Features
Dog days at pet site lead to many layoffs
San Francisco’s Petopia.com fires more than 60 percent of staff
SAN FRANCISCO – These are dog days for Petopia.com, an online pet supplies retailer. Even the animals are getting fired.
The Web site fired more than 60 percent of its staff Thursday and those 120 workers are expected to clear out their cubicles for good Monday morning.
Petopia was on the verge of a major acquisition Wednesday, but the deal fell through, according to company spokeswoman Donnelle Koselka.
The company even fired the live-in pets that used to roam the halls of the brightly colored headquarters in the South of Market Street area in San Francisco.
An oversized fire-hydrant for dogs and chew toys will now go unused, as well as cages for Louie the lizard, a Chinese water dragon, Albert the guinea pig and assorted chinchillas, hamsters and fish.
Petopia was founded last year and is partially owned by San Diego-based Petco, the country’s second largest pet store chain.
Pet stores online haven’t had the greatest track record. In June, Emeryville-based Petstore.com laid off all its workers, folded up shop and teamed up with Pets.com.
