Independent pet shops and local suppliers
Local pet shops, feed merchants, aquatic centres and pet bakeries often stock specialist foods, give hands-on fitting for harnesses and carriers, and can order things in. When comparing them with online stores, look at:
- Price per day for your regular food, including any loyalty scheme
- Local delivery or click-and-collect
- Refill stations and bulk buys for litter, hay and bird seed
- Expert advice for small pets, fish and reptiles
Finding a vet
- UK: use the RCVS Find a Vet search. Practices in the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme are inspected against set standards.
- US: AAHA-accredited hospitals are evaluated against the American Animal Hospital Association’s standards.
- Cats: look for a Cat Friendly Clinic accredited by International Cat Care.
- Ask about out-of-hours emergency cover, health plans and how they share estimates.
Recommend a local pet business
We’re building a list of recommended local pet suppliers and services across the US, UK and Europe. If you run a pet business, or know one that deserves a mention, get in touch. Listings will be clearly labelled, and we never publish reviews we haven’t verified.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
