I've come to love Centinela quite a bit and really can't remember shopping elsewhere in years...

It's a weekend ritual for me – wake up, jump on my beach cruiser (wicker basket intact) and peddle on over to this super cute pet store (which conveniently happens to have a deceivingly delicious breakfast joint nearby, Ham Supreme Shop). I've yet to have a bad experience at their Redondo Beach location and surprisingly look forward to my little commute.

Pricing & Savings: The fun begins each month, when Centinela puts out a catalog to those on their mailing list. After tearing open the flier, you'll find tons of helpful coupons including, 10% - 20% off your entire purchase and buy one get one deals on treats and toys. If you're lucky, your brand of food or cat litter will even be on sale, which means it's time to stock up. The coupons are always helpful, but the best part is the freebies! It's a surprise each month, but there is always a free offer for one dog and one cat product, anything from treats to squeaky toys to catnip to toothbrushes. I use what I need and happily donate the rest to local shelters. Though pricing here is comparable to most quality pet stores, the monthly coupons put them on top! 

Genuine Staff: When you walk into this place you are certain to be warmly greeted by the continuously amazing staff. You never have to worry about finding items, because the knowledgeable staff is always willing to point you in the right direction, give suggestions and walk you through your shopping trip to make sure no questions go unanswered. The staff goes above and beyond to provide attentive, helpful customer service, which can never be said for big names like PetCo & PetSmart, who often hire teens with an attitude and a lack of pet appreciation.

Perfectly Portioned Product Line: Unlike the big chain pet stores, you aren't overwhelmed by endless aisles crowded with products you don't need. Instead, the store carries only the best cat & dog brands of food, toys and supplies on the market, so you know you are bringing home quality products. They also carry a ton of alternative, natural, allergy formula and organic brands, often times essential for your pet's healthy diet. For instance, due to my cats allergies, the only cat food he hasn't experience negative reactions to is the protein rich, Evo Cat Food, which is luckily carried at Centinela. And conveniently, if you purchase a product your pet doesn't like, such as food or litter, the employees will let you exchange it, no questions asked.

**Just a little update - Centinela recently upgraded their cat section, adding some new higher quality treats and toys. My kitties are loving it :)

Saving Lives: Instead of selling pets from puppy mills, Centinela believes in the power and importance of adoption. This is why you'll always find different rescue organizations there on the weekends. The adoption events vary by store, but if you go on the weekends it's a great place for entertaining the family, as you'll most likely run into the numerous kitty & puppy adoptions going on.

The Extras: Centinela often offers weekend-long store events filled with fun, food, and lots of savings! The events are a great opportunity to meet vendors, try out samples, and get personal attention on the benefits of new products. The weekends are also a great time to take advantage of the affordable vaccinations and micro-chipping services offered by licensed veterinarians on site (times vary by location).

If I had one tiny piece of advice for Centinela – it would be to go green and ditch the monthly cut-out coupons. Instead, simply offer a loyalty card that lets customers benefit from the sales each time they go.  If you live in the Southern California area and are looking for an enjoyable, stress free, quality pet shop with competitive prices and exceptional service, hopefully you'll be as satisfied as I have been!