Petco will do anything to make a sale

[Jennicat]

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

The person who told you that information wasn't neccessarily trying to "rip you off". She may have heard that GP's ARE frightened of larger, open areas and need a smaller area to feel safe. Who knows???

You mean, just like we have "heard" that Petco employees are not well educated about the animals they sell? You don't say!

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

That is militant and frankly, kind of boring.

And yet, despite how boring it is, you constantly come in to spread the gospel of Petco. I would think that with all the numerous activities you posted about, coming and setting us boring folks straight about what great people Petco are would be very low on your to-do list. (Did you make another $1.50 or so telling us how great Petco is?)

[Ly&Pigs]

I think I was trying to say that. So how could my statement be false if I said what you said??

I guess I misunderstood what you were saying. I thought you were saying that without petstores, there'd be no pigs available to adopt.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

Well that would be great except without the pets coming from the pet-stores in the first place, then there wouldn't be any to adopt either (unless the rescues got their pigs from hoarders or small time breeders. Either way, the pigs won't be coming from a reputable place). One depends on the other.

Yep, that's exactly what she said.

[momof2pigs]

Well that would be great except without the pets coming from the pet-stores in the first place, then there wouldn't be any to adopt either (unless the rescues got their pigs from hoarders or small time breeders. Either way, the pigs won't be coming from a reputable place).

Do you need further clarification????

[Percy's Mom]

Nope, no further clarification is needed at all. Since you chose to truncate your own quote, you also said "Once depends on the other." Which in context indicates that without the sale of animals in stores, there wouldn't be any in shelters.

It's pretty clear what you were saying.

[seagirl96]

Where I live there is a pet store in a mall. They sell puppies, unhealthy pathetic little dogs from half way across the country! This is what they have posted on the side of their little guinea pig cage. Great starter pets need very little room, gentle, easy to care for. Require only pellets & water. Grrrrrrr! I did not accost the teens working there but when I can control my temper I will be in touch with the Manager and the Humane Society. This is the only pet store I know of that sells dogs & they charge DOUBLE what a reputable breeder charges. People can be sooooo stupid.

[momof2pigs]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

Nope, no further clarification is needed at all. Since you chose to truncate your own quote, you also said "Once depends on the other." Which in context indicates that without the sale of animals in stores, there wouldn't be any in shelters.

It's pretty clear what you were saying.

Sorry my mistake. I see where you would have misunderstood my post then. "If rescues were to have pigs available for everyone they WANT to see go to a rescue to get a pig, then the supply for the rescues would have to be met from pet stores, breeders, hoarders, etc. I hope that makes more sense.

[Percy's Mom]

Only slightly.

I would personally rather see stores stop selling animals altogether and the shelters and rescues NOT have to take in/rehome any more abandoned animals, making people either be on an extremely long waiting list or not be able to adopt guinea pigs at all. Unfortunately, that will most likely never happen. If all of the stores stopped selling animals today, and all people that wanted to have pets had to adopt them, the shelters and rescues would NEVER be out of animals for long because there will always be people having accidents, irresponsible people who think it's good to breed animals so their kids can see "the miracle of life", back yard breeders, and people who have no concept of the number of animals they can handle or the quality of life they can give them (hoarders). There is absolutely no reason that stores need to sell animals.

[momof2pigs]

the shelters and rescues would NEVER be out of animals for long because there will always be people having accidents, irresponsible people who think it's good to breed animals so their kids can see "the miracle of life", back yard breeders, and people who have no concept of the number of animals they can handle or the quality of life they can give them (hoarders).

I guess that would hold true for all animals except dogs and cats. If the only place people could get dogs & cats was from shelters/rescues then there would be no accidental litters,BYB's or hoarding (except adult animals adopted by the hoarder who would have to pay an adoption fee for every animal) because the shelters/rescues would require spay/nueter with every dog/cat they adopt out.

If shelters/rescues are so concerned with pet overpopulation among GP's, Rabbits and so on, why don't THEY spay/nueter each animal BEFORE it goes out for adoption like some shelters do for dogs and cats??

Do rescues and shelters "contribute" to pet-overpopulation by not ensuring each small animal THEY adopt out is spayed/neutered?? Hmmm.

Again, to me, the main blame lies on the individual owners.

Should bars not sell alcohol because some people CHOOSE to drink too much and go off and drive somewhere totally smashed?? No. The PERSON is held accountable, not the BAR where the alcohol came from.

[Percy's Mom]

Many rescues do spay and neuter their animals before adopting them out. Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue is an example of this. Unfortunately, there are not many vets that are trained to safely perform these operations or do not do them on a regular basis. Because of this, the shelters and rescues will make sure that the animals are at the very least accurately sexed, and require adopters to sign legal contracts that they will not breed the animals being adopted. Usually, they will only adopt out as a friend to a same sex animal or another animal that has previously been altered.

Being competently skilled at spaying a dog or cat is routine.

[momof2pigs]

Originally Posted by Percy's Mom

Many rescues do spay and neuter their animals before adopting them out. Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue is an example of this. Unfortunately, there are not many vets that are trained to safely perform these operations or do not do them on a regular basis. Because of this, the shelters and rescues will make sure that the animals are at the very least accurately sexed, and require adopters to sign legal contracts that they will not breed the animals being adopted. Usually, they will only adopt out as a friend to a same sex animal or another animal that has previously been altered.

Being competently skilled at spaying a dog or cat is routine.

I understand that and think that is a GOOD and WONDERFUL start, BUT many rescues/shelters DON'T spueter due to the reasons you mentioned. Also even though a rescue might only adopt out same sex pairs, they cannot stop a determined person from going to another shelter/rescue to adopt one of the opposite sex if the person wants to start breeding. People also LIE on applications. So again, even if inadvertantly, shelters and rescues can be "percieved" to contribute in an indirect way to pet-overpopulation as well.

When rescues and shelters spueter EVERY small animal that comes through their doors, then they can point the finger of blame directly on pet-stores. That's all I'm sayin'

[hydrohoki]

So until rescues are perfect, no responsibility should fall on those who fill the rescues with said animals?

Why doesn't Petco fix animals beforehand to also help with the overpopulation? Oh wait, Petco can't even effectively treat many animals for more routine ailments.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

Do rescues and shelters "contribute" to pet-overpopulation by not ensuring each small animal THEY adopt out is spayed/neutered?? Hmmm.

Because of the cost and often because of inexperience. My exotic vet spays/neuters the rabbits that come into my local SPCA, at HIS cost! The vet at my SPCA is allergic to rabbits, doesn't have the experience and the SPCA does not have the funds to buy expensive Isoflurane anesthesia for the exotic animals.

Most people can get a dog or cat neutered/spayed for under $70. A Guinea pig costs around $200, often more.

The rescues I know of can get their dogs/cats neutered for $10 at the SPCA or vets that work with them. The lowest "rescue cost" I know of to neuter a GP is $50. People won't blink an eye to pay an adoption fee of $10-$50 for a dog or cat but find it ridiculous to pay that same amount or more for a GP.

Most rescues simply cannot afford to spay/neuter all of their small animals because they need that money just to feed them.

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

Should bars not sell alcohol because some people CHOOSE to drink too much and go off and drive somewhere totally smashed?? No. The PERSON is held accountable, not the BAR where the alcohol came from.

Actually you are wrong there. Laws were passed quite a while ago that if a bar, or homeowner/party host, serves a person enough alcohol that they are legally drunk, the person drives and gets into an accident or is simply stopped by the police, the bar or person who served the alcohol can also be held responsible to the point of being sued, getting fines and/or jail time

I think similar laws could and should be applied to petstores too.

[momof2pigs]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

Because of the cost and often because of inexperience. My exotic vet spays/neuters the rabbits that come into my local SPCA, at HIS cost! The vet at my SPCA is allergic to rabbits, doesn't have the experience and the SPCA does not have the funds to buy expensive Isoflurane anesthesia for the exotic animals.

Most people can get a dog or cat neutered/spayed for under $70. A Guinea pig costs around $200, often more.

The rescues I know of can get their dogs/cats neutered for $10 at the SPCA or vets that work with them. The lowest "rescue cost" I know of to neuter a GP is $50. People won't blink an eye to pay an adoption fee of $10-$50 for a dog or cat but find it ridiculous to pay that same amount or more for a GP.

Most rescues simply cannot afford to spay/neuter all of their small animals because they need that money just to feed them.

Actually you are wrong there. Laws were passed quite a while ago that if a bar, or homeowner/party host, serves a person enough alcohol that they are legally drunk, the person drives and gets into an accident or is simply stopped by the police, the bar or person who served the alcohol can also be held responsible to the point of being sued, getting fines and/or jail time

I think similar laws could and should be applied to petstores too.

I am wrong in part. BUT bars can STILL sell alcohol in general. What happens to ONE bar owner for the actions of that bar and the resulting problems with said drunk person, doesn't a total prohibition on bars make. Does that make sense??

Anyway, I agree completely that Pet Stores and their suppliers should be held to MUCH MUCH higher standards and be required to have a 24 waiting period for customes as well as a contract similiar to adoption. That would be WONDERFUL.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

I am wrong in part. BUT bars can STILL sell alcohol in general. What happens to ONE bar owner for the actions of that bar and the resulting problems with said drunk person, doesn't a total prohibition on bars make. Does that make sense?

This isn't about prohibition. To equate prohibition to pets you would have to believe that all pets should be destroyed and no one should be allowed to ever own an animal.

This is about controlling a cruel problem. Bars buy their alcohol from distilleries that create their product from grain. Petstores buy their animals from mill breeders and bunchers that horribly abuse their animals to churn out a profit.

You cannot bang two alcohol bottles together and create more booze but you an throw two opposite sex animals together and create more.

You cannot force a person to get drunk and drive but any moron can walk into a petstore to buy an animal.

It is impossible to in any way equate alcohol to animal abuse and overpopulation.

You would be better to equate it to human slave ownership. A slave owner can force 2 slaves to reproduce (to a degree), sell them and even abuse them but if you noticed the majority of the world outlawed slavery a long time ago.

[diane]

VoodooJoint was correct about the bar law. In Indiana if you serve alcohol to somebody that is visually drunk (slurred speech, unsteady) that is as much a crime as the drunk driver.

About shelters spaying--the humane societies around Central IN only neuter the "pure breed" breeds before they leave the facilities. All other animals are up to the new owners. You have to sign a contract and they hold a $25 dollar deposit until you show proof. But that isn't really going to stop somebody from not doing it.

[momof2pigs]

You cannot bang two alcohol bottles together and create more booze but you an throw two opposite sex animals together and create more.

O.K you made a very good point and I gave a horrible example. I am sure you didn't mean to be funny but I found your comment above hilarious I was laughing out loud


Voodoo, I understand. I know what you guys are all about. I shouldn't be sticking up for Petco. I really hope they come to their senses and stop selling animals and only go with adoptions and supplies for sale. It would be nice but I am probably dreaming.

[momof2pigs]

P.S I went to the MPGP site and interestingly THEY say 5.3 sq ft is room enough for one pig and use the same chart this site does. They also reference this site. Is the 5.3 ft their own opinion OR is it an "outdated" minimum size that originated from here??

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

I am sure you didn't mean to be funny but I found your comment above hilarious I was laughing out loud

I did mean to be funny. I just wasn't certain if you would find it funny. Glad you laughed.

Originally Posted by momof2pigs

P.S I went to the MPGP site and interestingly THEY say 5.3 sq ft is room enough for one pig and use the same chart this site does. They also reference this site. Is the 5.3 ft their own opinion OR is it an "outdated" minimum size that originated from here??

Please PM me the site addy so I can look at it myself. I can't be certain without seeing it. It does sound like they are making up their own numbers though.

[momof2pigs]

Click on this: Metropolitan Guinea Pig