Help Please!!

[Winnie&Week]

Hi.......the petsmart near me just won't listen!!!.......ALL the people that work there just laugh and say they are just animals....(well except the manager but I have a felling he doesn't care either.)......I have tried saying this from this site but Its not working.......any advice on what to do?

[Winnie&Week]

oops I ment, "feeling" not felling

[Jane_G]

I'm not sure what you're looking for here. Could you give us a little more information?

[Winnie&Week]

Sorry. Well I want to know what I can say to this petsmart to convince them that the way they treat guinea pigs and other small rodents is wrong or is it hopless trying to talk to them about it?

[paula.m.moore]

The best way to make a point with Petsmart/Petco and other places like that is simply not to shop there. It's very difficult to make anyone understand what they are doing/contributing to as far as pigs and their care - and even if you could, they are bound by their employer's rules and regulations.

Don't shop there and tell all your friends and neighbors and anyone who will listen not to go there because of what they do to animals, how they treat them. You'll make far more of a difference that way than by trying to talk to some kid cleaning cages or scanning merchandise.

[Winnie&Week]

I don't shop there and I tell other people not to shop there but I just felt like I could do more than that, I guess not. Thank you very much for your thoughts, I will continue to tell people to stop shoping for pets and supplies at pet shops.

[fourboys4now]

There has been times where I've been desperate and had to buy some supplies from one of the horrible pet stores out there. When I notice people looking for a pet to buy, I tell them about adopting small animals and about looking on petfinder or craigslist and about this site as well. I also always tell them about building their own cages and about this site for more info on that. Sometimes you see where that person seems to appreciate what you say, so I think it makes a difference even if it's on a small scale.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

That is so right on. I know personally in my town and area, I NEVER heard of a guinea pig rescue, and those of us that knew of rescues, we assumed that it was for dogs and cats. I did make a big boo boo and got a pig from a petstore but I was totally stupid to not know about the rescues. So from the day he came home, I started researching and then I felt like a pile of poopers. Becuase what I did just put a few shelter pigs to death. I Make sure that I do browse in Petco regularly, Because I go over to whom ever is looking at supplies or pigs, and tell them, that there are so many rescues nearby that you never knew about....They get so excited...and they always call. People are so interested to hear what i tell them about the pigs that need homes, and how they shouldnt support the stores because of the condidtions and blatent disrepect of the workers towards the pigs, ferrets and mice. It killed me one day to see a guy pin a guinea pig to the cage bottom by its neck because it pounced at him then popcorned because it was playful and spunky...I reported him to the manager, and they said He had to defend himself, and I said that well let's not type what I said because I love this group and have to obey the rules. But I just wanted to tell my side of how I know she feels by wanting to do everything she can...I keep flyers of the rescues I talk to now and hand out everywhere, I hang them on community bulletin boards, at the vet's office..anywhere that there is signs hung. I know where I am from that people do not always consider small animals as pets. This is a dog cat area. So when I tell people about pigs especially their face lights up and usually starts with a story about when they were kids they had them. So I do go to petstores if I am out that way, BUT DO NOT BUY A THING! Just browse. Because if I can tell one person and make a difference whether it be a adoption/foster or someone building their own cage and not putting money in petco's pocket..But I just feel bad about everyone forgetting about small and furry piggies. I wish I had a mansion and could have a million rooms with hundreds of adopted forever piggies in it.
This group kicks butt.

[frashy]

Originally Posted by PIGGYMAMMA495

I reported him to the manager, and they said He had to defend himself, and I said that well let's not type what I said because I love this group and have to obey the rules.

OMG he seriously said that? Did he honestly think the guinea pig was going to what..kill him or something? That is completely mishandeling an animal, it's not like the guinea pig was wild and unpredictable! Let alone, it's not like he was a huge tiger going after him, where he had to defend himself somehow really. It was a helpless little piggie. How about this - Mabey if he can't tell what a guinea pig does and what it means - obviously he shouldn't even be handeling them.

Ugh! Makes me so mad.

But I know what you mean, it really helps lower my stress just knowing I can come here and have a bunch of people who feel/think the same way! Afterall, this is where I learned so much and am so thankfull for it.

[ms pixie riot]

I think it's awesome, piggymama, that you're going into pet stores and telling potential customers about better places to get pigs! It's so proactive, and I love that people actually listen to you and walk right on out of the pet stores!

[camende]

One of the Petco employees that works in the same shopping mall that I do, came into my store. I was talking to her and she said that people often ask if there are any guinea pig rescues and she didn't know of any.

I gave her information in Critter Corral and the Central IL Humane Society which also has guinea pigs. Hopefully, she will pass the information on to customers. She did say that they get alot of people who come in wanting to give away their piggies. That is so sad.

Maybe I will print out some flyers and drop them off to her.

[PIGGYMAMMA495]

Originally Posted by camende

.

Maybe I will print out some flyers and drop them off to her.

I think that is a awesome idea, and in fact all of us should do that. Find local rescues you know of and make flyers or business cards from them. I get a whole bunch from my friends rescue and have them on hand in my car in a file folder. I always stop in somewhere if it's on my way and drop them off. Or who knows when you go to the salon, talk to the hairdresser and ask her if you can stick a few cards on her desk. It never ceases to amaze me where I can find people who love guinea pigs or just forgot about them all together.
I recently this week met our new neighbors who have all peruvian guinea pigs from a rescue they found in Connecticut. So finally my long hair prayers are answered because she said she isnt allowed to have them in her new home she's renting next to the home I own. So I have 3 little bundles of joy comming tommrow. So happy. But just to get back on point. Keep a file folder or a something in your car. Put rescue flyers inside and business cards. I personally like the flyers with the numbers on the bottom the people can rip off. Always remember Scotch Tape, and pushpins. There are tons of bulletin boards all over the place. Good Luck, let's get some forever home for needy piggies.