Re-homing pet store question

[cobalt]

I noticed in one thread that someone mentioned that they got their guinea pigs from a pet store that re-homes dumped pets. Are these similar to rescues and considered acceptable or are they still looked upon as pet stores by the community?

[ccrunner]

I think it is wonderful pet stores are doing this. It proves they are not inhumane or cruel. They want to give guinea pigs a better life. I believe they are acceptable and similar to rescues because that is what they are doing- rescueing guinea pigs who otherwise would have had a dreary life.

[evilnumberlady]

I think it would depend on some unknown factors.

Do they sell animals from a breeder in addition to the "dumped" pets?

Is there an adoption process or can any person take them?

How well-cared for are the guinea pigs?

If you could get that person to answer these questions and decribe it in more details we might have a better idea.

At any rate it's at least better than the more average method of stocking animals, but I doubt it would be quite at the same level as adopting from a rescue.

[ccrunner]

I do not have a direct quote from anybody. It is my opinion and I believe I am free to express that. I think that no matter what the circumstances are, it is in fact better than being thrown out somewhere or put to sleep. All guinea pigs, no matter rescued or bought from a pet store, should have a good chance at life.

[Slap Maxwell]

It proves they are not inhumane or cruel

Total BS. With the "redistrabution" of pigs, they sell another cage, more supplies, and it guarantees them more money.

They are legally not allowed to re-sell returned animals. They would if they could.

It is a gray area among rescuers.

There are several threads on this already.

[daftscotslass]

I completely agree with Slap on this one.

When they stop selling small animals on the other side of the shop then I might reconsider my opinion.

Ccrunner - overall, I think you should read into this more and find out why not many people on this forum share your opinion.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by ccrunner

I think it is wonderful pet stores are doing this. It proves they are not inhumane or cruel.

Considering that the animals dumped at petstores are the same animals (or offspring) of animals they sold they have an absolute duty to take them back. They do not care who they go to though as they have no real adoption screening process.

They are the reason the animals were dumped in the first place. They are the cause of the problem and giving away dumped animals while continuing to sell more is not humane at all.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

They want to give guinea pigs a better life.

Actually they want to dump then on anyone who will take them as soon as possible so they don't have to take up inventory space and spend money on them. The are not interested in what kind of life they have.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

I believe they are acceptable and similar to rescues because that is what they are doing- rescueing guinea pigs who otherwise would have had a dreary life.

Rescues give the sick animals medical care, provide them with decent housing, screen potential adopters and do follow-up visits. Petstores don't do these things. I have heard of many GPs that a petstore adopted out that were severely ill.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

All guinea pigs, no matter rescued or bought from a pet store, should have a good chance at life.

Yes, all GPs deserve a good chance at life but the petstores who sell them, the distributors that supply them and the breeders who breed them have no such concerns. Their concern is the bottom dollar they can make off of the suffering of animals.

Petstore that sell animals do not deserve anyone's business as they are only causing a plague upon the wellbeing of animals.

[cobalt]

Wow, I wasn't quite expecting so many responses. The responses, though, have successfuly answered my question. Thanks!

[evilnumberlady]

Originally Posted by ccrunner

I do not have a direct quote from anybody. It is my opinion and I believe I am free to express that.

I think you are under the impression that my first post in this thread was responding to your first post. That's not the case at all, I was responding to the original message. I'm sorry if I made this unclear and wasn't trying to keep you from "expressing your opinion".

[ccrunner]

Holy crap you guys - I bought my guinea pig from a pet store and he has never had a health problem or anything like that. Most pet stores get there guinea pigs from local breeders and they look into the breeder before accepting the guinea pigs. At the pet stores I go to, the associates are really nice and want to make sure you are making a good decision. AND ALL OF THE GUINEA PIGS ARE HEALTHY. It depends on whether or not you go to a good store.
With the "redistrabution" of pigs, they sell another cage, more supplies, and it guarantees them more money.
Okay Slappy, you know what? You don't have to buy a cage from a pet store; you could even make your own guinea pig food, and so in the end, the pet store doesnt' have to make a lot of money. It just depends on how easy you are suckered into buying things.
And thank you evilnumberlady, for giving me the okay to "express my opinion."

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by ccrunner

Holy crap you guys - I bought my guinea pig from a pet store and he has never had a health problem or anything like that. Most pet stores get there guinea pigs from local breeders and they look into the breeder before accepting the guinea pigs. At the pet stores I go to, the associates are really nice and want to make sure you are making a good decision. AND ALL OF THE GUINEA PIGS ARE HEALTHY. It depends on whether or not you go to a good store.
With the "redistrabution" of pigs, they sell another cage, more supplies, and it guarantees them more money.
Okay Slappy, you know what? You don't have to buy a cage from a pet store; you could even make your own guinea pig food, and so in the end, the pet store doesnt' have to make a lot of money. It just depends on how easy you are suckered into buying things.
And thank you evilnumberlady, for giving me the okay to "express my opinion."

I think you really ought to look into other people's experiences of pet stores, as yours are really not very representative of what's really going on. In the last fortnight, my friend got two pigs from a pet store, not knowing better. Not only were they mis-sexed but despite treatment, one dropped dead a week later because its brother had impregnated it at only a few weeks old. Other stories include pet stores knowingly selling "lethals", pigs ridden with mites, many pregnant females and pigs with respiratory problems. Condone this if you will.

Did you know that if one of your pigs has a litter by accident the pet shop will sell them for you? Did you know about breeding mills that backbreed females to provide for the demand that an owner like you creates? Wow, a pet store that inspects its breeders - where do they find the time and money to do that? Did you actually ask them? If you did ask them, did you ever consider it might be a lie? I would also like to know the advice the "nice associates" gave to you to make that "right decision". My friend thought she was getting good advice from the "nice associate" when she thought she had been sold two females but had, in fact, been sold brother and sister.

It seems you are the one that has been suckered by pet stores. The choice is yours as to whether or not you want to continue supporting them. Please, try and think twice about this.

[VoodooJoint]

ccrunner. Why not read this collection of threads. You may find them enlightening. This is only a fraction what is on this forum alone
Petstore Missexing
Petstore Missexing with birth complications
Sick GP from Petstore
Petstore GP Mite Infested
Sick Petsmart GP
Petstore Missexing
Pregnant Petstore GP
Petstore Abuse Case
Petsmart GP has URI
Petco GP sold with URI dies
Petstore hands out bad advice and dead GP in petstore tank
My piggy passed away last night. She was only 3 months old
Petco lied about GPs being spayed/neutered. Female GP dies of unknown cause 3 months after purchase
Sick Petstore GP dies
Petland GP pregnant. Owner may dump babies back at petstore
Petstore bought GP has running lice and dies suddenly
Female housed with male in petstore is pregnant
Pregnant Petstore GP

Also, your snarky comments to other members are not appropriate. I recommend you check the attitude at the door.

[HandcuffedAngel]

My first pig Piccolo cae from a pet store. I have mentioned it before, but his cagemate was dead. And the employees swore they had just checked on them only moments ago! [Bullcrap].

I am glad I got him because he was completely tramatized by what was happening and was trying to "hide" in the opposite corner of his cell which still did not lend much space between him and his dead cagemate.

However, most chain pet stores [Petco, Petsmart, Pet Supplies "Plus"] are crap when it comes to the animals they sell. I do know of actual local pet stores who do take care of the animals that come in to them, but that is a very rare thing to come by.

[ccrunner]

Well the pet store I went to was a very good one. I did my research on what to check for and they had all of the positives. And the lady at the pet store showed me papers linked to where the guinea pigs came from. If you buy a guinea pig and find out it is a different gender than you expected, that is your fault. You should either go to a vet and have them tell you, or find out for yourself. (cavycages.com tells you how). And I never said "right decision" I said "good decision". I went to Petland and the lady made sure I picked out a healthy guinea pig. I could tell she actually cared. I will not condone any of daftscotlass's comments. I know what I am talking about. It is your choice to agree or not to agree.

[daftscotslass]

Originally Posted by ccrunner

Well the pet store I went to was a very good one. I did my research on what to check for and they had all of the positives. And the lady at the pet store showed me papers linked to where the guinea pigs came from. If you buy a guinea pig and find out it is a different gender than you expected, that is your fault. You should either go to a vet and have them tell you, or find out for yourself. (cavycages.com tells you how). And I never said "right decision" I said "good decision". I went to Petland and the lady made sure I picked out a healthy guinea pig. I could tell she actually cared. I will not condone any of daftscotlass's comments. I know what I am talking about. It is your choice to agree or not to agree.

I think that's a superb attitude you take. If everything you see is alright, that makes it alright. You've obviously been lucky so far. Oh, and if she helped you pick a healthy one, does that mean there were also unhealthy ones to choose from? Probably.

Ignorance is bliss, some might say.

[ccrunner]

Whatever. That is not what I meant. They were all healthy, but she helped me pick between the two I wanted. I chose Dobey because the other one was a female and I had originally wanted a male. Yes, I have been lucky so far. So has my friend, who bought 2 guinea pigs from a pet store and were alright. "I think that's a superb attitude you take." What can I say? I'm very confident.LOL!!!

[VoodooJoint]

There are already some problems with this "great" pet store that I can easily see.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

the lady at the pet store showed me papers linked to where the guinea pigs came from.

I know who the supplier is for this store and all the Petlands in your area. It's a mill breeder and one of the worst at that. Believe me when I say that your GP did not come from a land of sunshine and rainbows. If came from a dark, dirty shed of neglected animals that are bred to death.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

If you buy a guinea pig and find out it is a different gender than you expected, that is your fault.

Are you kidding me?! The seller, in this case a pet store, should know enough about the animals they sell to be able to tell a male from a female. That knowledge should not fall on the first time buyer who may know nothing about that particular animal.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

I went to Petland and the lady made sure I picked out a healthy guinea pig.

That statement implies that they regularly have unhealthy animals. NOT a good sign in my opinion.

Originally Posted by ccrunner

she helped me pick between the two I wanted. I chose Dobey because the other one was a female and I had originally wanted a male.

Let me guess, the males and females were housed together right? Yeah, that sure is a responsible petstore.

Just for general reference, Petland, is THE WORST of the corporate pet chains.

[HandcuffedAngel]

I used to like Petland, but then I started paying better attention to the one near me [I never shopped there but had heard good things and actually have a friend that works there - she takes care of the sick dogs that come in].

I have noticed that not one of their birds are hand-tamed, the bunnies are freakishly skittish, their selection [especially for small animals] sucks hardcore, and even though it's nice that people can pet and pick up the animals ... that also means they can harm them or drop them or scare them.

The tactic is a different approach, but it's not the right one.

[PiggieMom]

It doesn't matter if a pet store is the greatest pet store in the world: great pet care, great supplies, great and knowledgable employees, caring store owners. It doesn't change the fact that by buying their "stock" from breeders and making them easily bought by the public they are causing a MAJOR overpopulation problem. Don't buy when shelter animals suffer and die.

[VoodooJoint]

A few intersting links I found about Petland
Consumer complaints about Petland
What Petland Doesn't Want You To Know
The Voice for Dogs.org What Petland doesn't want you to kow! First hand account of abuse behind closed doors as told by ex-employee Let's end dog abuse now!
Petstore Cruelty
Petstore Cruelty (about Petland rabbits but it's the same for GPs)
CAPS - Companion Animal Protection Society - Petland

Those are a few I found on the first 2 pages of more then 111 pages when I searched for "problems with petland" in Google.