The Natural Pet

No idea what people are talking about with the «people skills» complaints. I have come here religiously since moving to Bayview four years ago, and this is the ONLY place I will come for pet food.
They listen so well and provide concrete solutions for things I only mention in passing. We were talking about festival season and they gave me a free sample of calming treats when I mentioned that my pup panics during fireworks. I mentioned that he might be tired of his food and they gave me literally 24 samples of food and explained how to do a taste test and see what he likes. He’s eating much better now, and no upset stomach. They ordered the dog food for me when they didn’t carry it for awhile, cheaper than Amazon because they didn’t pass on the shipping cost.
Also, open until 8 most days which is great for running errands after work (many specialty shops keep banker’s hours).
Incredibly friendly, incredibly helpful, and no aggressive upsale. Highly recommend!

I don’t have any major complaints. They are very knowledgeable. Never had a problem getting waited on. They get three stars because of their practice of «charging» people for free samples. I wonder how much profit they are making on this. One sample I got is clearly labeled «free sample, not for resale.» So if they charged me, they are reselling it. Not an honest business practice. Free samples provided to them by pet food companies are just that — FREE!

HORRIBLE PEOPLE SKILLS!
Perhaps that is what drives one into the pet business?
I’ve been to this store a handful of times, mostly to purchase my dog a quick treat while on a walk around the neighborhood. My husband came here much more frequently to purchase canned food for our dog and oodles of treats (our dog is very spoiled!) By chance, because we were completely out of dry dog food, my husband had bought the large 50 lb (?) bag of Fromm’s dog food here a month or two ago, and he told me about their new reward tracking program for dog food purchases, which entails Natural Pet keeping track of your purchases. I didn’t think much of it bc we generally don’t buy our food here since we can find it for less at Mac’s on KK or Pet Supplies Plus.
Here’s how that plays in to my last experience at this store, with emphasis on LAST:
I was having a great day – my niece was with me, on a rare visit from half a hemisphere away, and I’d just won a voucher for a free bag of dog food – worth about $ 37 – from spinning the prize wheel at the Pet Fest tent at Summerfest!
I picked out my bag of dog food (which was the same brand we typically buy-​Fromms) because we were running low, and I asked for a sample of the flavor I was getting since my dog had not tried that particular flavor in the line yet. I also requested a sample of a different flavor that my dog had not yet tried (pork) as well. This particular brand of dog food has a 100% satisfaction guaranty, so it’s possible to exchange it if your dog doesn’t like it after opening it. I figured it would be better to find out if he likes the food before opening the 15 lb. bag and wasting it by having to return it. The helpful young lady that worked there gladly gave me the two samples, and I proceeded to the checkout. (This helpful person is the only thing that makes me okay even giving them one star!)
Another person was checking out ahead of/​next to me, and there were three people were behind the counter. One was the younger lady that helped me, one was another lady that worked there and the other was a lady whom I believe was the owner.
The fact that I had samples caught the owner’s eye, and she said in a measured tone,
«How did you like the samples I gave you the last time you were in here?» without taking her eyes off me.
I looked around, not sure if she was talking to me or not (since there were other people around), and said, «Me?»
She said curtly, «Yeah, you.»
I responded, «My husband does most of the dog food shopping for our house. I’ve never gotten any samples here before.»
She very audibly/​skeptically said, «Hmmmmmmmm.»
Then she moved on to how they have this new program to track purchases towards earning a free bag of dog food. I said, «Oh yeah, my husband mentioned that and he brought the envelope home.» She said, «No, we track your purchases in the store. I need your name.» She was waiting with the marker and envelope already in hand.
I said, «I believe my husband already has one started.» She must not have heard me, however, because she responded flatly [again], «I need your name.» So I gave her my name. I didn’t really want to do that, since I’d already told her my husband had one started and also I knew the bag I was getting was going to be free with the voucher we’d won, so it didn’t make sense to start a new envelope. Given the nature of the interactions we’d had thus far I was trying not to engage her poor behavior, (which I’d never experienced from her in any of my, maybe five – previous visits, to be fair), and the fact that I didn’t want to embarrass my niece, I complied. I hadn’t had time to mention that the bag was going to be free with the voucher I was holding in my hand, which of course, had she given me a moment to speak, and not been so hostile, we may have gotten to that conclusion sooner. So she first crossed out the purchase information she put on the envelope, then after a moment’s consideration, she got a new envelope for the reward tracking and wrote my name on it anew, stating I wouldn’t get credit towards a free bag because it was free.
I was completely stunned by the entire experience. Stunned.
The other lady behind the counter had by this time, finished with transaction ahead of me and went to ring up my transaction. She said, «Just the dog food, today?» I said, «And these two samples, not sure if you charge for these or not.»
The owner immediately jumped in, «Yes we do! They’re $.25 each.» With tax they came out to $.53. Between the three of them they could not find the button in the computer to ring up the sample purchase, and spent a couple minutes trying different options. That indicates to me they don’t frequently ring up samples.
So, sadly, for a mistaken identity and 53 cents, they’ve lost our sweet dog as a customer for life. I WOULD NOT RETURN IF IT WAS THE LAST PET STORE ON EARTH. Very disappointed.
I wonder how she’ll react if my doppelgaanger returns?

DO NOT BUY FROMM HERE. They will not allow you to save Fromm UPC’s. As I tried to check out the lady promptly scanned the Fromm UPC and quickly «sharpie’d» it out so that it was no longer valid for my redemption toward the «Buy 12 Get 1 Free» program. I asked why she did that and she said it’s store policy to keep Fromm UPC’s for customers. I responded that for the last 7 years I’ve always cut the UPC’s out and submitted them to Fromm for my free bag of food. Her response was that’s not how it works.
I asked if I could purchase a new bag of Fromm without her voiding the UPC and she said I could not buy Fromm anymore, only other brands. I was blown away with her response and left the store.
One point I didn’t mention is that I had roughly $ 50 worth of other pet supplies I was going to buy, but because of the way she handled this situation I didn’t purchase anything.
The whole situation made absolutely no sense.
I do not recommend this store.

I’ve been a loyal Petsmart customer for as long as I could remember. That was until I walked into The Natural Pet to take a look and see what kind of food I could switch my cat to, as the kind I originally was feeding her, was making her lethargic.
When I walked in, I was instantly greeted by two ladies, who asked me if I needed anything. I asked them for some food recommendations, and was given very extensive knowledge on some brands! I was even given a free sample for my cat to try out before I bought a bag at full price just in case she didn’t like it. I ended up leaving with a full bag, a sample of said food, and a bag of freeze dried salmon for her.
The place is small, but a wonderful atmosphere! Staff was knowledgeable on the foods there, and very kind! Petsmart no more! I shall be shopping here from now on!

My adopted baby has skin issues from allergies & can quickly develop hot spots on his skin. Lynn & CeCe educated me on the heat of proteins, how to select single-​source, cold or neutral protein treats & food. He still gets some flare ups during peak tree pollen & again for peak ragweed but with the help of natural pet my boy is worlds better. I will be a lifetime customer. There is simply no price to put on the way they care.

One thing I like to do as much as I can is support a local business and say great things about it. The Natural Pet is definitely one of those places. We have been going here since our first Saint rescue in 2008.
For those of us who consider their pets a member of the family, there is no other pet store in Milwaukee that I would recommend going to if you live on the south side of Milwaukee.
They have a great selection of pet food (frozen raw, dehydrated/​freeze dried raw, dry, and canned), treats, collars, toys, supplements, vitamins, at home remedies etc at affordable prices. Also the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable.
Pets are allowed in the store provided that they are leased and well behaved.
They also have a great web-​site that list all their products and gives great info for dog and cat owners.
I would say another hidden gem in the Bay View neighborhood.

I really love this place. The owner and employees are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. It’s pretty obvious they care greatly for their own pets, which is comforting. They have a huge variety of food, medicine, alternative (natural option) medicines, toys, treats, you name it. Always go here.

My mom introduced me to this pet store, and I was blown away after my first visit. I went in only intending to price check my usual cat food, and instead found employees who were knowledgeable, friendly, and asked questions about my cats, their eating habits, etc. They then made suggestions based on the ingredients the cats liked and didn’t like and explained the science and nutrition behind the products. Never once did I feel like I was getting a sales pitch, but more that they actually care about the health and well-​being of my kitties. Another great plus is that this is a small business carrying local Milwaukee food brands like Stella & Chewy’s, as well as some other natural brands. I left happy, a more educated pet owner, and confident I will return.

We have two yorkies… Both with digestive issues and one with skin/​ear problems. I have no idea what took me so long to find this place and ask for help! I read the Unilocal reviews and thought… Can a pet store be really that great? Oh yes it can!!!
Cece and Courtney are determined to help and are so knowledgable regarding conditions and their products.
Cece gave us sample food for two meals and if this works (diarrhea, vomiting) or even if it doesn’t we will go back tomorrow and purchase the samples or try something new. I couldn’t be more pleased with the fantastic service we received that I will keep going back however this works out.
Cece also gave me suggestions on how to feed them… Timing, quantity… What would work best to manage the sensitive digestive system for these boys. She also gave us a wonderful tip on their vaccinations. We have to do this for boarding (we travel a lot) and one almost died from the recent round. I will absolutely check with Central Bark in New Berlin if they would accept a titter lever.
The store is very clean, spacious, and organized. Before I asked for desperate assistance, I noticed these two ladies know their customers and what pets these people own. This is excellent customer service!
I couldn’t wait to bike home, feed the dogs and bath them. Even if the skin conditioner and ear cleaner don’t work (I have high hopes though) the boys sure smell better:)
This store is worth the drive, bike ride, or however you commute, for it’s super friendly and knowledgable service! Thank you CeCe and Courtney!!!

I take pride in treating my pets well. With that being said, I often seek out the advice and experience of experts to guide or support my choices. Whether seeking out food options for a special need pet or picking out the perfect toy to keep my furry friends mentally sharp, Natural Pet in Bay View has been the best choice.
The staff is knowledgeable and will help with questions. They are more than happy to share their experiences with the products, provide various options or samples to make sure you and your pet are happy. The store appears small, but always has what I am looking for. Everything is clean and organized to boot, despite the fact that pets are welcomed (and often encouraged) to visit.
Natural Pet offers a variety of high quality food choices. They note which brands issue recall notices and once they are on the list, they drop the brand. They explained that once there is a recall, the chances for another rises exponentially, so they prefer to err on the side of caution. They also have a frequent buyer’s club for several of the brands.
Win the favor of your furry friend with a surprise from the toy section. Just as they take great care in selecting foods, their toys are also well made and safe. Some of the toy brands they carry even offer lifetime guarantees if you want/​need something more durable. For other activities, they an authorized registration point for Milwaukee’s Dog Park licenses.
Having someone I can trust that is knowledgeable and shows the same care for my «fur babies» is refreshing and the new standard.

This small, unassuming store is chock-​full of delights for your dog or cat. You won’t find your run of the mill food here. Sadly that translates into higher prices but aren’t your pets worth it?! My dogs have loved everything I get them from here. They have a lot of gluten free choices which is perfect because I don’t think dogs want grains. Where Natural Pet really shines is the customer service. The staff is never too busy to answer any questions I may have. They really seem to care about giving our furry friends the best lives possible.

I’m a little paranoid about what I feed my dog these days, considering all the reports of tainted ingredients in food made overseas (not just Alpo, but some expensive brands as well). My mom swears by the Natural Pet and we stopped in to get some treats for our pups.
It’s a small store tucked away near the lake in Bay View, despite the small size, they have a comprehensive selection of food, treats, toys, leads and natural remedies. Most of the store is stuff for dogs, but there is a smaller section for cats + small animals. Lest you think that «natural» equals expensive, I saw things at all price points.
If your dog has allergies, food issues or anxieties you should be checking this place out. There’s lots of natural remedies for our storm anxious dog and a whole wall of grain free treats. I left with something described as «delectable lamb lung treats»…well, I guess a dog would find them delectable.
Staff is knowledgeable + helpful but not at all pushy. They’ll let you browse in peace if that’s what you want.
The items here are natural and safe — doesn’t your furry friend deserve that?

My dog likes this place and so do I. They seem to know their stuff and are interested in keeping pets healthy but happy. My dog is not a fussy eater but he really loves the treats i got him at Natural Pet. If he was younger, there is no end to the tricks i could teach him using their dried sweet potato as a bribe. After a scare about treats made in China being toxic to pets, I decided to only buy things that are safe for my loyal companion. Staff is friendly.

I have gotten nothing but amazing services from the staff at Natural Pet.
They were able to recommend some grain free cat food for my cats that my cats still eat and seem to like. My cats also like the wet cat food that the Natural Pet carries.
Natural Pet is much more helpful than a regular pet store — I highly recommend them!

Do you love your pet?
I would hope so, but do you love them enough to feed them the best food out there?
If so, I would suggest you stop in and try Natural Pet.
Our dog had a bad reaction to dry dog food with grain in it, so we were told to try a specific grain-​free brand that Natural Pet happened to carry. We had used this brand for a good 3 years, before Natural Pet informed us that the company had their 2^nd salmonella outbreak. Natural Pet, upon finding this out, stopped carrying the product. They make sure they carry only the best of the best. In order to transition our dog to a new product, they gave us samples of 7 different dog foods for him to have his own personal taste test with.
The ladies who own The Natural Pet truly do care about their customers, both furry and non furry, and we have had nothing but exceptional interactions with them. The store is pet friendly, and canines usually walk away with a treat… or 3.

The epitome of what mom & pop stores should be like!
Very knowledgeable staff (especially the owner). Very clean store. Very competitive prices. Very good products.
I have always bought mid-​priced pet food, and always made sure it was made in the USA. I was forced to go to a premium food when one of my cats started having potentially fatal health issues. The Natural Pet suggested one particular brand, and I got a little sticker shock when I saw the price ($ 20-​$ 24 for 5−½ pounds). EEK!!! But… kitty needed it. And all of the workers at this store claimed it is the absolute best dry cat food you can get. PERIOD. (I’m not sure if I can say the name of the food, so I won’t. But it is made in Canada.)
Both of my cats cut their eating in half. They are open fed, and it takes both of them 3 weeks to go through a 5−½ pound bag. They were eating so much more on the cheaper, processed stuff. On top of that, my sick kitty has been doing fine for over a year now. He’ll always be sick, but this food does not exacerbate his condition, where many cheaper foods would.
Thank you, Natural Pet for pointing me in the right direction! You just don’t get this kind of stellar service and extraordinary product from the big stores. And had I known that premium food actually doesn’t cost much more (because they eat less), I would have been buying it all along.

Excellent place for anything natural you may need for your pet. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Competitive prices with a small town feel! We just recently relocated from out of state and were looking for a specific brand. We were told if we don’t have it, «we can try to get it for you». Again great service.
We would recommend this place to anyone! If your pet isn’t on natural foods, they have small samples of natural foods you can take home to ensure your pet likes the transition. We will be using The Natural Pet as our new natural dog food provider!