BARGAINS : SAVE ON PET NECESSITIES.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Between supermarkets and large discount chain stores, it's getting more and more difficult for independent store owners to compete. Luckily, at Discount Pet Food, all of us with furry best friends can still find discount prices on name-brand products.

If your kitty won't eat anything but Fancy Feast, you'll find a much better selection here for 44 cents a can (48 cents to 55 cents elsewhere). For dogs, Cesar Select Dinners are 72 cents each (instead of 78 to 84 cents at the supermarket). Unit pricing is the same whether you buy one can or a case, and you can mix and match as many flavors as you wish.

Most animals have indoor accidents now and then, and an enzyme cleaner called Nature's Miracle supposedly works best. A large discount chain charges $7 for a 32-ounce container, but you can buy it at Discount Pet Food for $5.99.

You'll also find food and supplies for other animals. One of the best buys in the store was a 20-pound bag of wild bird seed (including sunflower seeds) for $4.20.

Discount Pet Food does its best to be competitive with the large discount chains, and the store goes out of its way to have the largest product selection in town. For example, there are at least a dozen types of kitty litter, from clay to recycled newspaper pellets. Also, if you always buy the same type of food and save your receipts for a year, the 13th bag or case is free.

Discount Pet Food is very active in the pet community. In addition to monthly pet adoptions, referrals to local veterinarians (our kitties who hate cars loved the mobile vet and we loved the modest prices), and special sales (get on the mailing list), they also support projects such as the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park. T-shirts for this particular project are sold for $15, and every cent of the profit goes to the park.

Discount Pet Food is located at 17641 Vanowen St., Van Nuys; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Inside info

Here's a one-stop shop for everything you need for your family. Ad-Mart resale shop truly has it all - clothes for men, women and children; glassware and small appliances; typewriters; books, toys, games and roller skates; 1,500 coffee mugs; skis; towels - you name it and you'll find it here. Prices for men's pants start at $4, women's blouses at $3 and children's clothing at $1. If your closets are full, call to schedule an appointment to place your merchandise on consignment. Ad-Mart is located at 9937 Commerce Ave., Tujunga; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Don't throw out your clothes that have stains such as bubble gum, blood, ink or perspiration. Call Helmac Products Corp.'s toll-free number and they'll tell you how to get out any stain from your clothes free of charge. Helmac Products Corp. can be reached at [phone] 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Photo: The shelves are stocked with discounted food and other items at Discount Pet Food in Van Nuys.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News