Winner: PETCO

Pets give comfort to their owners, so PETCO wants owners to take comfort in the fact that the store will take good care of their pets, says Rick Ely, assistant manager of merchandising at the Poplar Plaza store in East Memphis.

“We want to make sure that all of our employees understand the basic needs of pet care,” Ely says.

The store has everything from pet supplies to a dog-grooming service and vaccinations.

Memphis: 3468 Poplar, 323-5535; 7126 Winchester, 309-1186. Germantown: 7680 Poplar, 755-7011. Cordova: 1250 North Germantown Parkway, No. 112, 757-1376; Bartlett: 6015 Stage, 386-1863. Southaven: 205 Goodman Road West, (662) 349-7460.

Finalist: Hollywood Pet Star; Petsmart