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Andy's Pet Shop
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 8 pm
68 reviews for Andy's Pet Shop
68 reviews in English
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Review from Suzanne J.
Palo Alto, CA
This pet shop only sells rescued animals! And gives you personal service, if you want it. They spent 30 minutes on the phone, answering my questions about pet rats. Then 2 hrs in the store, letting us hold the rats and ask more questions. We have been back twice, to buy small supplies. Spent 1/2 hour each time, telling them how it's going and asking more questions!
They are asking for donations & trying to stay afloat. I hope they do. All pet stores should be like this. -
Review from Makonu L.
San Francisco, CA
My lil rat Tinkle passed away. I came to adopt another rat Chewy. In the process I saw one other that I wanted too. I figured my cage can fit three. Unfortunately they spotted some sickness and would send her to the vet. I told them if she came back okay, I would adopt her too. Sadly they had to put her down due to severe cancer. I really appreciated them following up with a phone call telling me the news. They are doing an amazing job helping out these lil exotics.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2011
I came here to check out the lil pet rats and happily adopted two girls- Tinkle and Penelope. The… Read more »
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9/26/2011
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Review from Kristen S.
San Jose, CA
I love Andy's Pet Shop. And everyone who knows Andy's knows that it's not your typical pet shop that sells pets. Well, they do sell pets, but all the animals for "sale" are, in actuality, up for adoption. You see, they only sell rescued animals from various local shelters and rescues. LOVE that!
Andy's Pet Shop is a prime example of what it means to be a wonderful small local business. They do such important work for animals needing good homes, and they also sell high quality pet supplies. We patronize this store when we can and pick up some treats for our bunnies. They sell a wide variety of bunny items like willow balls, apple sticks, and various mats and houses. Our bunnies love everything we've purchased from Andy's.
Check out Mango, the resident rescued Toucan (beautiful!) as well as hundreds of rescued rats from that Hoarders episode on A&E. The rats are up for adoption via North Star rescue.
I hear that Andy's is in danger of going out of business. Say it ain't so!! It would be a huge loss to the community to lose Andy's :( -
Review from James N.
My girlfriend and I came here to adopt 2 guinea pigs and we left with 2 guinea pigs. The workers here are VERY helpful and very friendly. They welcomed us right away and asked us what we were looking for. We told them guinea pigs and she took us to go meet all of them right away. The worker even set up a play spot for us so we can interact with the guinea pigs and see which ones we liked and how they responded to each other.
The animals are rescued and brought here so its for a good cause for the animals.
The adoption process is really quick and they tell you everything you're going to need to take care of which ever animal you decide on. -
Review from Laura S.
I love Andy's Pet Shop. I used to live by their old location on the Alameda during college. One day I drove past and was disheartened to see that the iconic store was closed down...but was happy to see that it was just because they had relocated to downtown San Jose.
I popped into their new location and was surprised to see hundreds of rats up for adoption. A man in SoCal was hoarding rats, and the A&E show Hoarders did an episode on him. The adoption organization that came to pick up his animals have set up shop at Andy's, and have successfully adopted out hundreds of rats (he had about 2000 rats in his home I believe). Pretty nice story.
I actually came in to adopt an animal as well. They had rats (of course), guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, a few dogs, a bird, etc. I have always loved dwarf hamsters, so I picked out a little girl from a litter (I believe the adoption fee was $5). Because I adopted an animal, I also got 15% off my whole purchase in the store. The girl who worked there was kind enough to extend my 15% off to the next time I purchased something.
Not only is their service great (helpful and around when you need them, not in-your-face and annoying when you don't), their selection and prices are awesome as well. The bags of Carefresh (recycled fiber bedding) are cheaper at Andy's then at PetSmart and Petco. They have a nice variety of bulk feed for pets (great since you can get a handful and spend a minimal amount, just in case your furry friend is picky and doesn't like it), and all the necessary items to make your pet comfy and happy.
Stop in and support this mom and pop shop. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Dele P.
Sunnyvale, CA
Please patronize this business! It's such a fantastic place, run by fantastic, deeply-caring people.
I really don't know where to start. I LOVE this place. My 5-year-old son earned a pet hamster (by demonstrating responsibility, don't worry, it was legit) so off we went to Andy's. Best decision ever. I really tried to sway my boy towards one of the myriad rats they've got there (you saw that episode of Animal Hoarders on A & E, right? Now you know where all those rats went.) but he was hellbent on a damn hamster. Fine. Well, the employees at Andy's took a ton of time with us, let us hold a bunch of animals, explained the pros and cons of small rodent ownership to my son, and we walked out of there happy as larks.
In addition to making us feel welcome, the employees really went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied with our new little family member, and even sent home a little surprise for my son which we didn't discover until we got home. SO thoughtful and wonderful!
It will do your heart a world of good to go to Andy's, even if you aren't in the market for a new small pet. The employees make ALL the difference, and I wouldn't think of going anywhere else for my small pet needs.
It's important to also add that all their animals, 100%, are rescues. -
Review from Geraldine p.
San Jose, CA
Great, small business ! Help support, they actually get all their pets from Rescue groups! They have rabbits, rats, mice, chinchillas, birds . I found a new place to get my chinchilla stuff ,crickets , & snake stuff all in one place !! No more running around. They are very helpful & knowledgeable!! I can't believe the guy at Treasure chest suggested to feed my chinchillas guinea pig food!! The kids absolutely LOVED looking at all the animals !
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Review from Nancy N.
This place is awesome! All their animals are rescues! The workers are so friendly and knowledgeable. They remember each animal and its temperament too. Definitely check this place out before going to any of the other chain stores!
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Review from Anna C.
Scotts Valley, CA
There's no pet store as awesome as Andy's. They're 100% rescue only (even their fish are rescues!)and thousands of animals have found homes through them just this year.
Check them out, pick up some supplies, adopt a few animals and chat with super helpful employees and volunteers. If they don't have what you're looking for in stock, just ask and they can special order it for you. -
Review from Chimpy L.
Concord, CA
I was reading a lot of the reviews and see that the bad reviews are from the earlier owners - the current owners run this place the way a pet store should be run: rescued animals. No thousand dollar pure bred dogs sold here (taking a home away from a rescued animal) - and I love they are helping with the 1000 rats rescue from the hoarder.
Give these folks your business. They deserve it! -
Review from Debbi L.
San Jose, CA
These people are extremely knowledgeable and very helpful.
Glad they have reopened!!! -
Review from Robin P.
Campbell, CA
Andy's is truly one of a kind! It may mean an extra trip or going a little out of your way but it is worth it to patronize this store and help keep this local business going!
I visited Andy's for the first time recently. I needed some Advantage flea medicine for my cat and I wanted to leave some information about my dog training business for their customers. It was easy to find and they have their own free lot so parking was no biggie. I was greeted by a cacophony of excited animals, mostly the rescue dogs in the front and the two big birds. I had fun saying hi to all the animals, I loved that their Red Macaw would yell "quiet!" at the barking dogs.
There was an older male pit bull behind the counter called Moose who was there to get picked up by his new foster and he was just the sweetest big guy! He was a little reserved at first, sniffed my hand and politely wagged his tail when I petted him, but after a minute or two of some good petting and talking in the "good-boy" voice all pretense was dropped. He was right up in my lap giving me kisses and wiggling his whole butt! He was ready to come home with me and I would have taken him in a heartbeat if I could, I hope that sweet ol' man gets a good home.
There was only one woman working and she was pretty busy directing volunteers who were walking the dogs and helping some young patrons find a place in the store to put their bicycles but when I asked about the advantage she still took the time to help me make sure I got the right one for my cat. He is half Maine Coon and weighs 17 pounds so he needs to get the special kind for bigger cats. She was very knowledgeable about the product and was friendly and willing to answer my questions about it and some other questions I had. The price was great, cheaper than the big mega pet stores.
She was more than willing to let me leave some of my business cards and showed me where to put them. It was a great experience and the help they provide to the animals is wonderful. I will definitely be coming back to Andy's. -
Review from Venus L.
San Jose, CA
What can I say, I LOVE my pets!!! and this place is always a joy to come to for their every need; the service is outstanding, the employess are super friendly, and helpful. They have a lot of resources for animals, and animal care, this is also one of the reasons why I LOVE coming here because if I have a question, they have answer and if they don't know the answer, they'll more than likely have a resource to help me out.
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Review from MIA N.
I've come back to visit since the new ownership. It is quite nicer and feels more friendly. I'm glad for the well being of the animals who will come into this store.
I honestly thought Dennis and JD were douchebags. Literally. They sent me hate messages on here before and threatened legal action because of my reviews. I have heard from other Yelpers who have experienced the same. Instead of lashing out at reviewers, why not use those efforts to change y our business for the better? Oh well, I won't dwell. But again, douchebags.
I can't wait to come here to buy supplies for my new pet bunny!
No more sad puppies from mills in cramped cages and douchebags who extort them!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2008
Horrible place. Unethical and poor customer service.
I'd go into details but then they will probably… Read more »
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2/3/2008
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Review from Shauna A.
San Jose, CA
Andy's is BACK!
I was so sad when their old location closed up shop. I had no idea that they moved, it was just by chance that I happened to come across their new location near San Pedro square.
It seems their new business model only has them adopting out pets which is so great!
This is the closest pet store that carries my favorite brand of dog food- EVO so I am once again a happy camper! -
Review from Ailsa B.
San Jose, CA
Hey all, the Mercury News did an article on Andy's and their new "rescued animals only" format. I think it's fabulous they're getting such great exposure! If you haven't checked them out recently, go see the changes. What Lissa has accomplished so far is simply amazing!
http://www.mercurynews...Listed in: Pets!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2008
Recent years have not been good for Andy's Pet Store's reputation, but I'm delighted to find that… Read more »
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1/3/2008
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Review from elaine l.
I can't believe I live so close, have lived in the area all my life, and only recently made it to Andy's. It's an institution!
I'm making an effort to spend my cash at local businesses rather than feeding the big chain pet stores, so Andy's is my new pet store of choice. The fact that Andy's is now working to find homes for rescue dogs instead of puppymilling sealed the deal for me. It's a small store, they don't have the inventory of the big chains, but are very happy to order items if you ask (like the large bag of Wellness dog food I called about this morning).
The people are friendly, my dog gets lots of love from the staff when we visit, and I can see the results of the ongoing cleanup launched by the new owners.Listed in: My Neighborhood, Pansy's Picks
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Review from Carlo F.
San Jose, CA
The new owners just obtained the shop December 2007.
Though the selection is small, mostly specializing in Birds and other winged friends.
The aquarium section consists of only one 20 gallon tank and assorted betta bowls (The tiny ones)
One plus is that you can donate (surrender) pets for adoption.
They specialize in rescued animals. Which often means they don't get much profit. They ARE doing it from the good of their hearts.
They are trying to redeem the shop's name from the previous owners who weren't honest on their sources of puppies. Hopefully this new bunch will prove the negative reviews on Yelp wrong!
I plan on giving some of my new spawn of Betta fish once they grow large enough.
Met a talking bird and a good friendly Pitbull who is in desperate need to be adopted!!! She enjoys walks in the park!!! :)
Also they were able to help my boyfriend with more information about Ferrets :)
We also met a hairy little thing called a Lionhead Rabbit. Cute little bugger. -
Review from InFuzion Z.
San Jose, CA
Totally awesome place, I got my little cockatiel baby a while back....they where in a little box, I was so excited like a momma watching their baby thru the window in a maternity ward..LOL!!
Well 10 yrs later my "cockatiel named Cutie" is healthy as can be, thanks to the wonderful advise and help from the folks at Andy's!!! Back then I had to hand fed that baby cockatiel with a little syringe, best experience of my life!!!
I just wanted to share, you ROCK!!
Thanks Andy's pet shop. -
Review from Joseph S.
San Jose, CA
UPDATE: Ownership has changed, my wife and I stopped by and the store does seem better organized. They no longer have dogs for sale but other animals still. They didn't seem as friendly though with no one welcoming you in or paying much of any attention to you.
Andy's has become a top rate pet shop. My wife and I bought a yorkie from them recently and everything about them is professional. The dogs are high quality and they are not just out for everyone to touch. They care about them and make sure you know about the breeds. They offer a nice selection of toys and treats and anything else you can think of for all types of animals.
The staff is friendly and they stand behind their pets. We stepped in only to see what it was like with the new ownership, and we were pleasently surprised to see that its now a well run expanding top rate pet store. Worth a visit for any animal lover or anyone looking for a pet. -
Review from Henry Y.
It was the rat cam in the window that reeled us in but what kept us there was lots of happy looking animals (mostly rats right now) and great employees who took time to talk to us and sate our curiosities with their well bred knowledge. A one of a kind place.
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Review from terry h.
San Jose, CA
Back in the day, this used to be the best and most popular pet shop in San Jose. People came from all around to see the dogs and cats, fish and snakes. It was noisy and pretty clean too. I loved every minute of it but haven't been there in years. I was all prepared to give this store a great rating but after hearing all of the horror stories about the previous owners and their treatment of animals, I just can't now.
Hopefully, the new owner Lissa, does a good job and that she makes a go of things. It would be nice to have Andy's back in the saddle again.
I will go to Andy's in about a year and give you an updated review. It will give me a good reason to return over all of these years. -
Review from charles s.
San Jose, CA
If it's been a while, you should consider going back in. Andy's is under new ownership, and they've started a total remodel, physical and "karma"
First? no more puppy mill! The new owners are working with local rescue societies to help place rescued animals. Hallelujah! We need more pet shop owners like this. There is NO money in placing rescue animals. That has to be an income hit. (no longer making $1500/puppy, etc) Please! go support this by buying food and supplies!
Second? the staff! Wow, they are totally re-energized. It has to be nice to work for a new boss who cares.
Third? they listen. I know it doesn't sound awesome, but hello? how many times have you asked about the specific food YOUR pet needs, to be told, "well, we sell XYZ" They listen, and are working out all new vendor relationships.
Fourth? Collaboration. Super rare to walk into a local business, they do not have what you need, yet they refer you to someone else who does? The new ownership is building ties and collaborating with many other local shops, to make sure the pets and their owners get exactly what they need.
I'm thrilled, I hope they can move an institution forward, keeping the charming neighborhood atmosphere, while bringing in new and cool products, all the time, helping local rescue animals. -
Review from Kristine C.
San Jose, CA
It's nice to know there are still decent pet shops around! So many don't really take care of their animals and you can tell by the way they react to people and how they smell... but this place is different. They actually rescue the animals and a lot of them have very interesting, heart-wrenching stories that'll just make you want to adopt them all!
I fell in love with some of the rescued bunnies there and have been trying to arrange my living space a bit so that I can possibly take them home with me.
Oh and something else that I found hilarious was that there are a couple neighborhood pigeons that will come into the store and casually walk up and down the aisles like customers! It's really pretty funny. The woman working had to shoo them away. She said they come in every day looking for seeds that the birds in the store accidently dropped. Cute and smart, I liiiiike it. -
Review from Krissy S.
San Jose, CA
Alright.. I'm reviewing this place based purely on nostalgia so just keep that in mind.. because I hear it's nowhere near the same...
but I got my first pets here when I was little and even knew people who worked here, it just reminds me of my childhood! If you're looking for a cute little pet store this is it... but you're not going to find anything like Petco or even An-Jans..
It has bright painting all over the outside of the building and is right on the end of the Alameda...
Over time I've gotten a kitten, parakeet, and a few guinea pigs from this shop... -
Review from Christine C.
Davis, CA
I'm just an idiot...they have their own private parking lot. So parking there is very convenient and free.
I went to Andy's today to get my Senegal a new set up. Like before, the staff was nice/helpful. I bought a (big) cage, a rope swing, 2 perches, and 2 toys for about $250. I think that's a great deal.
The cage wouldn't fit in my car, so Lisa, the owner, offered to deliver it to my home. I got the cage about 2 hours after I left the store.
I'm basically amazed by this place.
Not 5 stars b/c their selection of pet supplies is pretty small. But I would rather deal with this than support Petsmart/Petco.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/19/2011
i came here to get my senegal groomed (about a month ago).
the staff were SO friendly. maybe it was… Read more »
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2/19/2011
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Review from Lorraine H.
Campbell, CA
New location, 100% rescue animals only, great staff and owner.
Supplies for dog, cat, bird, bunny and more. Very happy they landed in a new location in 2010 and wish them the best in 2011! -
Review from Paul G.
San Jose, CA
I got our African Grey Timneh Parrot from this place. The staff is very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. They have a great selection of food and toys, more so than the bigger petstore chains like petsmart or petco. The price is very reasonable. It's a shame that they won't be offering pure-bred puppies anymore though, I wanted to buy a puppy from this place since i know they take great care of their animals. They do offer a rescue program now, so if you're looking to adopt a dog here's the place to go.
P.S. Our parrot's brother and sister is still looking for a good home. So if you're looking for an African Grey Timneh, have the time and patience to care for them, head on over to Andy's Pet Shop and give one or both of these adorable birds some love. Their hatch date was on June 2007 -
Review from Agnes F.
Brentwood, CA
Andy's pet shop is a WONDERFUL place if you've come to look for furry animals like guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Since most of the animals are rescued, it's a rarity you'll find a reptile. Right now they have a really big king snake looking for a home. They're all very knowledgeable, welcoming, and friendly. Even if you can't find what you're looking for, they'll give you suggestions.
They have an adoption program for rabbits. Go check it out!!! They have the cutest ones around, and I believe they're potty trained. If rabbits aren't your interest, all you have to do is meet Ruby and Mango (a parrot and toucan) and you're bound to make another visit.
Another good thing about this store is that you won't have to worry about the condition of the animals because they are all rescued and well taken care of on site =]. -
Review from JAYSON C.
San Jose, CA
This place is a great place if you want to see little critters like rabbits, snakes and even talking parrots, but not a great place if you're looking for a variety of fish. They have only goldfish feeders and red-eyed sliders. They have a good selection of bird cages and cat and dog food. There's also an 'adoption' for you cat lovers. Last time I was there, which was last week, I saw at least 5 cats.
People here are friendly are always willing to chat. Even their parrot is a chatter box if he's in the mood. Little children will enjoy this place, too. It's not overwhelming big or small. -
Review from Borna F.
San Jose, CA
These guys do a great job in helping rescuing animals. They have got a few very exotic birds. They are also very nice to you and let you play around with the dogs and could even take them out for a walk.
The reason for 3/5 was because the employers are kind of awkward, there was quite a bad oder (need better vent) they had only one breed or two breed of dogs. Overall not a bad place to visit -
Review from Ricos Mami J.
San Jose, CA
To Sexy B. Below:
Thats the family bird! i love QT sooo much and thank Andys for bringing him into out lives =) -
Review from Devon H.
San Jose, CA
Andy's is amazing!
Granted, it's very small and a little expensive, but the staff here is knowledgeable about every animal and product they carry. Depending on what day you go in, they may have two animals or twenty. It always helps to talk to them if there is a specific animal you are looking for. Definitely my favorite walk-in store on the Alameda.
I also like the older feel to it, it's like a pet shop you would have loved as a kid. -
Review from Aileen C.
San Jose, CA
Thank you Lissa and staff for working hard at creating a space where those who love to support homeless animals can do so. I have two new housemates who were there looking for new homes - I was taken by the first "hello" that came from the cage as I walked in.
The staff has been extremely helpful and supportive as I took home 2 birds, and every time I have a question they are there to answer for me. Not to mention that they carry the high end pet foods that are designed to keep our pets healthy (versus the junk food sold as pet food at grocery stores).
Willie and Jacob send their love! Blah, blah, blah (says Jacob) -
Review from Sara W.
It's not my favorite pet store... I really believe in cleanliness at pet stores, and this one is not clean. However, I can't knock em down too much because you can tell the staff care about animals, and there are always volunteers there cleaning cages or showing off animals at some point. It's kind of small, but the basics are there, and there's a nice clearance table at the back. Also, I found Maine Coon Adoptions here, which is an organization that brings cats in a room to show to customers... I actually adopted my cat from them after finding them at Andy's! The selection isn't the best, but hey, I like to come here and see the animals nonetheless. You can find birds, fish, turtles, lizards, bunnies, rodents, and often cats and dogs.
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Review from Caroline I.
Santa Clara, CA
**UPDATE 3/28/2008***
I just got back from Andy's and I've bumped them up from 1 star to 4! They are indeed under new management and are doing a lot to clean up the store. The previous owners gave the employees a 2 day notice that they were leaving for Palm Springs and that new management was coming in. They changed management at the beginning of December 2007 and are doing a lot to clean up their act. First off, no more puppies from puppy mills! Yay! Instead, they're revamping the back area of their store to host adoptions. One romparoom for the pups and another room for the kitties. Currently, they are taking in surrendered pets...more of the exotic kind that are hard to place. They have 2 or 3 bunnies in the back in x-pens that are well taken care of. They even got in a pregnant mouse and even beta fish! They still have lots of birds, just like before, but they're really trying to tame them and get them to come out of their cages. The store is still disorganized as they are trying to remodel, but they seem to have a much better mindset and I can't wait to see the place when it's done. I'm sure I'll write another review and bump them up to 5 stars then.
As for their products - they sell some great dog treats. I bought some of their Wellness treats (venison jerky) and it was cheaper here than other places I've seen them. The dog food I feed my dogs, Nature's Variety, is $1 less her per bag (the smallest bag) as well. The one thing I did notice though, is their potty pad selection was minimal. They only had one brand to choose from and they were more expensive per potty pad, than the ones I'm used to. I think each pad is larger (23"x24" instead of "22.5"x23"), so maybe if you have a larger puppy, this is worth it.
Overall, I'm much happier with how Andy's Pet Shop is being run now and they do have great plans to better their store in the future. I'll definitely be returning now!
Original Post:
This is probably one of the worst pet shops I've seen. Yes, I was greeted by a person (how hard is it to say hi?) and that annoying red bird. Their pet supply selection is very minimal and oh my god, they sell puppies! HELLO?! Can you say PUPPY MILL? I have no idea where they get their puppies from, but to have such a wide variety of puppies at any given time, they have to get them from a mill. No self respecting breeder would have his puppies sold through a pet store. The puppies are caged all the time. I didn't see any of the dogs taken out or played with. They go potty in their crates and the worker seemed annoyed that he had to clean it up. Do not visit this store. Do not purchase anything from this store - it only enables them to buy more of these puppies from mills. If you are looking to add a dog into your family, please adopt from either a shelter, rescue or from a foster family. -
Review from Sarah P.
San Jose, CA
My dad used to take me to Andy's Pet shop when I was a kid. Now I take my little ones. I have fond memories of Andy's! I love that you can donate pets for adoption. I went in with my family yesterday and they had the cutest little dog that was rescued from Mexico. He was found in a trash can. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Beware - you go into Andy's and you might be coming home with a new little friend!
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Review from Diane B.
Sunnyvale, CA
I started going to Andy's by reviewing and calling trying to find a place to trim my conures's wings and claws that didn't charge a fortune or that wasn't too far away from my home. Finally, found Andy's. Great price and Zoe does a fantastic job. She's flexible on the time frame you can come in and the prices are the best around. All the staff are superb and you feel really welcome there. Get all my supplies there and lots of toys for my conure. You can also order through a catalog if you want to order more items. This is a fantastic place. Nothing fancy - just down-to-earth friendly and nice people.
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Review from T W.
San Jose, CA
This pet store has gone through a lot of changes since I've been going there. (mid 1980's) It used to be very welcoming and friendly. It has changed owners a few times, and each time I go in, hoping to patronize a local small business vs. a big mega pet store chain. They continue to downsize what they carry and they (illegally) impose a fee for credit card use (under a certain $ amt). Yes, the people are friendly enough to say hello as you enter and "No, I'm sorry, we don't carry that anymore" You are better off going to Sam's Discount Feed & Pet Supply a few blocks away on San Carlos, or to An Jan's
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Review from Raymond G.
San Jose, CA
let's face it, what makes a pet store are the people. i can probably buy everything i see at andy's from other stores. but when i go to andy's, my dogs and i are greeted warmly. my dog actually recognizes dennis and jumps all over him.
the owners and staff are great and extremely helpful when it comes to giving advise and recommending products. when you come in you have to prepare yourself with the birds' calling and the chiuahauas' barking. amidst the chaos are a great group of people who genuinely loves animals.
