The Animal Connection

The Animal Connection San Francisco's largest most progressive independently owned pet store since 1987. Just ask! CATS OR DOGS ? Grooming services are provided by our staff leaders.

OVERVIEW:
At San Francisco’s Animal Connection, your pet will never be considered an “it.” Your pets are family, and each pet is unique. For over 25years, we’ve proven to be a pet store with connections: a connection to your pets, a connection to owners, and a connection to San Francisco’s vibrant pet and pet-loving community. Conveniently located in the very dog-walkable Parkside/Sunset Distric

t, right off the N-Judah MUNI stop. Stop by and say hello to our fish, small mammals, and our lovingly raised, handfed birds – you may be personally greeted by our Scarlet Macaw! ABOUT:
We’ve served San Francisco since 1987, and everyone on our team has at least a full decade of extensive experience with animals. With the feel of the local, independent pet store that we are, and the selection, reliability, and competitive prices of a chain, we strive to be your ultimate answer for not only your tangible pet needs – but for the creation of a harmonious, healthy environment for you and your pets. WHAT WE PROVIDE:
Not only do we supply all the essentials of pet care, we provide many types of pets themselves. We provide enduring support and complimentary expert advice, training and consultation – tailored for you and your new pet, and at no cost to you. PETS (depends on availability):
Handfed birds
Reptiles (San Francisco’s largest selection!)
Amphibians
Tropical fish
Chinchillas
Guinea pigs
Hamsters
Rodents (rats)
….and more! If you’re looking for dogs and cats (including puppies or kittens), we can provide you with a selection of the best adoption shelters in the San Francisco Bay Area. LIVE FEED:
We also carry a lively assortment of humanely treated, fresh, live feed for various pets – tailored specifically to your pet’s needs! Contact us to learn more about our customized selection of live insects, worms, feeder fish, , mice and rats! If you’re unsure of a new pet’s needs, we can help you determine the best feed for your pet! PET FOOD & SUPPLIES:
All our pet supplies, pet food (we carry premium, holistic and grain free cat and dog food!), dog bones, products, pet toys, pet housing/bedding and training items are selected according to stringent standards. These standards are based on our customers’ preferences, unrelenting quality, and on providing the highest value at the lowest cost possible. If we don’t currently carry something you’re looking for or something that we’d recommend, we’ll do our best to help you locate it! BIRD AND SMALL ANIMAL BOARDING
The Animal Connection offers affordable boarding for birds and most small animals. Contact us for details like drop off date and pick up date so that we can be ready to receive your friend when vacation time comes. BIRD AND SMALL ANIMAL GROOMING
Wings, Nails, and Claws. Contact us for service fees.

04/25/2026

Yes they’ve been fed already and yes you can hear it through the whole house 🫠

04/24/2026

Desensitizing the new baby guinea pig surrenders…💃🕺

Piggy bath time! 🛁I took 6 guinea pigs home for ringworm treatment. Unfortunately some of our rescues came with it, so w...
02/28/2026

Piggy bath time! 🛁

I took 6 guinea pigs home for ringworm treatment. Unfortunately some of our rescues came with it, so whenever I see any symptoms they come straight home with me to start treatment, which is weekly baths with medicated shampoo and some medicated cream. We’ve had a couple already recover and are back at the store ready to be adopted!

Happy New Year from the Animal Connection! So excited to see what 2026 has in store for us.
01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the Animal Connection! So excited to see what 2026 has in store for us.

12/20/2025

Candy Cane, the 4-year old female albino milk snake, just shed and is looking exceptionally bright! She had a good appetite and is an escape artist. Her parents couldn’t take her when they moved out of the country, so she is looking for a new home. Come say hi!

12/02/2025

Some new friends for Mumu! Before we got another 9 boys from last week, we got 4 males and 2 females from .guineapigrescue ! So we’re a full house now with 16 guinea pigs looking for new homes. :) I ended up having to separate the two biggest boys in this batch because they were being aggressive to Mumu, so now he’s a foster Grandpa to just 6 baby boys.

11/18/2025

May 6, 2025: Day 2 of cleaning and the first of many late nights. Thank you Cora for helping me clean and move things, I couldn’t have done that day without you!

Celebrating 6 insane months with this store ❤️🥳
11/13/2025

Celebrating 6 insane months with this store ❤️🥳

11/12/2025

Some positive news amongst all this craziness ❤️ We’re so excited to be working with .guineapigrescue to get more piggies into good homes.

11/11/2025

Let’s start from the beginning…

May 6, 2025: The day I got the keys to the store! I wanted to stay late to clean, so I asked to make a set of my own keys before I officially took over on the 9th. This video is taken at about 9pm, the first of many late nights! I was physically out of breath at this point and I can see in my eyes how stressed I was about the mess, but also still optimistic.

I posted my first day of cleaning in September, but the old owner asked me to take it down and to not post anymore cleaning videos. I’ve refrained from posting until I at least moved the store because she threatened to end the lease early, as it’s still solely in her name.

I just wanted to document the transformation of this place, so I recorded a good amount of videos along the way. I felt bad that she was embarrassed, but I also thought it was unfair to ask me not to show my hard work. But cat’s out of the bag now, as they say!

Anyways, hope you enjoy the journey! :)

With love,
Julia

Address

3401 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA
94122

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+14155646482

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