Do Local Pet Stores Offer Small Business Saturday Perks?
See what local pet shops gave for Small Business Saturday and how to check this year's limits before you go.
Yes, local pet stores offer Small Business Saturday perks. Small Business Saturday, the Saturday-after-Thanksgiving shop-local event, brings store discounts, freebies, raffles and service deals at participating pet shops. American Express says it created the event in 2010 to drive holiday spending to independent stores, and it fell on Nov.
29 in 2025, according to the American Express Shop Small page. Recent pet-store events show how that plays out locally, with savings tied to one day, one store and set hours.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 06, 2026.
What perks did pet stores give?
Three Tails Parlor and Pantry in Columbia and Waterloo, Illinois, held its annual Stuff the Bag Sale on Nov. 29, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the Three Tails event page.
The format centered on filling a bag under sale terms during those hours. Urban Tails Pet Supply in Minneapolis offered 20 percent off everything in-store that same day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The shop also gave swag bags to the first 30 customers and freebies with purchase, according to the Urban Tails event page. Shoppers had to visit in person during posted hours to get those items. Pet Pantry and Dog Wash ran storewide discounts, raffles and samples at Colorado Springs-area locations on Nov.
29. It also gave BOGO-free dog washes up to six, according to the Pet Pantry event page. The Mill, a farm, home and pet retailer, advertised special savings, local gifts and customer-appreciation offers for Nov.
29 and stocks more than 15 dog- and cat-food brands.
Are these deals available everywhere?
No. Each shop sets its own offer, hours and limits. One store may cut prices storewide while another runs a bag sale or a service deal.
Many perks apply in-store only and for one day. Hours, stock and swag-bag counts can run out early. That means a deal in Minneapolis or Colorado Springs does not mean the same deal near you.
Can shopping also support a local cause?
Sometimes. Urban Tails tied its 2025 event to a raffle fundraiser for the North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center. Shoppers could enter to win prizes while supporting local pet aid.
A raffle is a chance to win, not a set gift. Entry rules, prizes and winners depend on that store. Ask at the counter how entry works and whether purchase is required.
How to check this year's plan before you go?
Start with the shop you want to visit. Look for its current event page, social posts and store signs. Since 2025 details do not carry forward, confirm date, hours and limits for this year.
- Check the store name, address and event date
- Note hours, in-store-only rules and quantity caps
- Ask about first-come items, such as first-30 swag bags
- Ask how raffles, samples and wash deals are redeemed
- Arrive early for one-day and morning-only sales