MANSFIELD — Drew Jeffries’ workday doesn’t start like most retail workers.
“I can’t just come in here five minutes before we open and turn on the lights and the register,” the Ohio Pet Depot owner said.
“We’re probably here two hours early to make sure every single animal gets fresh bedding, a clean tank, fresh water and food, and sweep the floors.”
Ohio Pet Depot officially opened at 833 Lexington Ave. in October. Formerly Stumps Aquatic and Exotic Pets — and Olar’s before then — Jeffries was a co-owner and bought the business earlier this year. The store was previously located on Springmill Street near Trimble Road.
Ohio Pet Depot has snakes, reptiles, birds, rabbits, hamsters, chinchillas, tarantulas, fish and more.
Jeffries said he can usually order animals or supplies for customers as well.
The store also sells feeder rats, mice, crickets, roaches, mealworms, super worms and horn worms.
“We don’t do anything native — so possums, skunks, raccoons — we don’t really have room for right now,” he said. “We’re not licensed for monkeys.
“We’re just sticking to reptiles, small animals, birds, fish — that sort of thing. But, we can usually track down about anything someone wants that we’re licensed to sell.”
Jeffries estimated bearded dragons have been the top selling pet in the store. He said chameleons are more difficult to care for properly than other animals Ohio Pet Depot carries.
“They require really specific husbandry — humidity, temperature and foliage has to be right so they feel safe,” he said. “When an animal doesn’t feel safe, they get stressed and sometimes don’t eat or don’t live as long as they could.”
Jeffries said Ohio Pet Depot visitors can pick up and hold almost any animal in the store — besides tarantulas — with an employee helping them.
“Tarantulas have a really fragile exoskeleton, so we just don’t want them to get hurt,” Jeffries said.
“We also have care sheets for all the species we have here that we send home with new adopters or with people interested in adopting. Promoting responsible pet ownership is a really important part of a place like this.”
Pet Depot carries animals from local Ohio breeders
Jeffries, who is from Ashland, said he remembers being interested in exotic pets as a child.
“I didn’t really have pets as a kid, so when I was an adult, I got really into it,” he said.
The owner said his favorite part of the business is helping kids pick out their first exotic pet.
“It’s so neat to watch them light up picking out their first lizard, snake, hedgehog — whatever it is,” he said. “You can tell they’re all really excited to bring a new friend home.”
Jeffries said Ohio Pet Depot relies on local Ohio breeders for many of its species including chameleons, rabbits, hedgehogs and ball pythons.
“I try to keep it as local as possible because it’s less stress on the animals when they’re in the same climate and have shorter travel time,” he said.
Jeffries said the business has sold a few classroom pets to teachers and can hold animals that are purchased as birthday gifts. It also sells pet care supplies, costumes, plants and bedding.
“We have a whole corner for fish, and a wall of reptiles and our furry stuff on the other side,” Jeffries said.
“We try to have stuff you can’t find at PetSmart, and what we do overlap on, we’re competitive on price.”
Ohio Pet Depot is on Facebook and TikTok @ohio.pet.depot, and can be contacted at 419-973-4632. The 833 Lexington Ave. store is open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
