Petco

Welcome to the discussion about Petco, located at 14051 Aldrich Ave S, Burnsville, MN 55337, USA, within the "Pet Store Near Me" category. Petco is a large national chain of pet stores offering a wide variety of goods and services for pet owners. Typically, Petco stores provide live animals such as fish, small mammals, reptiles, and birds, along with pet food, supplies, grooming services, and sometimes veterinary clinics or adoption events. However, recent customer reviews regarding the Burnsville, MN location paint a concerning picture that potential local users should be aware of.

The limited information available online about the environment of this specific Petco in Burnsville is overshadowed by serious allegations concerning the welfare of the animals housed there. One reviewer recounted a disturbing experience of finding a dead hamster in a cage alongside living ones. This raises significant questions about the store's animal husbandry practices, including the frequency of checks on animal enclosures and the protocols for isolating and removing deceased animals to prevent the spread of disease and distress to others.

Further compounding these concerns is another detailed review describing the condition of a rex rat named Fred. According to the customer's account from February 2025, Fred was being kept in a small, inappropriate enclosure (a 10lb glass fish tank) and was covered in diarrhea, emitting a strong, foul odor. The reviewer, intending to purchase the rat, was allegedly misinformed about the rat's age and was even wrongly advised by the manager, Mark, to purchase another small glass tank – an enclosure type deemed unsuitable for rats by a veterinarian due to ammonia buildup from urine. This suggests a significant lack of knowledge or disregard for proper small animal care on the part of the store management.

The situation with Fred escalated when the concerned customer sought veterinary care for the rat just four days later. The veterinarian diagnosed Fred with mites, infected wounds from the mites, and an intestinal parasite. Contrary to a claim that Fred was quarantined due to attacks from other rats, the veterinarian found no such wounds and suggested the quarantine might have been due to the manager's awareness of Fred's illness and a desire to prevent the spread of mites to other animals in the store. This implies a potential lack of transparency and a failure to provide adequate care for a sick animal within the store environment.

The services typically offered by a Petco store would include the sale of live animals, pet food, treats, toys, bedding, cages, tanks, and various other supplies. Many locations also provide grooming services, often in a dedicated area within the store. Some Petco stores host vaccination clinics or have partnerships with veterinary service providers who operate within the premises. Additionally, Petco often facilitates pet adoptions in collaboration with local shelters and rescue organizations.

However, the features of this particular Petco in Burnsville, as highlighted by the negative reviews, raise serious concerns about animal welfare and the knowledge level of the staff, particularly management. The alleged lack of proper care for small animals, the presence of sick and deceased animals in enclosures, and the provision of incorrect advice regarding animal housing are significant red flags. These issues suggest a potential systemic problem at this location regarding the prioritization of animal health and well-being.

The absence of any positive feedback or promotional information in the provided reviews is notable. Typically, pet stores like Petco might advertise sales on food or supplies, offer discounts for new customers or loyalty program members, or promote events like adoption days or grooming specials. However, in this case, the focus is entirely on critical failures in animal care, which overshadow any potential positive aspects or promotions the store might offer.

Given the severity of the allegations in the customer reviews, local users considering purchasing animals or supplies from the Petco in Burnsville, MN, are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution. Visiting the store in person to assess the conditions of the animal enclosures, inquire about their animal care protocols, and interact with staff may provide further insight. It would be prudent to seek alternative pet stores in the area that have a more positive track record regarding animal welfare. The detailed account of a sick rat being kept in poor conditions and the discovery of a dead hamster in a cage are serious indicators of potential neglect and a lack of adequate animal husbandry practices at this specific location.

In conclusion, while Petco is generally known as a national pet supply retailer, the recent feedback concerning the Burnsville, MN store raises significant ethical and practical concerns for local pet owners. The allegations of inadequate animal care, misdiagnosis, and a lack of transparency are serious and should not be ignored. Potential customers are urged to consider these accounts carefully and to prioritize the well-being of animals when choosing where to purchase pets or supplies. It may be beneficial to seek out local pet stores with a proven commitment to the health and humane treatment of the animals in their care.