At Petland our guests are assured that we will counsel them in finding the right companion pet for them and the right products to enhance their enjoyment with their pets. We hope that you will become part of our team and help us make that happen.

If you ask the coach of a football team how he motivates winners, he’ll tell you that you can’t motivate winners; you have to recruit them. The desire to win, to be the best you can be, is essential to success in life. If you have that desire, we can show you how to channel it. It’s one thing to love animals. Its’ something else to be able to care for a whole store of them. And it’s something else altogether to be able to meet new people, to talk to them about their wants and needs in a pet and them help them to make a decision – the right decision – about meeting those needs.

It’s all in the timing...

The Petland team begins their work sometimes two or more hours before the store opens and they continue after the store closes. Everybody has a position and each person must be there on time and in uniform. We are open almost every day of the year. Even when we are closed the pets in the store must still be cared for. That means someone must feed them clean up after them and provide special attention on Christmas, Easter and every other holiday. Everybody works week nights and weekends. That’s when most of our guests are here. You won’t have to work them all, but you will be required to do your fair share. If for some reason you can’t get to work on time, it is up to you to call in with plenty of advanced notice So, the first questions you need to consider for this job are:

• What hours are you available to work?
• Can you be flexible?
• Can you get to work on time?

Clean, clean, clean

Everybody who inquires about working with Petland loves animals. If you don’t love animals, you won’t like working here But caring for hundreds of animals in a store is different than caring for one or two at home. It’s a lot of work. Everyone a Petland must clean. Everyone comes in contact with waste matter. It’s a part of nature; it’s part of the job.

Look the part

 Did you ever find yourself in a store where you needed help, but you couldn’t tell the difference between the customers and the people who worked in the store? Have you ever needed directions, but you didn’t want to ask the people around you for them because you didn’t know them? Sure you have. Everybody is reluctant to talk to strangers, and everybody looks for clues as to who is safe and knowledgeable when they want information. That’s why we wear uniforms at Petland and that’s why we require our members to follow strict uniform code. We want all of our guests, not just a portion of them, to feel comfortable when speaking to any member of our team. While you are on the job, you will be expected to wear the Petland uniform. Someone will tell you later what constitutes the full uniform and what parts you will need to supply. For now, we want to note that when on the job, our guests expect you to look approachable. That includes a clean, pressed uniform and also a welcoming smile and good eye contact. They should feel comfortable when you approach them. A pet counsellor’s mandate is to develop relationships with their guests. So consider these questions:

• Are you willing to wear the uniform?
• Are you willing to look the part?

I’ll be there

You may be asked to report to work before 8:00 am. You may be asked to work after 9:30 pm. You will be expected to work on Saturdays and Sundays. The question is: can you get here on time, and can you get home? Everyone must provide their own means of transportation. Whether it is by bus, bike, car or foot, a Petland team member must be on the job every time and on time or they will let the rest of the team down. Do you have a reliable way to get to and from work?

Opportunity

The first Petland pet counsellor was hired in 1967. Since that time, pet counsellors continue to play significant roles in the growth of Petland and the pet industry. Many have gone on to own and operate their own Petland stores. Several have become corporate team members, even executive vice presidents. In the highest levels of most pet supply companies, you will find someone who began their career in a Petland safari uniform.

Petland has opportunities for advancement to the pet counsellor who can understand our culture and enhance it. There are Petland stores throughout Canada, the United States, China, Japan, Mexico and South Africa. We are an industry leader and you can have a career here!

Everyone on our team is asked to memorize our Mission Statement. It summarizes our philosophy. It reads as follows:

The Petland Mission Statement

Our pet counsellors are dedicated to matching the right pet with the right customer and meeting the needs of both. To our customers who already own pets, we are dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and enjoyment of the human animal bond.

Our culture

At Petland, we set ourselves apart from other retailers in several ways, but it all begins with the team members we hire. The foundation of it is our desire to make a difference in the communities we serve. For more than 38 years Petland has been the retail pet industry leader in the area of animal care, with ongoing staff training programs, in-store animal care systems and community service programs aimed at placing homeless pets and curbing pet overpopulation.

We are committed to our communities. We are involved in many worthwhile causes, such as spay/neuter campaigns, pet food banks spay/neuter campaigns, pet food banks National Service Dogs and many more. We have developed strong relationships in every community we serve with our local humane societies, independent rescues and animal control services. We are dedicated to ensuring that none of our pets ever become a burden to any animal shelter. We are also dedicated to providing the knowledge and education necessary to ensure people and their pets enjoy happy lives together.

We have fun! Our dedicated teams are made up of caring animal lovers, just like you. Our pet counsellors also know that they need to really enjoy people; not only the ones they serve but also the ones that they work with! That’s why if you don’t like listening and interacting with people (and not just pets) you probably wouldn’t fit in with our team. While we do have a great time working, we never lose sight of our goals and our purpose. There are many opportunities for personal growth and career advancement at Petland Your potential here is unlimited!

GAP: The 3 principles that guide everything we do

Guest Service: Our focus on guest service allows us to provide our guests with the information they need to make the right choices for their pet and their care. By delivering a superior experience, we have become a resource for pet owners and a place where people who love pets want to shop

Animal Care: Our focus on animal care ensures that we are providing the best quality healthy pets available to our valued guests. Teamwork and communication plays an integral role in the overall well-being of the animals in our care. We understand that our animals rely on us to find them their forever homes. Our objective is to inspire our guests to want to adopt our socialized, happy pets!

Presentation: Presentation of a Petland store and presentation of our team members, is of primary importance to our company and to our guests. The perception of a Petland store begins before we even open the front door. As a Petland team member, making sure the store is inviting, clean, well merchandised and that all of our staff are in clean, pressed uniforms, will ultimately result in our guests wanting to return Of course, it also feels really good to work in an environment you can feel proud of

We know you’re the right fit when..

• You understand that hard work and dedication to guest service, animal care and presentation are required for the success of our stores
• You believe in doing your very best for every guest
• You know that ongoing education and training are the foundation of your success
• You want to be part of a fun and caring culture in a company which promotes responsible pet ownership and community awareness
• You engage with guests and enjoy being around people with whom you have things in common
• You are committed to upholding Petland’s high standards

There are many positions to apply for at a Petland Store.

The positions are: Store Manager, Assistant Manager, Inventory Control Manager, Small Animal and Bird Department Manager, Supervisor, Pet Counsellor/Cashier, and Fish and Reptile Department Manager!

If you would like to apply for a job with Petland please send us your resume and cover letter! You can also visit a local Petland store you’d like to work at and meet the Manager. That gives you an opportunity to hand them your resume and cover letter personally!