The 14th Irish-owned pet shop in the Petstop chain has opened on Rathmines Road Lower, as part of the prominent Swan Centre – a location that offers footfall in every direction for Dublin 6 pets and their pet parents.
Petstop is in operation for 30 years, and this latest store is all dark wood interiors and rich tones giving it an unexpectedly boutique-like feel. With its Scandinavian design and clean lines, the space wouldn’t be out of place as a stylish homewares shop.
Among the team preparing for the opening is founder Anthony Gallagher, accompanied by his 13-year-old golden retriever and best friend, Bev. Anthony opened the first Petstop in Sandyford in 1995. Before that, his career had taken him from sweeping the floor to a senior management role in Penneys to a consulting role with Quaker Oats.
“I knew retail and I knew the pet industry – so I decided to open Ireland’s first large format pet store. That’s how Petstop was born.”
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Like many success stories, the road wasn’t smooth. A failed $42 million dot-com deal in the early 2000s forced Gallagher to scale back drastically.
“We were broke. We sold the five stores we had and went back to one. But we clawed our way back, paid everyone, and began to grow once more.”
When rents dropped during the financial crisis, he saw an opportunity to rebuild with care.
“It didn’t go the way I planned, but maybe it went the way it was meant to.”
Today Petstop stands as the leading Irish-owned pet retail chain – with a firm commitment to supporting Irish suppliers.
“Our main brand of dog food is called Nádúr (the Irish for nature). It’s made in Kilkenny and tailored for Irish dogs.”
“The whole philosophy behind Petstop is happy pets, happy people.” This is something that has remained firm over the last 30 years, despite other ups and downs.
His bond with Bev is as strong as his belief in that mission “She’s outside my bedroom door when I wake up. She’s on my tail all day.”
The design of the Rathmines store is the work of Katie MacDonagh, who began her journey with Petstop after working as a dog behaviourist at Dogs Trust.
“I got really interested in how the shops looked – making things look nicer than just dog food on the wall,” she says.
She describes the Rathmines store as having a slightly more high-end feel while maintaining a playful and welcoming atmosphere. “It’s not full boutique, but Rathmines is more high-end – a Scandinavian feel, lots of black and wood. Our products really pop against that.”
What makes the Petstop design process stand out is that it’s all done in-house.
“Other shops hire external designers – we’re involved in every single step,” she explains.
Another long-time employee is Shirley Rooney who began working with Petstop as a teenager – and never left.
“I’ve grown up with the company – I’m longer working with Petstop than I’m not.”
While Shirley is now in a senior position, her daughter, Nicole, has joined the part-time team, continuing the family tradition into its second generation. “It’s lovely to see her working in the same environment I grew up in.” Shirley speaks of how proud she is to work in Petstop and praises Anthony for his treatment of staff over the last 30 years, something echoed by her colleague Grace Byrne.
Now an area manager, Grace brings more than two decades of experience to her role – and some of the longest-standing relationships with customers. “Anthony was my first boss at 16. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been with him 22 years or 22 days – he knows your name.”
That kind of detail, she says, carries through everything the company does and is why pet parents have trusted Petstop for all their pet’s needs for 30 years.
“Whether you shop in Blanchardstown or any of our stores nationwide you should get the same level of service and experience.”
Grace recalls moments that have stuck with her – small, powerful reminders of what the store can mean to people.
“There was a lady who came in every Tuesday with her Boxer. One week she came in on a Thursday – and I just knew. The dog had passed. We cried together. She came in just to tell me.”
Another long-time customer remains close to the Petstop team to this day. “She’s in her 90s – amazing woman. She has been shopping with us for 30 years and we were honoured to have her cut the ribbon at our Blackrock store opening. We cherish these customer relationships.”
Ruby and Pickle have become familiar to thousands of online pet lovers through their Instagram account @rubythewheaton. Claire Crimin, who works as store supervisor in Carrickmines is pet mum to the gorgeous dogs.
“Ruby we got from a farmer in Clane. Pickle came from Wicklow Animal Welfare – she’s a Whippet Lurcher cross.
“I always think a well-trained dog can go anywhere. Socialising doesn’t just mean meeting other dogs – it’s about being able to relax in public.”
Claire says Ireland still has room to grow when it comes to being dog-friendly.
“In England we brought the dogs everywhere, even in Ubers. Here, it’s still very limited.”
Petstop is also supportive of animal charities, and Dogs Angels Ireland rehomes unwanted and neglected animals from across the country.
“We’re volunteers. We do it for the love of the dogs,” says Tara Furlong from Dogs Angels Ireland. “Some come in traumatised – we give them time, space, and care.”
Petstop’s support, she says, goes well beyond basics.
“They’re brilliant to us – food, toys, and a platform. It helps raise awareness. You see a dog come in terrified and leave with their tail wagging. That’s what it’s all about.”
With 14 stores and a staff made up of lifelong animal lovers, Petstop is more than a retail brand – it’s a community of people who genuinely care.
“Everyone here loves animals,” Gallagher says. “We live it. It’s not just business – it’s personal.”
