Most Valuable Pets

I called and was able to get an appointment same day.
Staff was very friendly
I got to meet the groomer, and talked him through what her hair cut should look like. She was done in 2 hours, and it’s the best hair cut I think I’ve ever seen on my dog! She looks great, and she came back to me in a very pleasant mood.
Price was competitive, I would definitely bring my dog back again.

I loved this place! I came here with my dog just to check out what is offered here. Not only did I get greeted instantly upon entering, but the staff was super friendly. I got to experience some cool tricks that the parrots knew how to do. Along with watching such a great interaction with a «store pet parrot» and one of their employees, Elizabeth. They’re such a good duo. I absolutely enjoyed my time here. I didn’t come here for any specific item, but I always let my dog pick out her treat. This time we opted for the discounted cookies by the register. But overall, this place is neat. And as much as I’m not a fan of puppies being sold in pet stores, the pups here looked very well taken cared of and super friendly and active. Come check this place out!

Do not shop here! The worst owners and the most awful pet store in town! I feel so bad for the animals that they sell.

My honest opinion on this place would be that I like it a lot! The service is good and I have never been disappointed! The animals are very sweet and they have a large variety of food and animal accessories and toys. The bird inclosure is a nice touch and always lots of fun. They do a nice job in caring for these animals, and I would know since I used to volunteer weekly! The cages for the small animals are cleaned completely around twice a week and touched up everyday. The bird thing is cleaned often, even though it doesn’t always look spotless, then again, that’s what you get when you have the rain effect and many birds. The fish habitats are nice and I’ve had my fish that I got a while ago for over 2 years! Sometimes you see one or two dead fish, but you see that no matter where you go for the most part. The dogs and cats are well cared for and VERY sweet! I have gotten 3 cats from them, 1 dog, a couple hamsters, fish, a rabbit and hedgehog from them (not all at once though!) I have never had any problems with the staff or animals, and I will be back for sure! (P.S– I am here almost every week for pet supplies)

I too have a love/​hate relationship with this place.
As far as pet goods go, food, acessories, etc, they have good prices and you can generally get what you’re looking for cheaper than at the big chain stores.
Generally the people that work there are friendly and helpful. They’re willing to let people get hands on experience with animals, which I think is important if you are looking to make an informed commitment to a new animal.
As a locally owned business, I very much want to support them, but after a couple of trips in there, I just cannot as a trip inside always turns my stomach.
Their small animals are kept in deplorable conditions. Over crowded, often with mothers and their young kept in too tiny aquariums with general populations (a big nono for gerbils, hamsters, and rats). They simply have too many animals, in various states of health issues (missing hair, covered in scabs) kept in areas too small for them, and clearly breeding indiscriminately. Rabbits and guinea pigs are also kept much to close together, though they seem to sell through them quickly (though not being separated by sex I shudder to think how many people have taken home a small animal only to welcome surprises later on).
They sell exotic animals they clearly have zero knowledge of, like hedgehogs, ferrets and chinchillas, and rarely have them in adequate cages. Their hedgehogs are kept in an unsafe cage with multiple levels (they have poor eye sight, ramps should always have sides) and again, do not separate by sex (hedgies are capable of becoming pregnant/​impregnanting at 6 weeks old) and again, keep too many together when they should be kept solitary. They have no heat source, and either an unsafe wheel, or no wheel at all. Ferrets are kept in what looks like a large enclosure, but it has no ramps or way for them to run and get their energy out, and a single tube as a toy/​place to sleep. Chinchillas are also kept in a cage too small with an unsafe wheel.
They have a gorgeous bird area built for the many birds they raise and sell, but unfortunately the birds are also kept overcrowded, and pick at and overgroom eachother to baldness.
Puppies are your standard puppy mill pups. Gorgeous and sweet but ultimately over priced, and covered in poop.
When trying to bring these issues to management (the owner) I was basically spoken to like I had zero brains in my head, and was told they do the best they can. When I tried pointing out they had many of the supplies and cages needed to improve the lives of the animals while in their care, I was told I simply didn’t know how a business was run.
My opinion is while they also don’t know how a business is run, the owners also care little for the animals in their store, and the poor workers can only do so much. So, while they may have better prices for goods, I will be going elsewhere to purchase what my animals need, even if I ultimately pay more. My money will not go to support animal abuse under the ruse they are any kind of «experts».

I have a love hate opinion of this place. I have been going here on and off throughout the years, since I was a teenager and they were then located in Tates Creek Center. I would go just to hold the birds, never buying anything. I never remember anyone being rude even considering the fact that they knew I wouldn’t buy anything, maybe they thought that eventually I would buy a bird. I never remember puppies being at that location.
Fast forward several years: puppies!!! They’re so cute and tempting. One time I was there and a breeder told me that he inquired about selling his puppies there but he wanted to take them home at night and that wasn’t permitted. Again, a random patron told me this.
Last night I was there and spotted three cocker spaniel puppies that were just born in April… Oh my goodness!!! I’m a sucker for a cocker spaniel face. I asked if I could hold a girl. After holding him for several minutes, I discovered she was a he. How are you going to work in a pet store and not know a male from a female?! She had taken me in the small holding area and when she opened the door to the cage area, the smell almost knocked me down… Not to mention that the poor puppy smelled horrible too. I don’t know what I was expecting since I noticed all of the mess in the small cage. How in the world will a puppy ever be properly house trained after it spends months in a cage?! Cocker Spaniels are commonly found in shelters. I think it’s because they’re so cute as puppies, but like any dog, they need love. They can be temperamental and stubborn and I can imagine spending their first months locked in a cage isn’t of much help. My cousin runs a cocker spaniel rescue organization in Indiana, so maybe I see and hear more horror stories than the average.
Even though this place is locally owned, I can’t support it. If they insist on selling puppies, they need at least one person in charge of cleaning the messes immediately, rather than letting them lay in it.

This place is disgusting and shouldn’t be open! The poor little puppies are in disgusting little cages with poop and pee everywhere! The puppies have to walk on metal cages that look super painful!!! So sad for them :(Don’t buy anything from these awful people!!!

This is a nice locally owned pet shop.
They do sell dogs, and I assume cats, which is a turn off to me. I figure there are enough rescue critters to satisfy just about everyone. There are even purebred rescue groups, like for Labs, etc.
With that said, they are knowledgeable and helpful.
Most of the other local pet stores are gone –leaving mostly big box and chain stores. Those are impersonal and cold. It’s difficult to get reliable service with the chains, too.
MVP Pets is fairly busy, and there is a lot going on behind the scene. It may appear they are slow; yet the owners may be up to their necks installing ponds or something. This is partially a product of the other stores leaving. It is also because they are a good store with intelligent owners.
I have been a customer of MVP for a very long time… almost 20 years? I used to go to the Tates Creek location, then the Bellaire location. They moved from there, and now they are located at Beaumont Circle, next to Liquor Barn. It’s an easy location to get to — just a couple of blocks off the New Circle Harrisburg Road exits.
They have been helpful with my bird, fish, and other critter questions.
I don’t want them to raise their prices, but their critter food prices are comparable to mail order. All pet food is getting pretty ridiculously expensive, but they have a good selection, and their prices are reasonable.
I know that it can be rough maintaining fish tanks with a constantly changing population, so I’m not surprised to see a few suffering or dead fish in their tanks. Many arrive, in shipping, barely surviving, and it is sometimes a risk to put them in the tanks.
I like this place, and now that I found them again, I expect to be a regular customer, again, until they move and I lose them… again.

Awesome! Animals are clean and well fed. They have a wide variety of pet products in their inventory. I drive across town to come to this place. Go take a look! you wont be disappointed.

We have been going to Most Valuable Pets (MVP) for years for our pet needs. We have always found them to be the best place to go for not only our pet needs, but also, for help when dealing with issues with our pets. The entire staff is extremely knowledgeable about animals and regardless of who you talk with in the store, you always find someone willing to help you with your needs. Another thing we appreciate — they recognize their regular clients, which is such a nice thing! They will even carry your food out to your car, which is also great for folks such as myself who unfortunately needs that extra help. Those «personal» extras alone make all the difference. I would also like to mention that they do sell kittens and puppies at this store, but as someone who has easily been to this business hundreds of time, I personally have never seen the puppies or kittens placed in poor conditions. They have always had food and water and in my opinion, have always appeared to be well kept. Considering the obvious love for animals of all kinds the owners of this business appear to have, I could never imagine them placing any type of animal, bird, reptile or aquatic life in harms way. As long as we own pets, I hope that MVP will be there for us!

I would love to support a local store, they have good pet food but …
They have puppies for sale.
No I do not know their origin but I’m guessing they are not from a known breeder as it was not advertised as such. I really did not know these stores existed anymore.
Adopt do not shop!

Please adopt don’t shop when looking to get a puppy! Sadly their puppies come from puppy mills.
I will say they do have a good selection of fish and i love being able to really interact with the birds.

I love this store. They have everything you could ever need for your pets, and their service is great.
I spent 15 minutes on the phone talking with one of their employees (Elizabeth I think?) about the best food for our cat (who has some health issues), and she offered to set aside several small trial bags of the top food that they carry.
The prices on the food and treats that we’ve bought there seem in line with other pet stores in the area.
Edit: Just found out that they offer grooming now, too!