Special Report: PetSmart’s 40th Anniversary

PetSmart celebrated its 40th anniversary in June. What began as a place to buy pet essentials has evolved with the changing pet market into a destination for food, toys, apparel, grooming, training, veterinary care and boarding. PetSmart was also one of the first retailers to allow customers to bring their animals inside while shopping. 

“The past four decades of caring for pets would not have been possible without our community of passionate pet parents and the expertise our associates bring to stores every day,” said Jesica Duarte, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at PetSmart. “We’re proud to have earned the trust of generations of pet parents and grateful to them for being part of our 40-year journey.”

PetSmart celebrated this milestone by giving back to its customers with month-long savings. Pet lovers earned 4,000 bonus points every day they spent $40, along with other exclusive offers for Treats Rewards members.

The last 40 years have seen pet humanization reach new heights. According to the Pew Research Center, 97 percent of pet parents consider their pets part of the family. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, PetSmart has been a leading omnichannel pet retailer in North America on a mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets. 

As the largest brick-and-mortar pet specialty retailer in North America, PetSmart generates about $10 billion in annual revenue. While Chewy leads in online pet retail, PetSmart acquired the company in 2017 to accelerate its digital strategy and expand its online footprint. 

In its 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, President and CEO Ken Hicks shared this note: “It is our vision to be the favorite pet retailer, and it is our mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets. Being the favorite pet retailer means earning a special place in the hearts of pet parents, as a trusted, reliable and beloved resource for all their pets’ needs throughout all stages of life. It taps into the most beautiful and unique aspect of our organization: the passion and love for pets that’s shared between our associates and our customers. Whether a pet parent comes to us with a concern about their cat’s diet, entrusts us with their dog’s well-being during a grooming session, or needs guidance in building a safe and enriching habitat for their guinea pig, they know that at PetSmart, they will be met with care, expertise—and joy.”

History 

In 1986, Jim and Janice Dougherty opened two PetFood Warehouse locations in Phoenix, AZ. In 1989, they rebranded the company to PetSmart and expanded with grooming, bird and fish departments. 

In 1993, the company went public on the NASDAQ exchange. The next few years saw growth in locations and charitable efforts. PetSmart Charities was established as an independent non-profit. The company also expanded to Canada. In 1994, PetSmart partnered with Banfield Pet Hospital to open veterinary services in retail locations and later launched a franchise model to allow independent vets to open local practices inside stores. In the 2000s, PetSmart expanded its business through pet boarding. 

BC Partners took the company private with an $8.7 billion buyout in 2015. In 2017, the company, backed by BC Partners, purchased Chewy for $3.35 billion. In 2020, PetSmart and Chewy split into independently operated companies under the same parent. In 2023, Apollo Global Management purchased a minority stake in PetSmart. 

PetsMart vs PetSmart 

When the company was rebranded in 1989, it was called Pets-Mart. Sixteen years later, it rebranded as PetSmart, shifting away from the “mart” image of a traditional pet supply store and positioning itself as a specialized, solutions-oriented pet care company. Still, the logo’s bouncing ball has long kept consumers guessing.

The question even went viral on TikTok and inspired a punk song that racked up 30 million views: “Are you saying pets are smart, or are you saying you’re a mart for pets?” PetSmart answered: “Pets are smart, punk.”

Leadership

Ken Hicks has been the President and Chief Executive Officer since 2024. He has more than 40 years of retail experience that includes Academy Sports + Outdoors, Foot Locker, J.C. Penney Company, Payless ShoeSource and Home Shopping Network. With a track record of increasing shareholder value, Hicks has been essential for PetSmart’s strategic growth plan. 

“PetSmart has a strong position with its broad assortment of pet products and service offerings, the Treats Rewards program that offers exceptional value for pet parents, and an omni-channel customer experience that allows pet parents to engage with the brand in the manner most convenient to them, including in-store, through the PetSmart mobile app and same-day home delivery options. I am excited about the opportunities in front of us to continue to better serve pet parents and grow the Company,” said Hicks, in a press release when he joined the company.

Other key leadership members include Jesica Duarte, who joined PetSmart in 2025 as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer overseeing merchandising, digital and marketing. Greg Fancher is the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Technology Officer. He is responsible for enterprise-wide technology at PetSmart. David Redfield is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and oversees all store operations, including Canada. Alan Schnaid oversees PetSmart finance as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. 

Spotlight on Services 

PetSmart generates more than $1 billion annually from its services, which include its PetsHotel boarding, day camp, grooming, and training services. PetSmart operates as a private company, so public breakdowns of each service are not available. Various online market reports estimate that in-store services account for about 10 percent to 15 percent of the company’s estimated $10 billion in total yearly revenue.

Services are also strategic for PetSmart’s long-term growth. Customers who used in-store services spent more annually at PetSmart and were more likely to participate in PetSmart Treats Rewards, driving higher overall customer lifetime value.

Veterinary capabilities. PetSmart reported in 2025 that it had 7.25 million veterinary visits across its hospital locations. The company has been growing its in-store veterinary services through partnerships with Banfield Pet Hospital, PetSmart Veterinary Services, and other third-party veterinary hospital operators. PetSmart now has more than 700 full-service hospitals in stores, the largest base of veterinary hospitals of any pet retailer. Through its partnership with mobile vaccination providers, it offers pop-up vaccination clinics in approximately 600 stores. 

In 2025, the company also enabled the use of telehealth for pets, expanding the offering to a total of 145 stores in Canada and launching the technology in 533 stores across nine US states and Washington, D.C. Telehealth is ideal for rural areas, if exotic pet expertise is needed, and for reducing stress on pets who can’t travel easily. 

And for those who can’t afford veterinary care, PetSmart Charities has committed $100 million over five years toward improving access through its Accelerate grant program. The program provides funding, consulting, mentoring, and support tools for nonprofit veterinary clinics providing accessible veterinary care. 

PetSmart Charities is also committed to improving access to veterinary care through its Incubator grant program. With 52 grantees across the US and Canada, the program aims to develop new models of veterinary care in historically underserved communities. 

Boarding. The first PetSmart PetsHotel opened in November 2001 in Tempe, AZ. Now, PetSmart has PetsHotel boarding facilities and Doggie Day Camp play spaces in more than 200 of its stores. 

The indoor hotel rooms for dogs are temperature-controlled and private. Cats have private Kitty Cottages. There is also a veterinarian on call 24-7.

The US pet boarding market is valued at $8.87 billion and is projected to maintain a 7.02 percent CAGR. The broader pet daycare segment alone is valued at $5.02 billion. PetSmart drives additional revenue through its luxury add-ons that include bedtime stories, in-room treats, toys, training, and grooming. 

Last year, PetSmart rolled out live webcams for pet parents to check in on their dogs in playrooms and common areas. While PetSmart has long had security cameras, live streaming during camp hours is new. The company installed webcams in 105 hotels. PetSmart reported the feature averaged 1,500 virtual visitors each day. PetSmart also introduced text messaging last year, sending more than 1,500 messages to pet parents with status updates on their dog’s day.

Dog training. PetSmart reported that it held 306K pet training classes annually. Training also brings in additional revenue, as in-store locations easily tempt owners to purchase training treats, leashes, toys and other supplies. From puppy training to advanced training, PetSmart offers a variety of classes and private training based on positive reinforcement strategies. 

The dog training market has been driven by the post-pandemic pet adoption boom and rising pet humanization. As a result, the training industry is experiencing growth, with estimates ranging from 5 percent to 7 percent CAGR. 

Grooming. PetSmart reported that it had nearly 13.6 million grooming appointments in 2025. There are more than 1,600 store locations in North America, which means each store grooms an average of 20 to 25 dogs and cats per day. Yes, cats too. Not all PetSmart stores offer cat grooming, unless they have a specially trained Cat Stylist available at that select location, but cat services include everything from a shampoo and blow-dry to waterless baths and nail trims and caps. In 2025, PetSmart introduced the Cat Academy—with specialized training and toolkits focused on improved safety while grooming cats. Cat grooming is a booming business, as multiple online media sources report that 1 in 5 cat owners now take their pets to professional groomers to reduce shedding, hair mats, and maintain feline hygiene. 

Each certified graduate of the PetSmart Grooming Academy completes more than 800 hours of training, including hands-on experience with a wide variety of breeds. Because grooming can be stressful for pets, the company has implemented many safety protocols. Following past lawsuits and investigations related to dog deaths after grooming, PetSmart added additional safeguards, including enhanced pre-grooming screening, cameras in grooming areas, and shorter appointments for dog breeds prone to breathing problems, such as pugs or bulldogs. 

The Live Animal Debate

While PetSmart partners with local shelters and does not sell dogs or cats, the company does sell small mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles. Online media sources report that live animal sales only account for about 3 percent of PetSmart’s retail revenue. However, the store supplements these sales by supporting pet owners with all the necessary tanks, cages, food, and toys that go along with small pets. 

Due to concerns by animal welfare organizations, PetSmart has numerous initiatives to ensure the health, safety and welfare of animals in its care. The company regularly communicates and collaborates on improvements in its rigorous animal welfare standards with organizations like World Animal Protection. 

Here are just a few of the changes that PetSmart made in 2025 to adhere to higher standards of responsible pet sourcing and ownership. PetSmart reported that more than 650,000 pets were evaluated last year for key health indicators upon their arrival from vendors. Of those evaluated, 99.5 percent met health standards upon arrival. Pets that did not meet standards receive immediate veterinary attention. 

PetSmart discontinued sales of 10 aquatic pets and introduced hardier species better suited for in-store and at-home habitats. For example, red claw crabs were replaced by freshwater vampire crabs because they thrived better in fresh water. The company improved the enrichment and dietary standards of hamsters, and that reduced health monitoring needs by 75 percent. New quality controls were developed to enhance the safety of reptiles during cold-weather transport. The company reset aquatic walls in all US stores to optimize fish placement for compatibility and sustainability.

Responsible Stewards

PetSmart takes its commitment to pets and the planet seriously. In its 2025 report, the company outlines meaningful ways it reduced its environmental impact. It reduced outbound mileage and improved delivery efficiency by optimizing routes and expanding ship-from-store capabilities for online orders. Two of its distribution centers have renewable energy solutions. The installation of solar panels at the Phoenix, AZ, distribution center was completed in 2025. The company has also been increasing its waste diversion efforts.

In 2025, PetSmart diverted 65.3 percent of its waste from landfills. The company generated $1.2 million in potential energy savings through efficiency initiatives. More than 76,000 pieces of packaging were collected through a takeback pilot. 

PetSmart has two public targets related to sustainable consumption of resources: reduce emissions intensity by 30 percent by 2030, from a 2018 baseline and divert 75 percent of waste from landfills by 2030. 

Joanne Dwyer, VP, Corporate Social Responsibility, shared this statement in the recent Corporate Social Responsibility Report: “As we work to democratize sustainability, we know it is critical to make products that consider the health of pets and the planet more conveniently available to our customers. We made great progress in 2025 with the introduction of several new sustainability-minded brands, including The Honest Kitchen, Edgard & Cooper, Stella & Chewy’s and more. In addition to increasing our assortment of purpose-driven brands, we’re also making it easier for pet parents to take small sustainable actions, including through takeback programs for difficult-to-recycle pet items. A more circular future will require the entire industry to partner on systems and behavior change. We believe we can make significant progress together.” 

She continued, “Driving efficiency across our own operations continues to be a priority, and we’ve taken important steps along our climate action journey. In 2025, we completed our first scenario analysis to better understand and prepare for climate-related risks that may impact our business in the future. We have prepared to meet new regulatory requirements in the US and Canada, including extended producer responsibility legislation. We also expect that recent investments in renewable energy will begin to generate savings in 2026.”

Community

PetSmart has reported that an adoption takes place in a PetSmart store every 38 seconds. In 2025, PetSmart shared that there were more than 417,000 in-store pet adoptions. PetSmart Charities is the largest funder of animal welfare in North America and has helped more than 11 million pets find loving homes through in-store pet adoption programs. 

Last fall, the company went one step further to support adoptions by elevating pet adopters to the top tier of their loyalty program. 

“Pet adoption in a PetSmart store is a truly magical moment, it’s the beginning of a lifelong bond,” said Bradley Breuer, Vice President of Marketing at PetSmart. “That is why we’re giving new pet parents the savings and benefits of the highest tier level in our Treats Rewards program—it’s our way of celebrating the joy of pet adoption and supporting the PetSmart community. From adoption day to every day after, PetSmart is here with everything you need to care for your pet throughout your journey together, with our top tier of awards for every adopter.”

PetSmart now celebrates gotcha days (the day a pet is adopted) along with pet birthdays at stores. “Every pet deserves to be celebrated, especially on their birthday or gotcha day,” said Breuer. “PetSmart’s Birthday + Gotcha Bash celebrations are designed to make those special days unforgettable, turning milestones into joyful moments. We’re excited to help make every pet feel like the guest of honor.”

In 2025, PetSmart launched monthly Adopt Joy events in collaboration with PetSmart Charities. This event brought dogs out of shelters and into their communities to increase their likelihood of adoption. The launch of Adopt Joy events drove double-digit dog adoption growth.

Also in 2025, PetSmart and PetSmart Charities were recognized by Engage for Good with a Halo award, which honors excellence in corporate social impact. The award recognized PetSmart’s emergency and disaster response work.

The need for that work is clear. According to the Pew Research Center, 97 percent of US pet owners consider their pets part of the family. PetSmart works to ensure that, in moments of crisis, pet parents do not have to choose between evacuating to safety and staying behind with their pets.

In early 2025, PetSmart Charities raised more than $330,000 for relief efforts tied to the California wildfires. The funds were distributed to local partners supporting pet families affected by the disaster.

PetSmart Treats Rewards loyalty members also helped raise more than $100,000 through point donations to support communities impacted by flooding in Texas. In Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada monitored the evolving wildfire situation and worked with local organizations to support pets and people in affected areas. In 2025, grants for wildfire relief across Canada totaled nearly $150,000.

News 

This summer, PetSmart is helping owners kick off the season with a Treats Rewards Super Giveaway, giving pet parents the chance to win a Ford Bronco fully outfitted with travel pet essentials.

In April, the company released its fourth annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. In 2025, PetSmart diverted 65 percent of waste from landfills. The company generated $1.2 million in energy savings through initiatives like solar energy. Outbound logistics mileage was reduced by 8 percent. PetSmart expanded purpose-driven brands to meet the growing customer demand for more sustainable pet products. New offerings include JustFoodForDogs, The Honest Kitchen, Edgard & Cooper and Stella & Chewy’s, which prioritize real, high-quality ingredients.

PetSmart’s 40-year history reflects the evolution of the pet industry itself: what began with basic pet supplies has grown into a more holistic model of pet care, centered on the deepening bond between pets and their owners. Today, PetSmart is no longer just a place to buy food, toys and supplies. It has become a pet care destination built around the changing role pets play in people’s lives. From grooming appointments and training classes to veterinary care, adoptions, disaster response and sustainability efforts, PetSmart’s growth reflects the larger shift in how deeply pets are woven into our families and our lives. As pet parents continue to expect more convenience, expertise and care, PetSmart’s next chapter will build on the idea that shaped its first four decades: helping people experience more joy with their pets.