PetSmart

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets the standard to look for: the label should say the food is "complete and balanced" and meet AAFCO nutritional profiles for your pet's life stage. Ingredients are listed by weight before cooking — "chicken" near the top is good, but look at the overall ingredient list rather than just the first item. Avoid foods that split one ingredient across multiple listings (e.g., "ground corn," "corn meal," "corn gluten") to bury it further down the list. The staff at a Mohegan Lake independent pet store can walk you through label reading for your specific pet's needs.

For a new dog: collar, ID tags, leash, crate, bed, food and water bowls, food appropriate to age and size, waste bags, and a few toys. For a new cat: litter box, litter, food and water bowls, scratching post, carrier, and toys. Your Mohegan Lake pet store can help you size crates and select appropriate food for your specific breed. Don't forget to schedule a first vet visit within the first week — and in Westchester County, dogs need to be licensed through your local town hall, which requires proof of rabies vaccination.