Walmart opens its first pet-service center

Bentonville-based Walmart has opened its first pet-service center complete with veterinary care and grooming at a store in Dallas, Georgia.

Why it matters: Walmart, which already offers medical clinics, auto services and a pharmacy, could position itself to also be a competitive pet-care provider.

• The Georgia store is serving as a pilot to learn the best ways to offer accessibleand quality pet care. The goal is to expand to other communities, according to a news release.

What they're saying: Walmart wants to make pet care affordable, especially for pet owners who struggle to afford rising costs.

• The company cited data from the American Pet Products Association, which notes that two-thirds of U.S. households own a pet and 23 million U.S. households adopted a pet during the pandemic.

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