Urban Fauna

This is the best place downtown. Sometimes when I come in Elsa runs up to me, sometimes she looks over from where she is lounging. They have Wellness brand food which is my favorite for cat health. They have a good variety of treats too.

Was visiting Portland from the East Coast, called them up to see about dog food for my 11 month old ShihTzu, told the lady on the phone that the food I had been feeding my pup which was what was recommended to my by the breeder, was giving my dog terrible gas & poops, like clear the room!!! I wanted to switch foods, she set me up with another brand & solved my problem just like that! Thanks so much!!! I’m happy & I’m sure my puppy is happier as well!

I love this place. She does such a great job on grooming! I drop my doggy off and 2 hours later and $ 25 later he’s done! The store is small but the stuff they have is great. I only take my doggy here for grooming because you can tell that she really cares and she listens :)

Horrible, horrible service. I have never been greeted once in my more than 5 visits to the store. I took a chance to book a grooming appointment only to arrive and be told that «we can’t do it today.» No apology. No offer to reschedule. No advance call despite leaving my phone number. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

I bought a collar for my dog here. The collar was too big, but exchanging it was not a problem at all. The problem was a second collar I bought for my other dog after exchanging the first one. I didn’t notice until I looked at it later in the car, because I just would never expect this, but I was sold a used collar passed off as new! The leather is broken it where it’s been buckled and the inside is dirty. This wasn’t just tried on and put back, this collar was worn by a dog for a while, then someone stuck an $ 18.99 price tag on it and put it in the display case. I’m keeping the collar, I just need to clean it, but there’s no way I can trust the merchandise at this store after this.

I’m in the store fairly often for a a few reasons.
One reason is that my kitty, little Mimosa loves those little fur mice. Another reason, there’s a liquor store just next door. And oh yeah, right around the corner, there’s Living Threads Vintage. So there: three very good reasons why I’m so frequently in the area of this store, in no particular order. Well, let’s be frank, booze is a priory.
Once inside, it doesn’t stink, but it does have a faint aroma of «pet», but it’s not off putting.
I like that the store is a satellite for one of the humane societies or cat rescue organizations. I can’t remember which one off the top of my head. They usually have adoptable kitties in nice, big habitats just waiting for their furr-​ever homes. There’s also a big, fat store cat meandering around the store. He always seems cranky when I try to pet him.
The owner, who by the way, has always been friendly, chatty and helpful has a couple of big dogs. But don’t worry, she keeps the giant beasts behind the counter.
The store is much larger inside than it appears from the outside. She has a nice selection of cat furniture, critter beds, foods, treats and of course toys!
Little Mimosa is constantly loosing her little fur mice. I suspect those mice end up in the same place as the mysteriously mis-​matched socks. Thankfully, I need booze as often as Mimosa needs mice. It’s a win-​win.

Terri gave my standard poodle the best haircut that he has ever had. I brought him in looking like he didn’t have a mother and came out looking like a show dog. She is quite a talent!

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: this is for the retail portion of this business only. NOT GROOMING
I was so excited when I found this place, they were a local, high end pet food place just blocks from my work. I wanted to love them, I really did. But after today, my third time there I feel justified with a low opinion and review.
First and foremost, they are EXPENSIVE. My $ 16 bag of cat food is $ 11 and $ 12 elsewhere. And from what I saw all the food where thusly overpriced. I don’t know if this is justified by being the only shop in the area, downtown or what but it’s not ok with me.
Second, their selection is small, like super super small for cats. The first time I went in they had just moved, but it’s much later and the cat area is still a sad little corner off to the side. Not a huge problem since they have two foods my cats can eat but it’s still a bit pathetic. Mostly cans and litter.
But the third, and in my opinion most important issue is that the staff are just plain rude up to the point you actually buy something. If you are up a the counter presenting a credit card they are all smiles and greetings, but no one greets you when you walk in, no one asks if you need help, offers suggestions or really seems to care that you’re there. They are too busy talking with one another to notice.
The one time I was greeted it went:
Sales girl: «Hi, do you need anything.»
Me: «I’m looking for food for my allergy prone cat»
Sales girl: «OK» (walks away)
I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a little customer service. The only reason I bought food then and might MIGHT be back is if I’ve run out of food and there will be a small but furious furry riot when I get home.
Save your money and support another local pet places that are run by wonderful people who love animals and their customers.

My dog loves the play area and running through the giant tunnel. At first she was hesitant but then realized she can run through to get to her ball faster. Now she zips through with a big smile on her face.
The facilities are clean and workers are friendly. Some of their stuff is a little over priced but being in downtown, that is to be expected.

Always a fantastic job. Staff is very very nice. My dog loves it.

Okay readers if you’ve read my reviews you know I’m a reasonable guy. I always give the places I review the benefit of the doubt, AND, I never give one star.
Well, it is a new day and this business has earned a solid 1 star (I’d give 0 stars if that was an option). First, let me set the stage by saying that our family has been bringing our dog here for grooming for several years and all of the groomers have been great. This review is not about the groomers.
This review is about the business owner, who after a unfortunate incident occurred in her store involving our dog, called my wife and launched into a seemingly non-​ending tirade. What business owner in their right mind would do such a thing to a loyal customer?
To be fair the incident involved some items being broken accidentally by our dog while he was waiting his turn to be let into the grooming area. We are fair people and would have gladly paid for the damage either when we picked up our dog or if the owner had asked my wife. But in fact, she did ask my wife to pay for the damage but was so incredibly rude and demeaning that my wife ended up hanging up on her. The owner felt it was more important to vent then to speak responsibly and with some respect. If you like this place, I hope you don’t have an experience like this. We, however, are officially done.

This rating is for groomer named Terry only:
Oh Urban Fauna why did you hire this lady??? I went to Urban Fauna for years, I love their low key yet detail oriented vibe. Stephanie the old groomer was amazing– as is Katie who is still working here– but beware of the new groomer Terry! She does not listen and will botch your poor pup.
My Bichon Frise has a full color– very clear photo on file of what she should look like.
The last time she was groomed here they shaved half way up her tail and left erratic looking tufts of long hair on her body.
fooled me once shame on you.
Then having a sense of loyalty i took my dog back here again today– asking for a slightly shorter cut but still in the Bichon Frise style and my dog came back shaved pink everywhere even her ear and little Afro are all gone.
My dog looks like a schnauzer– or a Bichon terrier?! even in the event of hair mats this is NOT OK.
fooled me twice shame on me.
Afraid I need to find a new groomer. All I can think is thank goodness hair grows back but this is starting over from scratch. Word of advice to Urban– just call and double check with pet owners before doing something this drastic.

They’ve moved to a new location downtown on 10^th @ Salmon. I was looking for a pet store near the Pearl so I wouldn’t have to take the MAX to Petsmart. Thanks to Unilocal,hubby found Urban Fauna. As a side note, I would’ve never have guessed this place to be a pet store by it’s name.
Anyway, I digress. This boutique store offers a surprisingly good selection of food, toys, and accoutrements for your pets (mostly dogs, some cat, and small amount of other domestic friend stuff).
Conveniently located near the street car or a few minutes walk from the Pearl.

So I want to start off saying there was some love, mad love in the beginning, and then it got worse…
I bought my large fuzzy dog here after too many bad experiences at the old groomer. It was amazing, they took him first thing in the AM, said he would be done in 2 hours! Yay more play time for us. I came to pick him up and he was clean and better yet happy! Prancing around the place, not in a kennel. I will say it was about $ 20 more expensive then the place before, but I figured it was worth it!
Time number two, he was there for 4 hours, and they charged me more for the same cut/​groom with no explaination. hmmm
Time number three, He was there for 4 hours, no one called to tell me he was ready, and his nails weren’t cut and charged me the higher price.
Time number four, since it was winter I decided he only needed a bath and let him go shaggy so I told them that when I dropped him off. 5 hours go by no call, I call them, they say, «our groomer went home sick, so we got backed up. Okay, that kinda changed around my days schedule. Might have been nice to have a call. Anywho but things happen. I show up and he has been completely clipped. When I told her that I had only wanted a bath she said sorry and then only took $ 5 bucks off. Lets see 6 hours, extremely unwanted/​unattractive cut, for mucho bucks. Wow — time for a new groomer.

I have only groomed my golden retriever a few times, just because he has always seemed to get the groomer who decided he was really a lab.
I needed to get Boscoe in for a good cleaning, and after searching for some locations near my home, I took a hunch on Urban Fauna.
When I picked him up, he looked fantastic. Walking him home, he was literally prancing in the streets when everyone complimented him on his beautiful new haircut. In typical golden style, he insisted that everyone pet him just to feel his newly trimmed and shampooed «do».
Stephanie is my groomer here, and she is great. They have a clean facility and the staff is very friendly. I think the groom is reasonably priced and when Boscoe’s hair grows out, he still looks great. I would definitely recommend Stephanie for anyone with a golden.

We moved to Portland back in January 2010 and have been looking around for proper service providers for my Yorkie.
They were very helpful when I called and when we got there for his appointment. My Yorkie is fairly nervous around people and dogs, but he seemed really comfortable with the staff. The haircut was pretty much what I asked for and they actually cut his nails. A lot of people are so scared about trimming nails, but his were perfect.
My only issue is that he was nicked and they did not tell me about it. I found the nick when I got home. I was giving him some «scratchies» and he Unilocaled. If this hadn’t happened, I would have given them 5 stars. My husband and I will discuss if he will go somewhere else for his next haircut or not.

For the boutique section only!!!
I was really impressed with the sweaters from SuDan Farms that said what sheep it came from, etc. It was great… a little out of my price range, but great none the less.
The products were all pretty run of the mill, but I really liked that most of their products are made in the US. The employee said they were ALL made in the US, but as I work at a pet boutique as well, I did notice some brands that I know for sure are not. Whatever, though, a great job on their end! American sourcing can be really tough for the pet industry.
I got some Merrick beef tails, will really enjoy seeing how my dogs like them.

My dog has just started day care at Urban Fauna once a week. They provide a lot of extras that defiantly make it worth the $ 5 buck more it costs then Petsmart daycare.
First, they have your dogs playing in a large play area with toys and human supervision all day. Second, twice a day they take your dog out for a walk in the park blocks. Third, the employees honestly love dogs and are happy to be there. The employees not only play with your dog but give them all the love that they need. On our first visit one of the employees thought my dog was begging to be held. In response she picked him up and carried him around even though he almost weighs 50 pounds. That is dedication for you.
The grooming services are also good. Our dog was washed clipped and smelling great after we got him groomed there. However due to a function of his odd physique we decided not to get his hair cut again. (It makes his head look oddly small.)
The only negative thing I have to say is that the check-​in/​appointment process is a little informal. Formality provides a little comfort when your leaving your baby with strangers for the first time.
I would defiantly recommend this place for grooming and dog daycare. However, remember to call and get information before you go to doggie day care. There is a «interview» to make sure that your dog will do well in the situation before he can start attending. Also, they prefer you start you dog on a slow day such as Monday or Friday just to get them used to the situation before the go on the busier mid-​week days. (You aren’t they only on that wants to take him on Wednesday for a pick-​me up in the middle of a boring week.)

I called Urban Fauna this morning to try and make an appointment to get my dog groomed.
This was the conversation:
Me: Hi, I’d like to make an appointment to get my dog groomed.
Them: Ok, how about next week sometime?
Me: Sure, I work so it would have to be 430 or after.
Them: oooh, we don’t take appointments that late. (slight pause) Thanks, have a great day.
Then they hung up.
I believe they are open until 7 pm and so I was surprised that the woman didn’t say something about walkins or something along those lines. I certainly wasn’t going to call back and make additional inquiries.
Apparently business in the Pearl is so good they don’t need to make an effort with new potential customers.

My cutie pie Golden Retriever, Oscar, enjoys the following activities:
1) Eating
2) Pooping
3) Growing & shedding lots of hair
4) Chasing things
5) Chewing on things
6) Going for walks
Oh, and of course 7) Sleeping
Luckily, there is a clean, well-​stocked pet store/​groomery right across the park from me. At Urban Fauna, I can purchase…
1) Oscar’s favorite Premium Edge dog food
2) Environmentally friendly doggie poop bags
3) Grooming & bathing treatments
4) Balls
5) Chew-​friendly ropes
6) Collars that help Oscar behave better on a leash
7) Well, this one’s free. My bed is Oscar’s bed, too.
Urban Fauna meets all my Oscar-​related needs, it’s close, and the staff there has always been very friendly and very helpful. From emergency poop bag runs (that sounds gross), to the time I started reading about dog food online and discovered I’d been feeding my precious furball crow’s beaks and other unmentionable parts of unappetizing animals (aka Pedigree dog food), Urban Fauna’s been there for me when I needed them… or a $ 40 bag of all-​natural lamb-​based premium chow. There are usually sweet dogs hanging out inside, too, so if I bring Oscar along it quickly becomes social hour. Hence the need for that good behavior-​inducing collar…

While PetSmart may be literally down the hill from my house, I do enjoy going to a local shop more often than not.
I stumbled upon Urban Fauna in a desperate attempt to find a harness small enough for our brand new puppy Marley (named after the Legend, not the book). He was so tiny, and I had a hard time finding something decently priced, cute, and not too girly.
Urban Fauna was a quick drive for me for a lunch break shopping trip. Eventually, after the helpful staff’s suggestions, I settled on a cat harness (gasp!), but it was houndstooth print, cute, and not outrageously priced.
I will say while many of their leashes and collars were well-​priced, there were also quite a few that were priced outrageously. Like, only a stereotypical high-​rise dweller would shell out the money for that leash.
We also recently took Marley here for his first grooming session (about a year after my harness mission). It was priced competitively, and they don’t put him in one of those traumatizing holding pens while waiting. He looked like a teddy bear when he was done, and they ground his nails down (his black nails are hard to clip).
I do think their treats and toys are priced well; it’s only the non-​commodity items like pet clothing, beds, and bags that would drive me to a lower-​priced chain.
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable and not snooty.

Miss Oola doesn’t like having her nails clipped. The peeps here gave me some suggestions and I bought a «calming hood» to use on her, kind of like blinders on a horse, to see if it helps. I can bring it back if it doesn’t help, which I appreciate! The hood was 23 bucks, so if it does work it will save us money because each nail clipping session, done every two weeks, is 8 bucks, 10 with tip.
I also got her some treats, and although the selection of animal bits and pieces isn’t quite as good as Salty’s, it is still better than most other places. I saw all sorts of leashes and collars that would look great on Oola, but we don’t really need them so I kept my wallet in check.
They also have grooming and there were a bunch of little dogs running around in the grooming area, all seemingly calm and happy.
The staff are helpful and considerate. While I was talking to an employee, it came up that there is no place like this in Happy Valley, and it would be great to have a store in the New Seasons-​Happy Valley Town Center area. It could be Suburban Fauna!