Who is Pet Wants?

We started with the goal of improving the health and well-being of our own pets. Now, we hope to use what we have learned to promote nutrition and vitality in pets across the country.

Meet the Owners

We are Melissa Brandner-Otten and Herman Otten, the local owners and operators of Pet Wants Sioux Falls. As we made our own healthier choices, we started thinking about what we were feeding our pets. When we tried Pet Wants and saw great improvement in the coats, energy levels and quality of life in our own animals, we were inspired to open Pet Wants Sioux Falls and to help other pet families give their pets longer, healthier lives.

We have three children – Ally Brandner, Andrea Brandner and Hayden Otten as well as two dogs, a German Shorthaired Pointer named Scarlet and a King Charles Cavalier named Scout, and two cats, Maxwell and Felix. We also have six horses, eight ducks and 20 chickens. Our pets are members of our family. They keep us busy – and crazy – but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Herman is currently serving his fourth term in the South Dakota House of Representatives and has a long history of public service, including 30 years as a volunteer firefighter, nine years on the Tea City Council and four years as the mayor of Tea. He grew up in Tea, graduated from Lennox High School in 1985 and owns Herman Otten Construction, Inc. Melissa has been a dentist in Southeast South Dakota for more than 20 years and she owns Parkside Dental in Tea. Melissa has served as a delegate for the South Dakota Dental Association for three terms and is an active participant in the SD Donated Dental Program.

Thank you for considering Pet Wants. We can’t wait to meet you and your furry family members!

"As pet parents, we cherish our four-legged companions as members of our family."

Caring for Our Furry Family

When you think of your pet, what brings you joy? Bright eyes? Shiny, soft coat? Tail wagging? Snuggle time? All of these things, and more, are reflective of our pets’ health. It all starts with fresh, nutritious ingredients. Food is medicine and like us, what our pets eat impacts their lives. When store shelves are filled with bags that all basically look the same, it can be confusing trying to decide what food is best. We often rely on marketing campaigns to help inform us. But how are you to trust the quality of the ingredients beyond the assumption that higher prices equate to better food? That a playful puppy in a commercial is really eating fresh, nutrient-rich kibble?

We intend to deliver on more than just a promise of fresh, high-quality food – we will build a community based on education and awareness around the ingredients our pets eat.

Our Mission

Pet Wants exists to improve the nutrition, health, vitality, and well-being of pets. We make it easy for pet parents to provide the most nutritious food available to the pets they love. Our Mission is both noble…and necessary. Join us in this pet food revolution for the pets we love.

What's Wrong with Name Brand Foods?

Most commercial pet food is manufactured in mass quantities and sent to a series of distribution warehouses before finally making it onto the shelf at your local store. There it sits…possibly for up to 6-8 months before it’s purchased for consumption. Because pet food loses its nutritional value over time, pets can ultimately end up eating a diet that’s low in nutrition and can ultimately lead to unnecessary sickness, disease and even a shortened life.

How Pet Wants Got Started

As pet parents know, a pet’s diet is very important. Pet Wants was created in 2010 after the owner of Pet Wants noticed some serious health issues with her beloved pets. Problems began to appear and quickly worsened. Many unsuccessful trips to the veterinarian’s office and several thousands of dollars later, the owner decided to take matters into her own hands. She discovered the problem was the low nutritional value of the food she was feeding her pets. In simple terms, the pets weren’t getting enough of the right nutrients necessary for a healthy life. As a pet parent who cared deeply about her pet’s welfare, she felt terrible — like she had let down a family member. She was shocked to learn that the nationally recognized premium brand food she trusted for her pets lost most of its nutritional value from sitting too long in warehouses, and on store shelves….she decided there had to be a better way.

How Are Pet Wants Products Different?

It’s simple. Freshness is the key to good nutrition. We provide our proprietary pet food formula that has been carefully developed over the years and deliver to your home to ensure freshness. Your pets will appreciate a healthy, complete and balanced pet food made from fresh, all-natural ingredients. Since our food is slow-cooked to lock in nutrients and is made in frequent, small batches, we deliver the fresh and highly nutritional food to our customers within weeks, not months, of being made. Our customers appreciate the convenience of our auto-delivery system that they can modify prior to each delivery. This ensures that the best possible food is delivered when they need and only how much they need – delivered right to their door – for the same price as most premium commercial pet foods.