1-800-PetMeds: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

PetMed Express was founded in Florida in 1996 by Marc Puleo, an anesthesiologist who originally planned a mail-order prescription business before focusing the company on pet medications. Operating under the 1-800-PetMeds and PetMeds brand names, the company grew through catalogs, television advertising, and eventually e-commerce, becoming one of the largest dedicated pet pharmacies in the country. The company is publicly traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker PETS and moved its headquarters to Delray Beach, Florida, in 2016.

The core business is straightforward: PetMeds sells prescription and non-prescription pet medications and nutritional supplements for dogs, cats, and other pets, filling prescriptions written by licensed veterinarians and shipping orders directly to customers. In recent years the company has expanded the services around its pharmacy. In 2022 it announced a partnership with veterinary telehealth company Vetster, in 2023 it partnered with Pumpkin Pet Insurance, and in 2025 it launched PetHealthMD, a pet health and insurance offering.

As a licensed pharmacy operation, PetMeds employs pharmacists and pharmacy technicians alongside customer care representatives, fulfillment and warehouse staff, marketing and merchandising teams, and corporate functions like finance, IT, and compliance. Because the company dispenses regulated medications, accuracy, licensure, and regulatory compliance are central to many roles, which tends to shape how pharmacy employers approach candidate screening.

Company culture and employee programs: PetMeds describes itself as a pet-focused workplace where teams support pet parents by phone, chat, and online ordering. Roles range from entry-level customer service and warehouse positions to credentialed pharmacy jobs that require state licensure or certification. Benefits, scheduling, and remote or onsite arrangements vary by role and department, so candidates should confirm current details during the interview process.

Yes. Employers in the pharmacy and e-commerce industry, including 1-800-PetMeds, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, screening performed through a consumer reporting agency is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires standalone disclosure, written consent, and a two-step adverse action process before results are used in a hiring decision.

PetMeds is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is consistent with standard practice among pharmacy operators and companies that handle prescription medications, payment data, and customer information. The scope of a PetMeds background check may vary by role: credentialed pharmacy positions and roles with access to controlled substances or financial systems may be screened more extensively than entry-level positions. Candidates should review their disclosure paperwork to see exactly what applies.

The hiring process typically begins with an online application through the company's careers page or a job board. Selected candidates usually complete a phone screen followed by one or more interviews with the hiring manager and team, conducted virtually or onsite depending on the role. Pharmacy roles may include verification of licenses or certifications. Candidates who receive a conditional offer are generally asked to consent to a background check, and possibly a drug test, before their start date is finalized.

Most background checks are completed within a few business days, but the timeline depends on the searches included and how quickly courts, licensing boards, and past employers respond. Checks that include county criminal searches in multiple jurisdictions or professional license verification can take longer. This guide to background check turnaround times explains the factors in more detail.

Employers choose screening components based on the role. For a position at a pet pharmacy company like PetMeds, a background check may include some or all of the following:

The disclosure and authorization forms provided during hiring identify which searches will run for a specific position.

Lookback periods are governed by the FCRA and state law. In general, consumer reporting agencies may not report most negative information older than seven years, although criminal convictions can often be reported further back under federal rules, and exceptions apply for certain positions above salary thresholds. Several states cap conviction reporting at seven years. License verifications, by contrast, typically reflect current standing rather than a fixed lookback window.

PetMeds does not publish a detailed public policy on hiring candidates with felony records, and decisions are typically made on a case-by-case basis. For pharmacy roles, state pharmacy boards may impose their own restrictions related to certain convictions, particularly drug-related offenses, which can affect licensure and eligibility independent of the employer's preferences. Many states and cities have "ban-the-box" laws that limit when criminal history can be considered. Candidates with records are generally encouraged to apply for roles that fit their qualifications and to answer application questions honestly.

Candidates will typically be asked to sign a written authorization before a background check begins and to provide accurate personal information, including full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history. Candidates for credentialed roles should also have license or certification numbers ready so verifications can be completed quickly. Accurate, complete information helps prevent delays and mismatched records.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect and report background information for employment purposes. It requires employers to obtain written consent before ordering a report, to provide a pre-adverse action notice with a copy of the report and a summary of rights if the results may cost the candidate the job, and to allow candidates to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information. Learn more in this introduction to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and EEOC guidance.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what 1-800-PetMeds may see and helps you identify potential inaccuracies before they affect your job application. In one secure report you can review:

Create your report in minutes at Checkr Personal Background Checks. To showcase verified credentials proactively, build a free Checkr Profile you can share with recruiters, hiring managers, or potential employers.

Check your report status in the Candidate Portal. Or, visit the Checkr Help Center for FAQs, dispute steps, and to contact support.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.