Critter Hut

07/14/2026

Two weeks ago, Jeff, Dánielle and family had to say goodbye to Critter Hut's quietest and hardest working employee. Miss Mabel Mae Champlin had the important jobs of testing toys and cookies, babysitting small animals and reptiles, and supervising both morning fish feedings and human lunches. She was always the first to reach the door for an opening shift, meeting the work day with even more excitement than we did. She worked long shifts without complaint, though she did regularly nap on the job. We are eternally thankful to Animal Rescue Rhode Island for giving us the opportunity to love Mabel (FKA Dora) for the past 9.5 years. Thank you to South Bay Veterinary Clinic for the care given to both Mabel and her humans. The compassion and care is second to none. Thank you to all of our customers and neighbors who gave Mabel love and scratches over the years. ❤️🐾🌈

05/30/2026

Critter Fam, can you believe it's been 4 years since the younger generation helped to give the final Critter Hut location its last scrub? After Chris, Will and Jeff grew up within the walls of Critter Hut, it was the turn of the next generation. With both Jeff and Dánielle working for the family business, Anderson and Libby quickly learned there was little separation between business and family life. In his younger years, Andy took many toddler naps on dog beds. A customer was graced with Libby's first word while in the Baby Bjorn on Jeff's chest. As they grew older, Anderson became the resident tank cleaner and Libby became a customer service-minded star cashier. When covid hit, distance learning happened in the back room. When lessons were over, the kids were on the floor helping to pull curbside pick-up and delivery orders. The strong work ethic learned within the walls of Critter Hut served them well as they aged. Anderson has finished his freshman year at Rochester Institute of Technology and is working 2 jobs to help pay for his education and his love of travel. You may see him at a local eatery during the weekend at his second job. Libby is finishing her sophomore year of high school. When she isn't busy with school or the 3 varsity sports she plays, or off-season training, she can be found using her customer service skills while slinging coffees at her part-time job or volunteering with Special Olympics athletes. Critter Hut may no longer be around, but its lessons live on. We continue to be thankful for our customers and the hand they had in helping to raise 2 generations of Champlin children over the course of over 4 decades ❤️🐾🦜🦎🐠

04/14/2026

Update: Henri has been found and is safely in the house enjoying her yummies. She was hiding under our chicken coop. Thank you to everyone who reached out with well wishes and advice.

Our cat, Henrietta Pussycat, has gone missing from the Exeter/SK line in the area of Stony Fort Rd/Plantation/Top Hill area. She is sweet, but fearful of strangers. If you see her, please call or text Jeff at 413-3006
Jeffrey Champlin Dánielle LaFleur Champlin

03/27/2026

In Loving Memory of Harley

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Harley, our beloved Catalina macaw, companion, teacher, and the unforgettable mascot of our family’s pet store for over 20 years.

Harley came into our lives as a young bird, originally meant to be re-homed. But it didn’t take long for us to realize something deeper—his intelligence, personality, and spirit made it clear that birds like him were never meant for captivity. From that moment on, our mission changed. Harley would not simply be kept—he would help educate. He became a living example of why animals like macaws belong in the wild, not in cages.
At the heart of Harley’s life was Jackie, our manager, his handler, and without question, his person. Through patience, courage, and an unshakable bond, she became the only one brave enough to truly handle him—especially through his notoriously difficult “teenage years.” Together, they were inseparable. Through three different store locations and decades of change, Jackie and Harley remained a constant—side by side, greeting customers, sparking conversations, and leaving lasting impressions on everyone who walked through our doors at Critter Hut.
As life brought new challenges and eventually led to the closing of our store after more than 40 years, one of the hardest decisions we faced was finding a new home for Harley. After a careful and thoughtful search, we placed him with a family we believed could give him the life he deserved. But fate had other plans. In time, Harley and Jackie found their way back to each other, reuniting in a way that felt nothing short of meant to be.
Harley lived a full and meaningful life—not just as a pet, but as a teacher. Alongside Jackie, he helped educate countless people about the realities of exotic animal ownership, leaving behind a legacy that extended far beyond the walls of our store.
He will be remembered for his vibrant personality, his intelligence, his attitude, and most of all, the bond he shared with the person who understood him best.
Harley was more than a mascot. He was family.
He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

12/24/2025

21 years ago a young fool partnered with the pet store family he was working for and built out Critter Hut NK with the youngest fool of that pet store family, with blood, sweat and a lot of beer to fuel them. In 2020 Critter Hut NK was sold to Adam, who rebranded as A's Aquatics. On A's last day, it seemed only fitting that Jeff took one last step through the back door of the store and closed out Adam's pet store journey with some beer (much less than what built the store! Lol) If there's one thing our family learned when we decided to close Critter Hut , it's that the grass is so much greener when you can go home and leave work at work. Cheers to the big, wide world waiting for you out there, Adam!

12/21/2025

You have 2 days to shop with Adam at A's Aquatics in NK. Adam partnered with Critter Hut to open NK in 2004. His buyout of the NK location was finalized in Feb 2020, at which point he rebranded to A's Aquatics, but "Uncle Adam" will always be a part of the Critter Hut family. Go give him some love. While we miss our customers and employees, closing Critter Hut was the best decision we ever made for our family and our future. There are serious perks to nights and weekends off! Give him words of encouragement when you walk through those doors. And spend as much money there as you possibly can while you can!

Official…Unofficial statement about the rumors of us closing. Unfortunately the rumors are true!
The internet has sealed our fate along with many other small businesses. Tuesday 12/23/25 will be our last day open!

However, THE STORE WILL REMAIN OPEN!
The Fish Bowl in West Warwick is most likely buying us out. Paperwork with lawyers and such are still in the works, so nothing is officially, but 90% happening.

The store will be closed for about 2 weeks for the transition and hopefully reopening under new ownership the second week of January.

We started off as the daughter store of the infamous Critter Hut in 2004 as “Critter Hut NK”.
The Champlins and I built up this store in NK until 2017, when tragedy struck the Champlin family twice within a year! At which it was time for them to step out and focus on the OG Critter Hut in the Wakefield/Narragansett area.

In 2019, I fully took control of the NK store and rebranded it as A’s Aquatics & Pet Store. Sadly, a few years later and after almost 50 years in business! - Critter Hut Aquarium & Pets in Wakefield had to close their doors.

In RI, full-line pet stores with live animals are a dying breed, with several going out of business since COVID. The last few years have been a struggle and with the way this world and economy are changing, small businesses just can’t compete! COVID pushed everyone to shop online and with the rising prices that prevailed, consumers have made it clear that this is the new norm! With this online convenience, our sales have fallen making our business unsustainable.

Maintaining & selling live animals, cost money!
Our time to help and educate you, cost money!
Brick & Mortar to be there for you, cost money!

Thank you to our valued customers for the last 20 years in business (you know who you are!), It’s been a pleasure to meet you, laugh with you, cry with you and watch your kids and pets grow over the years.

Sorry for the expedited departure. If you need any supplies before we say goodbye, feel free to stop in and ask.

Thank you,
Adam & My Outstanding Employees