Accent On Animals

I’ve now been in here twice because I would really love to support a small, local pet store, but both times the man working behind the counter was so terse and unhelpful that I walked right back out. Such a bummer.

I just started posting reviews on Unilocal and made mention of AOA South Street on a separate post and felt obligated to post here as well. The friendly atmosphere and knowledgable staff are very inviting and it doesn’t hurt that the prices are comparable, if not lower than, the giant chain stores and online. With AOA, you get the feel and expertise of a Mom and Pop pet supply store, with the competitive pricing of the big dogs (pun intended).

I absolutely LOVE this pet store! I hate going to the big chain stores because they seem so impersonal, but was afraid a local store had higher prices… NOT the case for AOA. The prices are great here, and the staff know their stuff!

I bring my 7 month old corgi to this store and she loves it! Too bad she has yet to pay the bill though! Who says chivalry is dead, am I right people!!! Her current favorite toy from here is a duck, and she has devoured numerous bones as well. Every time we get within a one block radius of this store, she makes a bee-​line (dog-​line?) right for it!

Love this place. They always have what you need and they’re really helpful.

This store not only caters to cats and dogs; they also cater to birds, rodents, and any other animal you can imagine keeping as a pet. Even the staff at Pet Snobs is quick to send customers to this store in the event that they are looking for something Pet Snobs does not carry (i.e.: when I asked the staff at Pet Snobs if they carried litterbox liners, they said I’d be able to find them at Accent on Animals, and surely enough I found them there!). While I’m fairly new to this whole cat thing and I don’t live near any of the major pet supply store chains, chances are I will find myself here in the not too distant future if I need to find some new food, toys, or other supplies for my beloved cat Beaker.

Brought my dog in on st Patrick’s day to get him another holt collar. Lady sold me 2 sizes too big and I didn’t realize that it was too large until I got home and opened the package and I lost my receipt (my fault) however they led me to believe they would help me out. Went in there again and they didn’t receive his size the guy sees that I cut the package open to try it on thinking it would fit because the lady had met my dog and TOLD me it would fit. Its been a month now so I go back in there to try and exchange it for a gentle leader which costs more money so I was willing to pay the difference. Go back in there and they are telling me I’m stuck with it since I cut the package open and they can’t resell it. You would think they would want to keep a loyal returning customer and take the lose. However now I’m stuck with something that’s 2 sizes too big because the lady who had met my dog sold it to me. Will not be shopping there ever again. And I would advise you to go to a store that actually appreciates their customers.

Accent on Animals may not be as high quality as Chic Petique or Bone Jour, but it certainly is a lot better than Doggie Style.

This claustrophobic store on South Street is hard to miss, standing out among the Bong Shop Renaissance with its own version of gaudy. Inside, though cramped, houses an impressive selection of food, toys, and treats for your dog, cat, bird, small animal, or even a little something for the fish in your life.
Is it more expensive than PetSmart? Of course. But the upcharge comes with extra service and convenience if you are carless like me. Plus, small business and all that.
AOA is not my go-​to, but I stop in here occasionally for cans of Wellness or TikiCat for my kitties, and sometimes just because every time I see a pet store I feel the need to buy them more toys (they don’t have enough; they are very deprived). I’ve never left disappointed.
My ONLY gripe is that the place closes at 6, making it pretty much impossible for me to stop over after work.

I got tricked into buying deworm medicine, when it was the wrong kind and I got bad advice. Afterwards they oversold me with these lousy pill pockets that don’t work. My one cat chewed into the pill pocket and spit the pill out and the other cat won’t even touch it. So I wasted like 18 $ and change for nothing!

Less expensive than Doggie Style, more expensive than Petsmart, but a happy medium in convenience and cost when I need a few odds and ends for Harvey. The store is a little difficult to maneuver given all the products that they have packed into their little space, but they have everything I could need on the fly from food to toys, treats to accessories for the pooch. What makes this place pretty awesome is that carry pet products for fish, birds, and little rodents… not that I have any of the above, but it’s good to know that it’s there. This store actually follows credit card law and has no minimum so if I’m low on cash and need a quick item or two for the pup there’s no need to wander around looking for the nearest ATM. The staff is friendly, the products are plentiful, and I am thrilled to have them in my new neighborhood.

I was able to get my hamster’s bedding here about a year ago. They didn’t carry a lot of it though, and I had to get it out of a back closet, but they did have it (and for a tad more than I usually had paid). The woman in here was very helpful; my boyfriend was asking her a question, and they went off talking about whatever it was that he had asked. Very neat looking on the outside, and this store has a good selection on the inside.
Cons: Not very big, pretty basic stuff, and the prices are about the usual or a tad more. Nothing too unique about this place; just your typical small pet store =).

We left Chinatown area and headed for South Street for a little more exploring. I wanted to take pictures of murals and mosaic art by Isaiah Zagar! We parked right by Accent on Animals and my Honey wanted to go inside.
Now usually I am the person who goes to different cities buying my Weimaraner treats or toys. He surprised me (once again) by speaking with the store keeper about good healthy treats for an older Weimaraner. She was really informative and helpful. We ended up with a huge BullyStick to take home for my dog!
So sweet right?!

Ahh my local pet store.
My cat has enjoyed many a treasure from AOA. Litter, toys, but not food. I normally buy that at DoggyStyle. Still, when I can get to AOA, I find that I get exactly what I need. They stock Scoop-​Away which Earl Grey (my cat) likes. I also once picked up bird food for a friend. They had a pretty good selection of it and the prices seemed decent. I don’t know much about birds.
Anyhoo, I’m glad it’s there and it’s a nice spot to stop into to grab stuff. The one woman who I’ve dealt with each time has been pleasant and one time she even threw in a mouse filled with catnip. That sent Earl running around like crazy for a while until he succumbed to a drug-​induced coma. His name should probably be Hunter S. Thompson.
Anyway, 4 stars. Good place. I would like some later hours so I wouldn’t have to plan a special trip.

Not a huge selection, and half of what they have, I consider crappy quality. Science Diet next to Merrick? For a store that claims to «limit the selection of pet foods & pet products to those we feel represent the best in quality and value,» they sure haven’t done their homework on constitutes quality pet food.
Staff is friendly, but sometimes incompetent. Over half an hour to sell me a gift card because they can’t figure out how to activate it in the system?

A fun place to browse around for pet-​gear and treats while on South Street. Not a holy grail by any means — but they are there when you need them. Also prices are a little higher than in the big chains like PetCo and MonsterPets.

My bf FINALLY convinced me to adopt kittens, and thank god he did because they are awesome and cuddly and cute! He got so into the idea that before we even filled out the paperwork he had researched the best litter, food, toys, etc. we should have for them. The problem was then finding a place in CC where we could pick up said items without overpaying for them.
There’s a Doggie Style a block away from us, but they have a very limited cat section (I was surprised they had anything!). And after consulting Unilocal for places, I found that Accent On Animals was probably my best choice — I just didn’t want to encounter the infamous rude owner, so I kept putting it off!
Finally, I faced reality (out of cat food = BAD), so I went and now its the pet store I frequent. They carry the brands we use (World’s Best Cat Litter, and EVO/​Innova cat food), and thankfully their prices are relatively the same as what we can find online so I don’t feel ripped off when I walk out of there. They have an surprisingly large selection of brands and products, and cater to probably every kind of typical pet. By now, I’ve been there enough times to experience both owners, and while you can definitely sense their different personalities instantly, before even entering the store, I’ve never been treated ‘badly’ by either in any way; one just SMILES and says hi when I enter, the other is, well, more reserved I guess.

Yup… one rude lady and one nice one. The first lady told me they couldn’t order the specialty low allergen cat food I needed. I stopped in for something else a couple of months later and the second lady told me that they actually COULD special order it. Hm. Anyway, as it turns out they now carry the brand I use (Natural Balance) so it’s a non-​issue.
Good place to shop if you need food for your pet’s special diet. The aisles are quite tiny and claustrophobic, but for such a small shop they really do have quite a wide selection.

I’d be remiss not to mention the warm greeting I got today as I strolled into AOA in search of a doggy treat. The lady working was buzzing around the store (looked like she was in the middle of stuff), but she offered her help nonetheless… and with a smile. I take back what I said about the ladies not being charmers and thereby grant AOA 4 stars. Cheers!

Regarding the two ladies that work there or own it, one is really nice. The other is super cranky and not very friendly. Cross your fingers and hope you get the nice one (btw – you can tell which is which just by looking at them. go with the one that smiles).
The place is super cramped, but has lots of stuff – except the stuff I really need (smaller cans of dog food). Why just the big cans, ladies?
Unfortunately, it’s the closest pet store to my place so they have my somewhat reluctant business.
Three stars go to the lady that smiles.