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If you're unable to find answers to your questions here, please feel free to contact us by email. We'll do our best to reply to all emails within 24 hours. Thank you.
The Animal Avenue VIP Card is a discount card designed to save pet owners money when they buy pet products and services within the Animal Avenue Network of Participating Providers. Download a VIP Card Brochure.
1. Go to the VIP Card page and click on either "Get a Card", "Renew", "Lost Card" or "Free Card".
2. Fill out the VIP Card Holder Agreement Form and click "Submit".
3. After you submit the Agreement Form, return to the VIP Card page.
If you'd like to pay by credit card, debit card or electronic transfer: click on "Buy Now" next to the type of card you are purchasing. You will be redirected to PayPal to pay for your VIP Card. (You do not need to have a PayPal account to use the "Buy Now" option.) We must receive both your application and your payment before your order will be processed. Once we have your application and payment, your card will be mailed out within 48 hours.
If you'd like to pay by check: Checks should be made payable to Animal Avenue. Mail your payment to PO Box 620704 San Diego, Ca 92162-0704. We must receive both your application and your payment before your order will be processed. Once we have your application and payment, your card will be mailed out within 48 hours. Animal Avenue is a registered member of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program. Bounced checks will not be tolerated. For more information: http://www.sdcda.org/protecting/badcheck.php
Please note: Animal Avenue DOES NOT accept Western Union payments or bank transfers other than those made through PayPal.
Your VIP Card is valid with all of our Participating Providers. When you make a purchase in person, just show your card to the cashier. The cashier will check the expiration date and ask you for your picture ID to verify that you are the Card Holder. If you are making reservations or a purchase over the phone, just mention your card and tell them the member number and expiration date. Participating Providers have access to a list of valid card numbers and member names in order to verify whether or not the information provided to them over the phone is valid. Providers are NOT required to offer their advertised discount to anyone who offers false card information.
You can use your VIP Card anywhere within our Network of Participating Providers.
1. Go to the VIP Card page and click on "Renew".
2. Fill out the VIP Card Holder Agreement Form and click "Submit".
3. After you submit the Agreement Form, return to the VIP Card page.
If you'd like to pay by credit card, debit card or electronic transfer: click on "Buy Now" next to "Renew". You will be redirected to PayPal to pay for your VIP Card. (You do not need to have a PayPal account to use the "Buy Now" option.) We must receive both your application and your payment before your order will be processed. Once we have your application and payment, your card will be mailed out within 48 hours.
If you'd like to pay by check: Checks should be made payable to Animal Avenue. Mail your payment to PO Box 620704 San Diego, Ca 92162-0704. We must receive both your application and your payment before your order will be processed. Once we have your application and payment, your card will be mailed out within 48 hours. Animal Avenue is a registered member of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Check Enforcement Program. Bounced checks will not be tolerated. For more information: http://www.sdcda.org/protecting/badcheck.php
Please note: Animal Avenue DOES NOT accept Western Union payments or bank transfers other than those made through PayPal.
Keeping our operating costs low helps keep the price of the VIP Card low. So we don’t have a phone number and we don’t pay for phonebook advertising. But don’t worry; you can always reach us by email if you have any questions or concerns that aren’t answered in the FAQs. Email us at VIP@AnimalAvenue.net and we will get back to you within 24 hours. You can also send mail to PO Box 620704 San Diego, CA 92162-0704.
Animal Avenue does not mediate between Providers and Card Holders. Any issues are between the Card Holder and the Provider. However, if you have a concern about quality of service or care that you received from one of our Providers, please email Concerns@AnimalAvenue.net. You must give your name and member number. Also, please give the name of the Provider and/or the Sales Associate (if different) and the date/time of the incident. Please be as specific as possible about the situation. If Animal Avenue can verify a serious complaint or receives multiple complaints about a specific provider, Animal Avenue may choose to terminate our relationship with that Provider. Your name will be kept confidential whenever possible. However, if a serious complaint is being made against a Provider, Animal Avenue may discuss the incident, including client’s names with the Provider to verify that the incident occurred. For example, if you make a serious complaint about a groomer who has no other complaints on record, Animal Avenue may, at its discretion, discuss the situation with the groomer to verify that you are/were a customer and to get the Provider's version of the incident. Providers who have a verified serious complaint against them or who have multiple complaints against them will be removed from the Animal Avenue Participating Provider Network.
Animal Avenue does not offer refunds once the VIP Card has been mailed to the Card Holder. Card Holders are required to read and understand the Card Holder Agreement Form prior to purchase. This policy is not in place to be mean or to make money. Rather, it is in place to discourage abuse of the card and of our Participating Providers by using the card for one or more discounts and then requesting a refund of the purchase price. Once the card has been mailed, Animal Avenue assumes that a discount has been received and will not refund purchase fees. If you are unhappy with your membership for any reason, we ask that you please contact us at Concerns@AnimalAvenue.net to let us know. We will make every attempt to address your concerns.
To show our appreciation to those who adopt a homeless pet from a 501c(3) rescue, Animal Avenue offers a *FREE* one year membership to the Animal Avenue VIP Card. That’s a $25 value! There are absolutely no strings attached to this offer. Simply submit the application for an Animal Avenue VIP Card, along with a copy of your adoption agreement which clearly shows the date of the adoption. Your membership will be valid until one year after the adoption date, so the sooner you send in your application, the sooner you can start saving on your pet care purchases. If you choose to renew your membership at the end of your free membership period, you can do so at our reduced renewal rate of $20. You are NOT required to renew the card at the end of the free membership period to take advantage of this offer.
Animal Avenue is dedicated to improving the lives of pets. There is no easier way to accomplish that than by giving a homeless pet a happy, loving home. I am a firm believer in adoption and feel that adoption should be the first choice when you consider adding a new member to your family. So I have asked shelters and rescues in San Diego to offer everyone who adopts a pet through their organization information about the Animal Avenue VIP Card and an application for a free year’s membership. If your favorite rescue isn't on our list of Shelter/Rescue Partners, please encourage them to contact us for more information. There is absolutely no cost to them!
What do I do if a Participating Provider refuses my VIP Card?
Providers who have agreed to accept VIP Cards must offer their advertised discount to all valid VIP Card Holders regardless of race, creed, religion, sex, etc. If a provider refuses to accept a valid VIP Card or to offer you their advertised discount, please notify Animal Avenue at Concerns@AnimalAvenue.net and include your name and Member#.
Any attempt to alter or deface the card will render the card invalid. If you are refused a discount because a Participating Provider believes your card has been altered or defaced, or that your card has expired, you may be asked to show your card to an Animal Avenue agent to verify its authenticity.
The Pet Preferred Page spotlights a Participating Provider who has provided outstanding service to a Card Holder. Card Holders who have had an outstanding experience with one of our Participating Providers can nominate that Provider for our Pet Preferred page by sending us a letter or email detailing why you think they deserve to be a Pet Preferred Provider. If they are selected, they will be spotlighted. We may even us your comments to tell others what is special about the Provider. So please let us know if we may use your name and/or comments on our website.
You can get a replacement card for a $5 fee. Purchase the card as you would above, and specify that it is for a replacement card. Please include your Member Name and ID# on the application.
There is no need to cancel your card. It will expire at the end of your membership period. As stated above, Animal Avenue does not offer refunds. If you are unhappy with your card, please let us know why by emailing Concerns@AnimalAvenue.net.
Why doesn't Animal Avenue have any discounts with pet stores that sell dogs and cats?
Animal Avenue strongly believes that pets should be adopted not bought and sold. So we work closely with shelters and rescues top help homeless pets find adoptive families. Many pet stores sell pets that were acquired from back yard breeders or other unscrupulous sources. Qualified and reputable breeders DO NOT sell their animals to pet stores. Instead, they carefully screen people who purchase animals they breed. I strongly discourage buying pets from pet stores and other backyard breeders. Doing so only encourages them to breed more animals for profit which adds to the enormous pet overpopulation problem. Many pure bred dogs and cats are sitting in shelters right now waiting to be adopted. There are also many breed specific rescues where you can adopt a purebred animal. However, if you choose to purchase a pet rather than adopting one, I strongly advise you to only buy from a reputable breeder.
How can I become an Animal Avenue Participating Provider?
Any licensed business in San Diego County can become a Participating Provider. You MUST have a valid business license (if required for your business) and/or a valid Business Tax Certificate. If you sell taxable products, you must also have a valid Seller's Permit. Complete the Participating Provider Agreement and submit it to Animal Avenue. We will add you to the Participating Provider page within 72 hours of receiving your completed application. If there are problems with your applications, we will contact you. Download a Provider Brochure. Please note: If you provider pet care services and//or supplies as a hobby, you do not qualify to be an Animal Avenue Participating Provider.
I'm a Participating Provider. What kind of discount should I offer?
Animal Avenue does not dictate what a Participating Provider offers as their discount. We do ask that you change your offer no more than twice a year to avoid confusing card holders and making extra work for the webmaster. But the discount is completely up to the provider. You can offer a percent off a minimum qualifying purchase, you can offer a discount off only certain types of purchases or you can offer a flat dollar amount discount. Some suggested discounts: a pet sitter might offer a 5% discount on pet sitting services, a pet store might offer a 10% discount on pet food purchases, and a groomer might offer a free nail trim with the purchase of a bath and haircut. Also, each provider can specify whether or not the VIP Card can be used in combination with other discounts.
I am a 501c(3) rescue. How do I offer the Animal Avenue VIP Card to my adopters?
Please complete a Shelter/Rescue Partner Application. We will send you everything you need to start offering the VIP Card to your adopters. Please note that you must be a valid 501c(3) non-profit rescue. Please include your tax id# or a copy of your 501 application. Download a Shelter Partner Brochure.
It is my hope that by joining the Network of Participating Providers, you will gain positive exposure for your company and increase your sales. And it is my belief that by offering a discount, you will attract customers who may not otherwise have tried your products or services. As a former professional pet sitter myself, I know how hard it can be to find good clients. Having your name in as many places as possible helps customers become familiar with your name and makes the likelihood of them one day using your services that much greater.
What are the benefits for Shelter/Rescue Partners?
It is my hope that offering a free membership to the Animal Avenue VIP Card will be a small incentive to get more people to choose adoption. I hope that it will help to increase the number of animals who leave shelters and become part of a family. And by listing the names of shelters and rescues who offer the VIP Card, I hope to increase the number of people who recognize the names of our local rescues.
Participating Providers and our Shelter/Rescue Partners can get more packets by simply sending us an email. Please include your Company Name, name of the person who should receive the package, your full address info and the number of packets you’d like to receive. We’ll send them out as soon as possible.