Providing Quality Animal Care
We aim to provide a safe, healthy and humane environment for companion animals in our stores and thereby set a standard for future pet parents to follow.
Our mission of promoting the welfare of companion animals and enhancing our customers' lives begins with the selection of dedicated animal lovers as our Associates. To ensure our Associates are knowledgeable about proper animal care, we have invested significantly in the development of enhanced levels of training and education.
- Upon being hired, each new PETCO Associate is trained in proper animal care and handling via an extensive series of veterinarian-reviewed training materials. This training includes our Pet Authority Program for store associates, which continually reinforces: At PETCO, Animals Always Come First! The program is followed by a comprehensive exam than an Associate must pass before advancing in the organization.
- In addition, to continually cultivate animal care expertise in each of our stores, we provide ongoing monthly training for store Associates and management training for store management.
In the normal course of their work, our Associates are also required to adhere to stringent animal care policies, procedures and veterinary-approved guidelines. Among those requirements are:
- Fresh food and water must be available to all animals at all times.
- All animals must be attended to on a regular basis. Associates walk the sales floor hourly to inspect our animals to ensure that they have what they need.
- Any animal suffering from any type of illness must be separated from other animals for treatment by the store's veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Veterinarians have reviewed and approved all enclosures that outline the number of animals that can be in each animal habitat.
- Each store General Manager or manager on duty has the ability and responsibility to ensure any animal requiring care gets it. To ensure that vet care is sought, as needed, our General Manager store bonus plan excludes all vet expenses.
- Each of our stores is affiliated with a local veterinarian who provides care as needed.
- Furthermore, we constantly review our staffing of Regional Companion Animal Coordinators (RCACs), and add to our animal care support staff, where needed, to assist General Managers.
- Above all, animals must be treated humanely at all times. Failure to comply with PETCO's humane animal care policies will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
- To help us ensure that all stores are following our strict requirements for proper animal care, employees are encouraged to use PETCO's anonymous Animal Care Hotline to report any non-compliance with our animal care policies.