Questions about the shop
Quick answers on bringing a dog in, the open-bag guarantee and free bags, booking a wash bay or water test, and delivery across Bellingham and Ferndale.
In the shop
Pets inside, food guarantees and rewards
Does the shop sell puppies, kittens or small mammals?
No. Thistle & Tail Pet Supply has never sold puppies, kittens, rabbits or birds from breeders or brokers. The livestock is freshwater community fish, cherry and Amano shrimp, live plants, feeder insects and captive-bred reptiles from two local breeders, both named on request, and the shop partners with Bellingham foster rescues for monthly adoption events.
Can I bring my dog inside?
Yes. Leashed dogs, cats in a carrier or harness and small animals are welcome in every aisle, and the walk-on scale by the door is free to use. For a dog that is nervous around others and needs a fitting, call ahead to arrange a private 15-minute fitting before the shop opens.
What if my pet refuses a new food?
Bring the open bag of kibble, freeze-dried or frozen raw food back within 30 days with at least half left, and it is exchanged in full for store credit towards another recipe. Eligible open dry bags are donated to local shelter pantries.
How do Frequent Buyer free bags work?
Nearly every kibble, gently cooked, freeze-dried and frozen raw brand on the shelf is part of a buy-10 or buy-12, get-one-free scheme. The register tracks each bag under your phone number, even across flavours in the same line, and tells you the day a free bag is due.
Something else on your mind? Ask the shop directly and a specialist will reply. Send a question instead.
Bookings
Wash bays and water tests
Do I need to book the self-serve dog wash?
Walk-ins are welcome whenever a bay is free, though booking a 30-minute slot is wise at weekends and on rainy days. Everything is provided: waist-high stainless tubs with ramps, aprons, oatmeal, deodorising and hypoallergenic shampoos, conditioner, brushes, ear wipes, towels and warm or cool dryers.
How much water should I bring for a water test?
At least 250 ml from mid-depth, collected the same day, in a clean jar or bottle rinsed only with tap and tank water, since soap residue skews pH and ammonia readings. A phone photo of the tank and the filter model helps Priya give tailored advice.
Delivery and orders
Same-day delivery and special orders
How does same-day delivery handle frozen food?
Orders placed before 2:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, within Bellingham and Ferndale arrive the same afternoon in the shop’s own van, free over $59 and $6 under it, and Gus runs the round himself. Frozen raw and gently cooked food travels in insulated totes with ice packs, so it stays frozen on a shaded porch for up to four hours.
Can the shop special-order something it does not stock?
Yes. Distributor deliveries arrive three times a week, so a specific large bag, a case of canned food, a prescription-alternative diet or a piece of aquatics hardware can usually be ordered in at no extra shipping charge.
Ask about a food, a fitting or a wash bay
Send a question about a food, a harness size, a water sample or a wash bay, or ask the shop to hold a bag behind the counter. The Book button opens the same form, and the shop replies to confirm a time.