Oct. 20, 2021

Pet Wants, a national pet retailer specializing in fresh and natural food, is opening in south Sioux Falls.

Melissa Brandner, who owns Parkside Dental in Tea, brought the franchise to the area last year.

She still practices dentistry but “was looking for something different, and my next hobby is animals,” said the owner of four dogs, who also raises chickens and horses between Tea and Lennox.

While she was scheduled to open Pet Wants in Sioux Falls last year, she opted for a pop-up shop in Tea first because of the pandemic.

“So as we had built our business up, we feel like it’s a good time to make that transition,” she said.

The new location will be at 85th Street and Minnesota Avenue in a retail center in front of Walmart that also includes Scooter’s Coffee and Pizza Hut.

The business is known for its pet food, which does not use corn, soy, wheat, byproducts, preservatives or dyes.

“So we try to avoid the things that tend to cause allergies or sensitivities in animals, and we have the freshest kibble you can get,” Brandner said. “It is made every four to six weeks for us and shipped directly to us, so it doesn’t sit on a shelf for 18 to 24 months. And we have a lot of freeze-dried, a lot of raw products, chicken feet, cows’ ears, sweet potato wrapped in chicken. We’re about as natural as you can get unless you’re making it yourself.”

The business, which is based in Cincinnati, has about 20 retail locations and nearly 35 mobile locations, which include appearances at events.

The Sioux Falls store, scheduled to open in early November, will include pet spa products made from natural ingredients, sprays made from essential oils such as a mosquito and tick repellant spray, a selection of durable American-made toys, plus training treats, leashes and natural supplements. Owners can use two self-service wash bays.

There’s also free delivery within a 20-mile radius.