More than a pet store — a family.
The name
TailRings started back in 2016 as an idea — a concept for a different kind of online store. I went through several name ideas, but nothing stuck until I looked over at my cat, Lynx, and noticed the distinctive orange bands on her tail. "Tail Rings" just made sense, and the name stuck.
Lynx was my 21-year-companion. She passed in 2024, but her spirit — and her tail rings — live on in everything TailRings does. About a year after she passed, a scrappy little girl wandered out of the forest and into my life. Her name is Socci — rooted in Latin meaning friend, ally, and companion. She's the newest member of the TailRings family and the current quality control supervisor.
Who we are
TailRings is a small, independent pet supply store based in Minneapolis, MN. We're not trying to be Chewy or PetSmart. We're trying to be the store you trust — because we actually care about what we sell and who we sell it to.
I grew up on a ranch surrounded by dogs, cats, birds, fish and horses — so I have an experienced background in understanding what pets need. It's not driven by a marketing brief. Every product on this site has been chosen with intention, selected items are tested against real standards, and listed only when it meets that bar.
How we choose what we carry
Every product goes through three filters before it earns a place on TailRings. First, does it pass the real-world test — would we use it for our own pets? Second, does it meet a genuine need for today's pet owners? And third, does it hold up to a quality standard we'd be comfortable standing behind?
We personally procure and test products. If something doesn't make the cut — poor build quality, misleading descriptions, or it just doesn't serve pets well — it comes off the site. Simple as that.
How we're different
When something isn't right, we work with you to make it right. That means a 10-day return window, a 24-hour response time, and real help finding what you need if what you bought isn't quite "it." If you're looking for that perfect thing and can't find it, reach out — chances are others are looking for it too.
We're also building out our unboxing video library so you can see products before you buy. No filters, no marketing fluff — just honest, transparent looks at what's actually in the box.
What's next
As TailRings grows you'll see more curated pet products, more health resources for pet owners, and eventually our own branded items designed from scratch with pets — and their owners — in mind. When we're ready to launch them you'll see announcements in our News blog.
For now we're focused on what we do best: finding quality products, vetting them thoroughly, and giving you the information you need to shop with confidence for the animals who make your life better every single day.
Thanks for stopping by. We're glad you're here.
Dale Peterson
Founder, TailRings.com
P.S. Socci says hi.