Waldo Pets is more wildlife laboratory than pet store, with its hundreds of furry and finned creatures, squawking birds and the constant, hypnotic bubbling of endless aquariums. It's a place where parents bring their kids for entertainment, such as a look at the "shark pit," a 2,500-gallon, saltwater pond with a 3-foot leopard shark (not for sale). Somewhere in the mix is general manager Danny Snyder, welcoming customers into what he calls "Kansas City's second zoo." Waldo Pets' specialty item is outdoor fish ponds with accessories and services to help customers build waterfalls and gardens in their backyards. People come from around the country to buy his supplies. Though a corporate pet store is set to open just a mile away in the coming months, Snyder says he's not worried about competition from the chain. "Their employees will call me. Plus, they will come in to shop," he says. Waldo Pets just offers more.
