Sickened by small petstore, what to do?

[Char-x]

I was shopping today up town for Hoovers birthday (pig) and well I went into this store I've been in before that when I popped in had no animals. My friend said "once I was going to get a hamster from here but thought na" I was abit confused thinking she got the wrong store because I'd never seen animals. When I went in there was - and this is NO exageration - about 10 Guinea Pigs and 6ish Rabbits in one of the smaller Ferplast cages, all together. I was so shocked and just dismayed I walked straight back out getting the shops name "Colchester pet stores" (not a chain) and I am now going to report it to the RSPCA, I dont know what else I can do though? I should have said something now, I did say a really loud comment that I cant buy things from them because of how sick it is, how can anyone see this as okay?!?!?

I'm so angry right now thinking about it, isnt that kind of thing illegal?!
I didnt stay in there long enough but there couldnt have been a food bowel with that little floor space, and I saw no hay!

[AnimalHouse36]

You did the right thing. Kind of...the ASPCA might not do anything. They tend to not get involved when it comes to small animals. Small animals don't have as many rights as dogs and cats do. If you had a camera phone you probably should have taken pictures of the conditions. If you REALLY want to get involved you could make up a pention of all the people who won't shop there until they stop selling animals or give their animals better care and have people sign it. THen you could turn it in.

Many other people have had the same experiences yo just had. I have seen it many times and I now only shop there when I'm in DIER need of something. And whenever I do go there I'm sure to argue with the clerk and demand they give them food. Thats just me though.

[daftscotslass]

There are laws regarding how many square feet each animal should have in the UK so if it is as you say then they will be contravening their licence.

Contact the environmental health department of your local council as they issue the licences for pet shops and are more likely to do something than the RSPCA.

[fiannah]

Hi
I no what shop you are talking about.
My friend bought a baby rabbit from them and it was really poorly.
after we had a vets report done we took it to the shop and they did not care.He did say the animals are only in there on a saturday as it is the only day he sells animals.

I have been in there on week days and there has been no animals in there.(before and after incident)
I have also had friends go in to have a look. they say the same thing no animals.

maybe he should not have that many in one cage.

[Char-x]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse36

You did the right thing. Kind of...the ASPCA might not do anything. They tend to not get involved when it comes to small animals. Small animals don't have as many rights as dogs and cats do. If you had a camera phone you probably should have taken pictures of the conditions. If you REALLY want to get involved you could make up a pention of all the people who won't shop there until they stop selling animals or give their animals better care and have people sign it. THen you could turn it in.

Many other people have had the same experiences yo just had. I have seen it many times and I now only shop there when I'm in DIER need of something. And whenever I do go there I'm sure to argue with the clerk and demand they give them food. Thats just me though.

I will take a picture when I next go up town, and I also like the peition idea but that would have to wait for a little while as I am doing exams at the moment. I also plan on arguing with the clerk next time, he could tell I wasnt happy at all as I stormed out shouting how I could never shop in such a disgusting place.

Originally Posted by daftscotslass

There are laws regarding how many square feet each animal should have in the UK so if it is as you say then they will be contravening their licence.

Contact the environmental health department of your local council as they issue the licences for pet shops and are more likely to do something than the RSPCA.

Ah yes he would definatly be breaking laws then, they didnt have enough room for them all to have 4 feet on the ground at a time, they were on top of each other and trying to get up the sides I will contact them too, thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by fiannah

Hi
I no what shop you are talking about.
My friend bought a baby rabbit from them and it was really poorly.
after we had a vets report done we took it to the shop and they did not care.He did say the animals are only in there on a saturday as it is the only day he sells animals.

I have been in there on week days and there has been no animals in there.(before and after incident)
I have also had friends go in to have a look. they say the same thing no animals.

maybe he should not have that many in one cage.

I was in on a Thursday and the animals were there, even if it was just one day I dont think he would care much about them behind the scenes, infact its probabaly worse

This is one place I thought didnt sell animals in Colchester and now they do, worse than Pets at Home etc, I think Colchester needs a new non-pet selling shop, since we have one which does no piggy stuff

[Rachy1412]

Poor things! Maybe I could twist my mum's arm to take me up there one day to have a nose at these poor animals care. I am currently stewing here about a farm/garden shop that has a huge pet section outside. None of them had hay and I couldn't see any pellets either. There was one baby with hair loss and obviously something wrong with it as it wouldn't move, I told them it was ill but I got no response. Going back there tomorrow or Monday to have another look to see if they've done anything. Wish I could get it for free but I know even that can make space for another animal. Plus I am worried it could have myxi, I can't be bringing that into my house with four other rabbits even if they are all vaccinated.

Why are people so heartless?

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by Rachy1412

Why are people so heartless?

Two words: Money, greed. Its sickening to see some of the conditions of animals. I was recently at the petstore with my friend. We didn't buy anything. We went there to yell at the people. ANyway, they had a rabbit in with a guinea pig. THe poor guinea pig was trapped under the hut with the rabbit towering above it. When the guine pig ot the nerve to come out the rabbit started biting it. I went to the counter and asked why they had a rabbit in with a guinea pig. "There's no place to put IT." I nearly punched the girl in the face. Instead I asked why they would have it in the first f they had to place to put it. She didn't answer. Just another example of many. I'm working on a pention for it to.

[daftscotslass]

From the Pet Animals Act 1951...



On a side note - it's legal to keep marmosets?! Just goes to show we need some new pet shop law here.

[rxqueen]

Originally Posted by daftscotslass

On a side note - it's legal to keep marmosets?! Just goes to show we need some new pet shop law here.

There's a store close to me that sells genets and once a coatimundi. It's kind of frightening. I mean, those can't be the easiest animals to care for and they just sell them in a store?

[lmracing8l]

I just went into a pet store yesterday, pets unlimited, in mechanicsburg, PA. It was so said. The GP's were scratching and itching, they had hair loss. No hay, their pellets had that other crap mixed in with it, I think they are dried veg's or something. They had scabs on their noses. There were some people standing there and I told them not to buy them, they were sick. I also told the girl working there, she didn't care. Why are there not anyone enoforcing laws against this kind of thing? And the thing is, a while back there were a group of people protesting the store because they were abusing the cats, they had. Nothing was done. They are still in business and the protesters were thrown off the property.

[fiannah]

Hi
Just wanted to know if you did report this shop?
My friends bunny died this morning and we have contacted RSPCA.
It was very sick when she bought it.
The RSPCA wanted to know all we could tell them about this shop.
Hopefully now they will do something about him selling pets.

[Char-x]

I didnt because I thought it would be useless without a picture? If they are taking an interest though in what you have to say without a picture prehaps I should and hopefully with multiple concerns they will take more action...

Will phone RSPCA tomorrow

[fiannah]

Yes please because they did seam really intrested and the man is having another delivery on saturday.