Maybe Petsmart is learning...maybe...

**pink_cottonball** · #1 03-13-06, 07:55 am

I went into petsmart to pick up some Timothy Hay yesterday (it is the only place I can get it around here) and I HAD to look at the Guinea Pigs. I was very sad,mad and happy wehn I saw them. They were all females 3 in one of there tiny cages (these things are about as big as a 1 by 1 and a half grid cage)and two in the other one. They were all very small(looking like they had been born maybe a month ago or less),which means that somebody had recently been breeding

. This made me mad and sad. The happy part for me was that they had a bowl of veggies. They weren't full and I don't know when they put them in so they could have had more lettuce in them earlier. In the cage of two sows they was some parsley,two slices of orange,some celery or something,and a few other veggies.There wasn't any romaine or chard when I looked so I'm not sure whether there ever was. However, a few months ago when I went a few times there weren't once any veggies in the cages and there has never been clean water. So,somebody must have told them about veggies. Not sure who,not sure when,but hey, it could be someone off the site or someone who has read some pages on Guinea Lynx who informed a Petsmart employee. All I can say is, I was happy to see those piggers getting a bit of what they should be.

**C&K** · #2 03-13-06, 08:16 am

It is impossible to know what was in the cage earlier, but it really does not sound like an optimum veggie mix. Perhaps sending a better list and a GL care guide to the store would see the mix improved, as it would appear that at least someone is trying...

**pink_cottonball** · #3 03-13-06, 07:49 pm

Yes,I hope to print out a care guide and give them to a petstore employee. I know, I know,the variety wasn't good but,at least it was a start.

**LBKK** · #4 03-16-06, 04:59 pm

This is a prime example of how 1 person really can make a difference. I have heard time and time again "I'm only 1 person....they wont listen....what's the point in trying? etc. etc." Though petsmart still not a good place in my opinion, it goes to show that some people do really care and that YES your voice can make a difference. Big or small, any change for the better is worth the effort. Pink_cottonball, thank you for sharing! It gives us hope....Laura.

Macayle · #5 03-21-06, 10:20 pm

I always here all these horrible things about petsmart,but my local petsmart is good.Not saying I would ever support the way they get the pigs but they do care for them.They four cages.Each about the size of a 2x3.Two of the cages house males and two house females.They keep no more then 3 pigs in each cage and the boys have blue carefresh and the girls pink.Each cage has 2 water bottles (one with vitamins one with just water) huge bowl of pellets and hay. A pigloo and a tunnel in each cage.

**LBKK** · #6 03-22-06, 09:35 am

Well that's not too bad....except for the fact that the Vitamin C in the water is useless. However that sounds a lot better than my local petsmart. They have the guinea pigs there in tiny little aquariums and Ive seen them keep up to 6 or 7 in 1!! The pigloo (one in each cage) takes up over half the space. They dont give them hay either. Only pellets. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to buy my stuff from there. I dont have a car and it is the closest place that sells guinea pig stuff. Even that trip takes me 1 bus, a train and a 15 minute walk! (About 1 1/2 hours total trip) I would order online for food and stuff but my work hours dont allow me to be at home to get a delivery. If I miss the delivery, I'd have to go to the other end of the city to go get it.....which would take me about 2 - 3 hours each way. ARgg.

vlb_21 · #7 03-22-06, 09:57 am

This Petsmart is so awful I keep reading about how bad they are on the various websites. How can they keep them in such small cages?!?!?

veggies are a small relief but how often is it I wonder?

**Percy's Mom** · #8 03-22-06, 10:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBKK

be at home to get a delivery. If I miss the delivery, I'd have to go to the other end of the city to go get it.....which would take me about 2 - 3 hours each way. ARgg.

Do you live in a house or apartment? Every time I've ordered anything online, they leave it on my front porch and don't require anyone to be there to receive or sign for it. Of course, delivery companies may well operate differently in Canada, and definitely different if you live in an apartment/condo complex.

**C&K** · #9 03-22-06, 10:37 am

Quote:

Two of the cages house males and two house females.They keep no more then 3 pigs in each cage and the boys have blue carefresh and the girls pink.

I have never heard of a Petsmart having both boys and girls, I always thought they were designated a boy store or a girl store... My local Petsmart is boys...

**Hansel** · #10 03-22-06, 12:19 pm

Living in an apartment sucks when you order a lot of stuff online. They will not leave it unless you sign for it. I am lucky that my Grandma lives less than 10 minutes away, so I just have my stuff shipped there

**LBKK** · #11 03-22-06, 02:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

Do you live in a house or apartment? Every time I've ordered anything online, they leave it on my front porch and don't require anyone to be there to receive or sign for it. Of course, delivery companies may well operate differently in Canada, and definitely different if you live in an apartment/condo complex.

I'm in a condo. It's a townhouse though. The last time I ordered stuff online (Toys R Us) they shipped through UPS and I had to go all the way to the north end.....that's a 45 minute drive in a car so you can imagine how long it'd take on local transit!! If they go through Canada Post, they have no issues with dumping on your doorstep or leaving it at the local post office (across the street). But, I have no way of guaranteeing that it wont be UPS, especially if the online store is in the US.

**C&K** · #12 03-22-06, 02:05 pm

Quote:

But, I have no way of guaranteeing that it wont be UPS, especially if the online store is in the US.

You can inquire about how they ship. I have worked with US companies in the past and had them ship regular parcel post. The duty fees can also be pretty terrible when shipping UPS, but don't apply with parcel post...

There are some pretty good Canadian Companies too, The Canadian Pet Connection is one that really comes to mind, they carry all the Oxbow products. However, being in Oakville Ontario, I am not sure what shipping would be like...

**guineapig_101_** · #13 03-22-06, 02:11 pm

Well I get your point but I have noticed it at other places to like pet co. There cages are small and glass I think g pigs need air. They two had two or three in a cage. BUTTTT what I thought was rude was that the males got a huge and I mean huge cage it was a pig octogon and there were less of them one time than females. The first time I went there I understood why the males had a huge cage because there were a lot of them. They Have enough room in my mind to be able to put a big cage for the females also.

**guineapig_101_** · #14 03-22-06, 02:13 pm

Also pet stores are getting really bad about where they place there gpigs. My sister and I went to petco to get ours and we wanted two of the same sex. My sister picked hers first so we went with males. But intstead of geting 2 males we got a male and a female.

**LBKK** · #15 03-23-06, 10:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cavies-and-Kids

You can inquire about how they ship. I have worked with US companies in the past and had them ship regular parcel post. The duty fees can also be pretty terrible when shipping UPS, but don't apply with parcel post...

There are some pretty good Canadian Companies too, The Canadian Pet Connection is one that really comes to mind, they carry all the Oxbow products. However, being in Oakville Ontario, I am not sure what shipping would be like...

Good advice! I think I'll check out the Canadian Pet Connection. I had no idea it even existed. Plus, if they ship regular service, that'll save me hauling huge bags of hay and pellets on the bus and train all the way home. The furthest I'll have to go (if they dont put it on my step) is across the street. Then I can finally boycott Pet-not-so-smart all together!

Thanks Cavies-and-Kids!!

**C&K** · #16 03-23-06, 12:08 pm

Quote:

Good advice! I think I'll check out the Canadian Pet Connection. I had no idea it even existed. Plus, if they ship regular service, that'll save me hauling huge bags of hay and pellets on the bus and train all the way home. The furthest I'll have to go (if they dont put it on my step) is across the street. Then I can finally boycott Pet-not-so-smart all together!

Thanks Cavies-and-Kids!!

Glad I could help!

The only problem with them is that unless you order the larger quantities, they can be a little pricy, the hay drops in price by more then 1/2 per pound from 9 pound to 45 pound orders. Still though, if I know anything about Canada Post, the shipping costs for a small box, or a large box is not that different! If you order a lot, you would not need to order probably for nearly a year, and hay can keep that long if properly stored.

Hopefully it works out!

**LBKK** · #17 03-23-06, 12:56 pm

What would you consider proper storage for hay? If I got a HUGE amount of it, i'd have to store it in my basement. My basement is fully developed though so it isnt very damp or cold or anything. Also, do you have any idea how long pellets can be stored for? They'd be stored in the girls' room....

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