, and considering I’m a student this was a lot of money for me but the happiness this would bring, I thought, was going to be worth it. He was very shy when we brought him home but had an adorable personality. He was very thin with a bit of a belly but it was cute looking. When we took him for a vet checkup we discovered that this cute belly was actually a deadly virus with 100% fatality, and the best we could do was keep him comfortable. According to the vet, it is common in catteries or cat-​type factories. This is the problem with breeding animals for profit. I researched where exactly he was from, and it was a puppy/​kitten mill in Iowa and googling the name brought up many USDA reports of the lack of sanitation of the place.
I’m so ashamed of adopted a pet from this place. Although the money was a terrible loss, giving my mother a sick cat who looked very much like Frank was heart breaking. Two months after we adopted him, he passed away. My poor parents payed many vet bills and had to deal with caring for a dying kitten.
I went back to the pet store to see the guy with the pony tail and as soon as I walked into the shop I could not control my tears. There was a great sense that the actions that I choose DO support things (such as puppy/​kitten mills) and that I was guilty of this but also the pain I inflicted on my parents. Sometimes as a consumer, this is not so obvious. I saw him and told him that the little guy died. Of coure, I was embarsassingly emotional but it was honestly overwhelming being in there. He did not say I’m sorrry. He did not ask me any questions. He just said, «I don’t deal with this, you have to call the other store.» and seemed annoyed. So much for being concerned with making people happy. Did you really mean concerned with making money?
So I called the number, and waited on hold for 10 minutes until Dan answered. He simply asked, «Did you sign a contract?»
«…yes»
“Well. Then what do you want?”
«You sold me a sick cat.»
«He wasnt sick when I sold him to you. You probably made him sick.»
I ended up hanging up on him.
The cashier was kind enough to listen and took down my phone number. That same day a lady named Sonja called and said that if we can fax over the vet notes that she might be able to work something out. My parents called the vet and the vet said that she wasn’t entirely sure what the pet shop wanted and to let them call her.
My parents and I were at the point where we were wondering what we wanted to get out of it. A little money would seem so cheap and insufficient for the amount of vet bills and suffering this event caused. What was really important to us was that this not happen to anyone else.
Currently I am researching how to stop it.

Wow. I am apparently a heartless, soulless, monstrous shell of a human being — because this place doesn’t really bother me all that much.
We were in the area to hit up the Spice House and have an afternoon adventure through Old Town, and saw this pet-​supply-​looking place and decided to check it out because we have unusual pets (read: RATS) and you never know where you’re going to find something that will appeal to them.
So we hit the place up, level by level (aside from the basement, which appeared to be grooming/​kennel space). The first floor is the «food floor», mostly treats and then also regular kibble-​type stuff. I didn’t pay attention to anything but the treats, of which we found a soy-​free type to bring home to our ratties. The first floor also features the «window cage», where I guess the most eye-​catching or spirited dog gets to spend its time, luring customers in.
Second floor is mostly for toys, outfits and supplies. I think the only purchase I’ve made here was a fishing-​pole type cat toy, which our little guys actually took some interest in and played with, so it was worth it.
And yes, the third floor is where you’ll find the cages. A few dogs, a few cats. Nothing that really shouted to me either «GOOD» or «BAD», frankly. It was what it was, and since I wasn’t here to buy a pet, I didn’t give it all that much thought other than a few blank stares at pets looking to find a home with someone with more compassion than me. I was only on that floor because beyond the cages lies the small animal section. This is where I made my random finding of an awesome ferret-​sized stretchy tube that goes 30 feet. I think we’ve also bought some bedding and treats here, which our pets did enjoy.
Yes, the staff didn’t provide us with much help. They didn’t seem too knowledgeable, but I wasn’t really looking to receive much knowledge. I already knew what I wanted and they either had it or they didn’t. As for the other posters who complained of a «urine smell», I really didn’t pick up on one at all. But both times I’ve been here, the selection of caged critters was rather sparse, so maybe there wasn’t as much urine to be found when I stopped in.
The atmosphere is admittedly a little creepy. The signs warning that you’re on video weren’t a winner in my book. I didn’t notice anything about the «private breeders» or idea of puppy mills — but maybe I’m not enough of a dog or cat person to have noticed or read between the lines.
Are the cages upstairs small? You betcha. But I guess I’m an idiot because I think ALL of the cages I’ve seen dogs/​cats/​puppies/​kittens in at stores of any kind are… about that small of a size. I admit — I don’t pay much attention because that’s not what’s on my mind.
I came in to stare at some animals in cages, knowing that I wouldn’t be remotely considering the prospect of taking one home, and then buying what I feel like buying supply-​wise and leaving without a second thought.
I’m really not a fan of the boycotting bandwagon, but I do understand your pleas and concerns and I do agree that «puppy mills» suck in general. We have an overpopulation of dogs and cats as it is, but the fact remains that this place is somehow still pulling enough of a profit to stay in business. Mostly because some of the toys and treats are a bit overpriced. But again, I didn’t come here to specifically spend money in this store or provide them with support. Collar & Leash just happens to be on the way to me getting my Spice House fix and they had a random cool tubular thing for my ratties to play with.
(Besides, after my girlfriend reads my review and then all of these 1-​star and 2-​star rants about this place supposedly supporting puppy mills, I doubt we’ll be back here a third time. Oh well.)

I should have wrote this review two years ago. «Dogschwitz» is located on the third floor and I bet there is an oven in the basement. How do they get a way with it? Don’t spend a dime in this animal concentration camp!

2-​star average for this place is about right.
This place has a varied selection of pet items to choose from, but if you have a staff that is not versed in the inventory, it doesn’t mean much if you have a lot of stuff to sell. Try to educate your staff more in what is being sold so if a customer has a question («Where are your dog shampoos?» for instance), your staff can easily point them in the right direction. People go to small pet shops like this (instead of the biggies like PetSmart and PetCo) to patronize small businesses and get both quality merchandise and service they might not find in those big warehouse-​type stores. Don’t be a messy small pet shop with clueless employees!
Enough has been said about the horrors of the third floor with the animals that I don’t want to add my voice to the maddening crowd. I just wish they had a nicer area for those little animals is all. When I was there it really seemed like they made an effort to keep it clean, the area just looked old and outdated and could use an upgrade.
If only there were a pet store «Tabatha’s Salon Takeover» equivalent! This place could sorely use it.

Like most of the other reviews will tell you, the third floor is definitely a fine mix between creepy and sad. What’s up there, you ask? Dogs, cats, kittens and puppies in cramped cages, looking anxious and tired and sick.
I got really creepy vibes from this place, and I couldn’t wait to leave. If you’re in the market for a new furry family member, adopt from a shelter instead!

Stumbled upon this place while walking to Fireplace Inn. Went in there and looked around. The place is pretty neat looking and has a interesting selection of stuff but some stuff is pretty expensive.
We then decided to go to the 3^rd floor to check out the puppies. There was a small selection of dogs and most of them looked really sad. I hate seeing dogs caged up but I understand that makes it efficient for them to manage them. The guy that was upstairs that took cared of the animals does seem like he really cares about them and likes animals but he was a little creepy/​weird.
The pets there are pretty expensive but some are cheaper since they are over a year old. Some of them were covered with urine and I wish I can just take them all home with me but I’m not made of money (sadly).
Honestly, it was just very sad to see those puppies. :(
BUT they did have doggy tux’s and wedding dresses lol!

This place definitely sells puppy mill puppies. If you go to the Puppy Mill Project website you can find out exactly which puppy mills they came from. The Puppy Mill Project people have also held protests at this pet store to try to raise awareness of the cruelty of puppy mills.
If you care about animals, boycott this store until they stop their cruel use of puppy mills. Instead, support pet stores that either don’t sell live animals or instead sell shelter/​rescue animals. Spending any money here just makes it look like you support the cruelty of puppy mills.

I am an animal fan. I have 3 happy cats at home. Many of my cousins, aunts, and friends have dogs and/​or cats. This place creeped me out.
We walked in here to get a dog bone for my aunt’s dog. While waiting, I noticed a bad smell coming from upstairs. While the downstairs looks happy and fun, the upstairs is unbelievable. I saw these dogs and cats with almost no room. The animals were all scared with the exception of 1 who came over. When I came near some of the cats, the hair on their tails stood up. The smell made me queasy.

There are «puppies» for sale here that are almost a year old– haven’t been properly socialized or trained and I can only assume the owner will surrender them to a shelter soon once their shelf life has expired.
The smell is awful and the dogs upstairs have low energy. Not to mention the pet supplies available are really limited. I would not board my dog here or buy one here (or anywhere — please support local shelters and rescue groups when you are looking to get a new furry friend).
Pet Stuff on West Division doesn’t have the brightest bulbs working there, but good quality pet supplies.

I know I’m just joining in with the chorus here, but it makes me happy to know that amongst all of the ignorant fools that drop thousands of dollars on sad little «designer breed» (re: mutts) dogs, there are still people in this city that know that a shelter or rescue is the only place to get their pet.
I walked into Collar and Leash because my boyfriend and I were spending the day in Old Town — movies, lunch, etc. As we have two dogs and two cats, we were excited to run into what we assumed was merely a pet supply store. You don’t really notice the smell on the first floor (at least I didn’t, a longtime employee of animal shelters and dog boarding facilities, but that ain’t sayin’ much) — and we were bombarded with tons of toys and fun colorful playthings, so we were ready to do some shopping! I was even really excited to see that their back room included a great many high quality pet foods (Fromm, Merrick) — of course they also had the crap that the vets try to «prescribe» to your animal because Hill’s pays them to do it (Science Diet).
Upon checking out the second floor, which was filled with frilly little puppy dresses and t-​shirts and other nonsense, the smell became a lot more noticeable. Having not noticed the handwritten signs claiming a hypocritical boycott against puppy mills, I had no idea there would be animals there — but I definitely smelled them. There was a forbidding staircase heading up to a final flight, and we apprehensively made our way up. No more was the warm, inviting carpeted store filled with fun toys and treats… In it’s place was cold steel cages lining the walls filled with the most miserable looking animals I’ve ever seen in my life. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Puppies and even a few kittens (I really never even thought that some people actually BUY cats — the absolute easiest animal to come across for free) were all individually caged in these metal prisons with no beds, blankets or toys and forced to drink water from the weird upside-​down bottles that pet rodents drink from. The saddest eyes I’ve ever seen looked back at me and when I stuck my finger into one of the «purebred» kitten cages I was bitten by tiny, angry, attention-​deprived teeth.
I only lasted two minutes on that top floor, and as we fled the scene, I finally noticed the handwritten signs claiming that they only get their animals from «private breeders.» Do places like this think we’re all idiots? Do they think we all think puppy mills advertise themselves as puppy mills? They all call themselves private breeders!
To think that people pay top dollar for mixed breed mutts like «puggles» or «yorkie poos» from places like this is just incredible. People ask me what breed my dogs are all the time, because they look like the kind of «fancy» pet store dogs and I tell them I have no idea, because my adorable dogs came from a shelter. They may have no known birthday, no AKC papers — but at least they weren’t born in a barn full of crates with wire bottoms to a mother that’s been bred so many times she can’t even stand. That’s what you’re getting from Collar and Leash. And to think that people board their animals there after seeing the terrible conditions they keep their own animals (or «products») in is absolutely beyond me.
GO SPEND $ 35 AT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AND GET A FULLY VACCINATED, NEUTERED DOG THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS A HOME. MORE AND MORE SHELTER DOGS ARE EUTHANIZED BECAUSE OF THE ASSHOLES THAT BUY ANIMALS FROM PLACES LIKE COLLAR AND LEASH.

First of all, I am going to put the fact that this place sells pets aside. It is unfortunate, but I have not wandered up to the 3^rd floor where they have the poor little guys caged up, so I don’t feel qualified to review them for that.
However, because this place is about a 5-​min walk from my home, I have been going there to get pet supplies and food. As far as their stock goes, it’s your average range of crappy toys and food to deluxe toys and food. The prices are okay, but not as good as franchises like Petsmart and PetCo.
I’ve never gotten a warm greeting from anyone working there. While I know that’s not mandatory, it certainly would have made this rating have more stars, know what I’m saying?
Beware the lack of return policy. There isn’t one. I tried to return a toy my dog broke the squeaker in merely an hour after I bought it. Mind you, I was recommended by the worker that this toy was tough enough for my dog. Think again. Many dog boutiques offer great return/​exchange policies, but not this place. It was even the same clerk I bought the toy from that denied me a return or exchange an hour later.
I’ll probably keep buying my dog’s food here, just for the convenience factor (I am sans car). But no more toys from there. I’ll walk an extra few minutes to Pet Stuff at Division and Wells for those.

Ran in here the other morning while taking my dog for a walk… I actually just needed to grab some refills for my doggie poo bags. I walked up to the door at 8:30am…the sign says they open at 8am… only to find the door locked… so I peered in the window to see someone behind the counter gabbing on the phone. He finally came to unlock the door for me and when I walked in… the place seriously smelled like about 30 dogs had pooped all over the place… awful!
Luckily the product I was looking for was right in front… so I grabbed it… and went to the counter to pay… at no point did the person put down the phone to greet me or acknowledge that I existed… he rung me up… and then I just stood there until he asked me if I needed something else. I said… I don’t know if you’re aware of this (I don’t know how you could not be)…but it smells horrible in here. He said he knew and was going to look into it… but I mean come on! If you open at 8am… I would assume you’d be there a little early and would take care of something so offensive.
I’ve lived in Old Town for years… this place has been here for years… it really used to be better… I don’t know what happened… but I do know that I won’t be back.