From Dolly Parton-inspired dog treats to puppy adoption events, scavenger hunts, and community fundraisers, these independent pet retailers gave their neighborhoods something worth celebrating!
What do Dolly Parton-inspired dog cookies, puppy adoption events, scavenger hunts, and free pet portraits have in common?
They were all part of Neighborhood Pet Store Day® 2026!
From September 25–27, independent pet retailers across the country celebrated their businesses, their customers, and the communities that make shopping local so special.
Created by IndiePet, Neighborhood Pet Store Day® is an annual celebration of independent pet retailers and the important role they play in their neighborhoods. And with brand-sponsored Astro Offers bringing exciting savings to participating stores, retailers had plenty of opportunities to give pet owners a reason to shop local.
But for many retailers, the savings were just the beginning.
Some invited local rescues and community vendors into their stores. Others organized giveaways, games, and special events. And some found wonderfully creative ways to celebrate the pets and people who make their businesses unique.
They didn’t just participate in Neighborhood Pet Store Day®. They made it their own—and their results were worth celebrating!
And while the numbers tell an exciting story, they’re only part of what made this weekend special.
Big Savings. Bigger Celebrations.
We loved seeing how retailers put their own spin on Neighborhood Pet Store Day® this year! From elaborate celebrations to simple, thoughtful touches, these stores demonstrated that there’s no single formula for making the weekend a success.
Here are just a few of the independent pet retailers who went above and beyond to make NPSD 2026 unforgettable.
Leo's Pet Garden Home: Filling Bags and Making Memories
What better way to celebrate your neighborhood pet store than with a little shopping, some pampering, and a family photo?
Leo’s Pet Garden Home pulled out all the stops with a two-day celebration featuring a Fill-a-Bag Sale, complimentary professional pet and family photography, free nail trims, and special savings on popular pet products.
Customers could fill a Leo’s-provided bag with eligible merchandise and enjoy an additional 20% off, while their furry companions enjoyed a little extra attention.
And the results? They were impressive!
Compared to an average weekend on Astro, Leo’s experienced:
189% increase in sales
788% increase in Astro Offer redemptions
1,000% increase in new customers, growing from an average of two to 22!
That new-customer growth placed Leo’s among the top 1% of reporting retailer locations for this metric.
Leo’s created an experience that went beyond simply offering discounts. Customers had an opportunity to save on their favorite products, spend time with their pets, and make memories along the way.
The inspiration: Give shoppers a reason to visit beyond the savings. An experience they can’t get anywhere else can help make your store a destination.
Animal Crackers Pet Supply: Bringing the Neighborhood Together
For Animal Crackers Pet Supply in Corvallis, Oregon, Neighborhood Pet Store Day® was an opportunity to bring together the people and organizations who share their passion for animals.
Their celebration featured local vendors, games, sales, and participation from area rescues and shelters.
Among their special guests was Oregon Small Animal Resources, which brought adoptable small animals to meet the community.
It was a wonderful reminder that neighborhood pet stores are more than places to purchase pet supplies. They’re places where people connect, discover resources, and support organizations making a difference for animals.
The retailer’s reported performance was equally exciting, with approximately:
444% increase in sales
981% increase in Astro Offer redemptions
175% increase in new customers
By welcoming community partners into the celebration, Animal Crackers created opportunities for customers to engage with more than just the products on the shelves.
The inspiration: Invite local rescues, shelters, and small businesses to participate. The connections you create can benefit your entire community.
Mutts & Co.: A Neighborhood-Wide Pawty!
When Mutts & Co. decided to celebrate Neighborhood Pet Store Day®, they didn’t just throw a party. They threw a party at all 10 of their stores!
Their celebration featured a lineup of activities designed to make the day memorable:
A $5,000 gift card scavenger hunt, with gift cards hidden throughout participating stores
A Lucky Neighbor promotion, giving one shopper at each location their entire cart for free
A Puppuccino Pumpkin Bar for four-legged guests
$10 mystery bags filled with surprises valued at up to $50
More than 50 exclusive weekend-only offers
Local vendors, businesses, and pet nonprofit partners
Now that’s a pawty!
What we especially loved about Mutts & Co.’s approach was how they combined a coordinated celebration across multiple locations with opportunities for each store to connect with its own neighborhood.
They also promoted their brand offers ahead of the weekend, giving customers a chance to browse the savings and plan their shopping trips.
The combination of exclusive savings, special surprises, and community involvement made their stores exciting places to visit.
The inspiration: Give customers something to anticipate! Games, giveaways, and limited-time surprises can add excitement to an already compelling sale weekend.
Mississippi Mutts: A Little Dolly, a Lot of Personality!
Well, butter our biscuits and add a little glitter!
Mississippi Mutts in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, found one of the most creative ways we’ve seen to kick off Neighborhood Pet Store Day® weekend.
The store joined the community’s Rhinestone Route celebration with a Dolly Parton-inspired event featuring fresh-baked dog cookies and pupcakes.
And these weren’t just ordinary dog treats!
The colorful cookies featured Dolly-inspired sayings, with plenty of pink, sparkle, and personality.
It was a perfect example of how a retailer can take something happening in their local community and make it uniquely their own.
Rather than creating an entirely separate event, Mississippi Mutts found a way to participate in a neighborhood celebration while giving local pet owners something special to enjoy with their dogs.
Their sales growth during NPSD weekend also placed them among approximately the top 22% of reporting retailer locations.
The inspiration: Look for opportunities to connect your celebration with local festivals, traditions, and community events. Sometimes the best ideas are already happening right in your neighborhood!
Wild Whiskers: Making Room for a New Best Friend
Some of the most meaningful moments during Neighborhood Pet Store Day® had nothing to do with shopping.
At Wild Whiskers Natural Pet Store in Dayton, Ohio, the celebration included a visit from Ham and Beans Canine Rescue, bringing adoptable dogs out to meet potential new families.
Customers could stop by, enjoy the weekend’s festivities, and spend a little time getting to know dogs looking for their forever homes.
What could be more fitting for a holiday celebrating neighborhood pet stores?
Wild Whiskers also recorded impressive business results during the weekend, ranking among approximately the:
Top 3.3% of reporting locations for sales growth
Top 10.8% for Astro Offer redemption growth
But perhaps the most meaningful outcome was giving rescue dogs an opportunity to meet more people in their community.
Whether those introductions resulted in an adoption that day or simply helped raise awareness, the event gave an important local cause a place in the spotlight.
The inspiration: Consider partnering with a local rescue or shelter. Your store can provide valuable visibility for adoptable pets while bringing animal lovers together.
Everything But The Dog: Shopping Small and Giving Back
Everything But The Dog in Reading, MA, made its Neighborhood Pet Store Day® celebration about more than great deals.
Alongside special savings throughout the shop, customers could enjoy a Spin to Win activity, pup cups, and a raffle basket benefiting Rock N Rescue.
By incorporating a charitable fundraiser into the celebration, the store gave customers another way to support a cause that matters to their community.
And the store’s performance was encouraging, too! Everything But The Dog ranked among approximately the top 13% of reporting locations for sales growth during the weekend.
We love seeing retailers find ways to connect shopping local with giving back locally.
The inspiration: A raffle, donation drive, or fundraiser can make your event even more meaningful while supporting organizations that share your love for animals.
CB Pet Market: Spinning Up Some Neighborhood Fun
Sometimes the simplest activities are the ones that make customers smile.
CB Pet Market celebrated Neighborhood Pet Store Day® across its locations with special savings and a prize wheel that gave shoppers a chance to win!
Their approach was fun, approachable, and easy for customers to participate in.
And that’s an important reminder: creating a memorable celebration doesn’t necessarily require an elaborate event or a large budget.
A prize wheel, a few giveaways, or an unexpected surprise at checkout can turn a regular shopping trip into something special.
The inspiration: Don’t underestimate the power of a little fun! Interactive activities can help customers feel like they’re part of the celebration.
Care-A-Lot Pet Supply: Come for the Savings, Stay for the Fun!
Care-A-Lot Pet Supply had a simple invitation for its customers: come for the savings, stay for the fun!
Across its locations, Care-A-Lot celebrated with storewide specials, complimentary cider and donuts, and mystery savings scratchers.
Shoppers even had a chance to win a $100 Care-A-Lot gift card!
The combination of everyday favorites, special promotions, and unexpected surprises gave customers plenty of reasons to stop by.
And while not every celebration needs to be elaborate, those extra touches can make a customer feel appreciated.
The inspiration: Sometimes a warm welcome, a tasty treat, and a little surprise are all you need to make your neighborhood celebration memorable.
West Lebanon Feed & Supply: Great Deals for a Great Cause
West Lebanon Feed & Supply brought together savings, giveaways, and animal rescue for its Neighborhood Pet Store Day® celebration.
The store promoted a collection of one-day deals, including brand-sponsored Astro Offers, and welcomed three adoptable dogs from Survivor’s Paws Animal Rescue.
Customers could also enter to win a $20 store gift card and pick up fun extras like stickers and temporary tattoos.
We especially loved seeing how West Lebanon Feed & Supply showcased its participating brand offers through its own promotional materials and social media.
By sharing the deals ahead of time, they helped customers discover what would be available during the celebration.
And by inviting a rescue organization to participate, they gave the weekend an additional community purpose.
The inspiration: Promote your offers before the big day, and look for ways to combine savings with activities that support your community.
Pet Evolution: Let's Paw-ty!
Pet Evolution invited its customers to celebrate Neighborhood Pet Store Day® with a special in-store paw-ty featuring exclusive offers, freebies, and more.
Their festive promotional materials captured the spirit of the holiday: an invitation for local pet owners to come together and celebrate their neighborhood pet business.
It’s a great example of how retailers can make NPSD feel like an occasion, even with a straightforward lineup of savings and special extras.
The inspiration: Make sure your customers know they’re invited to something special. A little creative marketing can help transform a sale into a celebration.
The Best Results Aren't Always on a Receipt
There’s no denying that Neighborhood Pet Store Day® can create exciting business opportunities.
During NPSD Weekend 2026, participating Astro retailers saw increases in sales, customer engagement, and brand-sponsored Offer redemptions compared to their average weekends. And as some of the examples above demonstrate, individual stores experienced particularly impressive growth. But here’s what makes Neighborhood Pet Store Day different from an ordinary promotional weekend:
Success isn’t measured by sales alone.
For one retailer, success might mean welcoming 20 new customers who have never visited before. For another, it might mean introducing loyal shoppers to a new brand through an Astro Offer. For another, it could be raising money for a local rescue, introducing an adoptable dog to a potential family, or giving neighborhood businesses an opportunity to connect with new customers. And sometimes, success is simply seeing familiar faces come through the door, enjoying the festivities, and knowing that your community values having your business in their neighborhood.
These outcomes aren’t mutually exclusive. A fun event can give customers a reason to visit. A great shopping experience can introduce them to new products. And the relationships built during those visits can give them a reason to come back. While we can’t attribute every increase in sales or Offer redemptions directly to the special activities these stores hosted, their experiences demonstrate how many different opportunities a well-planned celebration can create.
There's No One-Size-Fits-All Neighborhood Pet Store Day®
One of our favorite things about this year’s celebration was seeing just how different each store’s approach could be. Some retailers went big with scavenger hunts, prize giveaways, and elaborate events. Others focused on local partnerships, adoption opportunities, or fundraising. Some leaned into their personalities with creative themes and special treats. And others kept things simple with extra savings, complimentary refreshments, and a little fun for their customers.
Every approach was a reflection of the business and the community behind it.
That’s what makes Neighborhood Pet Store Day® so special.
Your store isn’t like every other pet store. Your customers aren’t like everyone else’s customers. And your neighborhood has its own traditions, organizations, and personalities. So why should your celebration look exactly like anyone else’s? You don’t need to host a massive event or spend a fortune to participate in a meaningful way. Start with what makes your store special.
Maybe you’re known for your knowledgeable staff and love helping customers discover new products. Consider hosting product demonstrations or inviting brand representatives to visit. Maybe your customers love bringing their dogs shopping. A pup cup station or photo opportunity could be a hit. Perhaps your store has strong relationships with local rescues. Invite them to participate! Or maybe your neighborhood has an annual festival or celebration that could provide the perfect inspiration for your own event.
The best Neighborhood Pet Store Day® celebration is the one that feels like YOUR store.
Great Offers Bring Them In. Great Experiences Give Them a Reason to Return.
At Astro, we’re proud to support Neighborhood Pet Store Day® by bringing independent retailers access to brand-sponsored NPSD Astro Offers.
These high-value promotions give retailers an opportunity to showcase participating brands, introduce customers to new products, and offer exciting savings throughout the weekend.
And because Astro Offers are always free for participating retailers, stores can take advantage of these promotions without paying Astro to participate.
But the Offers are just one part of the equation.
What retailers do with that opportunity is where the magic happens.
The creative celebrations, local partnerships, thoughtful promotions, and personal connections are what make independent pet retailers so important to their communities.
And when great savings meet great experiences, there’s an opportunity to create something that lasts well beyond a single weekend.
A Big Thank You to the Neighborhoods That Made It Happen
Neighborhood Pet Store Day® is a celebration of independent pet retail, and its success is made possible by an entire community.
A special thank you to IndiePet, the creators of Neighborhood Pet Store Day®, for continuing to champion independent pet retailers and the important role they play in their communities.
To our Astro brand partners, thank you for sponsoring exciting Offers that helped participating retailers bring exceptional savings to their customers.
To the local rescues, shelters, vendors, and community organizations who joined the festivities, thank you for making these celebrations even more meaningful.
And most importantly, to the independent pet retailers who participated: thank you for the creativity, energy, preparation, and heart you put into celebrating your businesses and your neighborhoods.
The stores highlighted here represent just a handful of the retailers who made NPSD Weekend 2026 special. We know countless others brought their own ideas, traditions, and community spirit to the celebration.
And to every pet owner who chose to shop local that weekend, thank you for supporting the businesses that help make your neighborhood feel like home.
Your Next Opportunity to Make It Your Own: Black Friday & Small Business Saturday!
Feeling inspired? You don’t have to wait until next year’s Neighborhood Pet Store Day® to put these ideas into action!
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are right around the corner (November 27–28), and Astro’s brand partners are bringing more exciting, high-value Offers to help you make the most of this big shopping weekend!
Take a little inspiration from your fellow retailers! Host a giveaway, invite a local rescue, plan a fun in-store activity, or create your own holiday shopping tradition. Pair those personal touches with your FREE Astro Offers, and give your customers even more reasons to shop local.
The Offers bring the savings. YOU bring the magic!
