Please Do Not Go Into Pet Stores That Sell Animals

[Wheek Weak]

I have to be brutally honest in saying that I'm extremely frustrasted with the posts regarding people who go into pet stores and feel bad for, sorry for, frustrated for, etc. the guinea pigs that are there.

That is why we stopped going to pet stores...FOR ANY REASON. They want you to go in there and feel obligated to take their "merchandise" home. That's how they make MONEY!

People...please STOP going into pet stores. Also, please inform anyone, and everyone that you speak with about guinea pigs, to adopt and/or rescue. That's the only way the breeding for the bottom dollar will ever stop. PLEASE!

[Haley0489]

Quite blatantly about my post from earlier. Sorry if I've "offended" you by going into a pet store and looking at their guinea pigs and that I did feel sorry for the horrible lives they live there, and that I felt like sharing because no one else in my offline life respects animals the way I do. It's my nature to sympathize the poor things and I'll continue to go in and look despite the fact it breaks my heart. I see no harm in looking and not buying, even though it may temporarily tempt me to buy them, I have vowed to myself to ONLY rescue in the future.

[Wheek Weak]

Haley0489-
I'm sorry, but I didn't see your post. I was not referring to any post specifically. I certainly was not "offended" by any posts. Frustrated - yes. Offended - no.

I am referring to the general status of people going into pet stores and ultimately coming out with the purchase of a guinea pig, cage, so-called food, bedding, toys, etc.

I am referring to the many posts from people who go into pet stores and have a hard time resisting the "rescue" urge.

I am referring to the way-too-many posts from people who have been members of this site long enough to know better.

I'm sorry if I offended you, or anyone else. But, I will still defend my right to give folks fair warning about going into pet stores. I only do that because that's where ALL of our unwanted rescued babies have come from.

[Haley0489]

I'm sorry Wheek Weak, it was a misunderstanding on my part. I don't frequent pet stores very often for the very reason it's just tempting for an animal lover like myself to feel sorry and want to "rescue" the pet store pets. My venture into the one yesterday was the first time I had been into a pet store that sells animals since I got my pigs nearly six months ago. But as much as I hate to see animals there, I have sworn off buying any pets since I've been an active member at this forum. I wouldn't be able to buy a pig now without severe guilt of knowing I've just "killed" a shelter pig.

[MCR_Rox]

Some people go into these pet stores just to check on their guinea pigs and report them to the Humane Society. Not everyone who goes to such places buys some of their crappy, harmful merchandise.

[dra&pigs]

Yeah, MCR has a point there. The only pet shop I shop at is a local one. I told the lady who owns it about C&C cages for her animals...she doesn't have guinea pigs very often, but they have a large 2x5 whenever they come. All the animals (ferrets, hamsters, rats, gerbils) have C&C cages and they are taken out each day by me!! (I volunteer there). I think thats all right, right? I mean, they basically live in a home. She does screenings and follow-ups after they are bought. Is that all right..or should I really just avoid the shops that sell pets at all??

[yorkshirelamb]

If they have C&C cages and receive proper food, care, and attention then I would say that is an amazing pet store! You have to make your own call on things like this--obviously it sounds like a good situation, and the fact that the owner screens prospective buyers is more akin to a rescue or foster situation than most chain pet stores.

[PixieStix]

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Yeah, MCR has a point there. The only pet shop I shop at is a local one. I told the lady who owns it about C&C cages for her animals...she doesn't have guinea pigs very often, but they have a large 2x5 whenever they come. All the animals (ferrets, hamsters, rats, gerbils) have C&C cages and they are taken out each day by me!! (I volunteer there). I think thats all right, right? I mean, they basically live in a home. She does screenings and follow-ups after they are bought. Is that all right..or should I really just avoid the shops that sell pets at all??

Yes, it's nice she takes care of them, but that should be EXPECTED, they are selling the animals, the least they should be doing is giving them adequate space and attention. It shouldn't be something amazing and remarkable (like it sadly is) if the animals there are receiving decent care.

Does she still get the animals from breeders? Well, if the answers yes, she's still supporting and contributing to overpopulation.

Does she still sell harmful products (choke chains, vitamin drops, yoghurt treats, etc) for animals?

Why don't you volunteer at a shelter or rescue that is helping to relieve overpopulation, instead of supporting the pet store and helping them out?

[PixieStix]

Originally Posted by yorkshirelamb

You have to make your own call on things like this--obviously it sounds like a good situation, and the fact that the owner screens prospective buyers is more akin to a rescue or foster situation than most chain pet stores.

No, because a rescue is helping overpopulation and not getting their animals from breeders and mills. A rescue takes in homeless animals, ones that were probably once from a pet store that the new owner got tired of. Just because they screen doesn't mean that it's like a rescue AT ALL.

[CherryCake]

I have never gotten any of my piggies from pet stores (I admit to buying things at stores before.But I do not support the big chain stores!).However I don't see harm in going in just to look! Looking is not supporting.

My very first pig came from a friend.I looked after her for about 6 months,but technically she wasn't mine...she was my friend's and she was older.Shortly after I returned her to my friend (she needed someone to look after the piggy while she tried moving) - Apolla passed away.

Then I got Stuart (my current) and Stan (R.I.P).I have been fostering them from a rescue for some time now and finally signed the adoption contract.Unfortunatly Stan passed away a few days ago.When I am a little more healed (I was heartbroken) I am going to adopt from the rescue.Actually I will try fostering again,just to make sure Stuart accepts another pig.

I am all for rescue!
However when someone goes into a store and buys a piggy or any other animal,I wish they would NOT call it "rescue".Buying from a pet store is not real rescue! It is supporting pet stores and once someone buys something,that gives the store money to get in more animals.

It is a never ending cycle.

[auburnmare5]

I am going to try and get to an Agway bevause each time I go to a petstore, I feel sort of bad that I am supporting such cruelty. I am going to see if I can get to an Agway and see if they have Oxbow, or something.

[lilcavy]

I know it is best to get ginny pigs at shelters, but the animals in pets store have had just as bad of a time. They need love to, animal shelters are best but pet store animal will route in their cage just the same way as pet store animals.

[PrayerWarrior]

Originally Posted by lilcavy

I know it is best to get ginny pigs at shelters, but the animals in pets store have had just as bad of a time. They need love to, animal shelters are best but pet store animal will route in their cage just the same way as pet store animals.

If you feel that way, you totally missed the point of this entire thread.

[CherryCake]

The LAST rat I got from a pet store - it was a few yrs ago now,was extremely skittish and had so many problems.She was pregnant,yet she miscarried.She was at the vet EVERY month,sometimes twice a month because she had a tumor,an outer ear infection/growth,lice and an RI.She was afraid of everyone and took her about 3 weeks to even start trusting me.Poor girl only lived 6 months and was on meds and in/out of the vet her whole life.

My point is - she came from a pet store.They didn't care for the animals,just wanted to make a buck.They got Sterling from a breeder MILL.I bought beloved Sterling (didn't know she was so sick at the time) and not only did I support them (meaning MORE animals would suffer) - but it also became quite expensive on my part.

I just wanted to add that story.
Everytime I see GP's in stores,they are in cramped cages with just pellets.No hay (some occassions they do) and no veggies.By buying a GP from a store,you just give them money and they will go out and get more mill bred pigs to sell and make money from!

[PixieStix]

Originally Posted by lilcavy

I know it is best to get ginny pigs at shelters, but the animals in pets store have had just as bad of a time. They need love to, animal shelters are best but pet store animal will route in their cage just the same way as pet store animals.

Yes, they are taken bad care of. The reason is that the store is lazy and cheap. They don't want to put more money than they have to into their cheap, disposable 'products'. However, you purchasing one is just supporting the pet store and putting money into the greedy company's pocket. Plus, as soon as you buy a pig or any animal, one or more comes in to replace it. Are you going to 'save' those ones too? It isn't rescueing to buy a pig, it's supporting the company. Not to mention the poor mother being backbred in a mill, pumping out more babies to supply the store. It's a vicious cycle, the only way to be stopped is to quit supporting stores.

A shelter, on the otherhand, is helping overpopulation, giving countless animals another chance on life. They are taking in unwanted, homeless animals, not breeding more. In fact, most of the animals in shelters come from, at one point in time, a breeder or pet store. If you donate, volunteer, or adopt an animal from a shelter, you are not supporting breeding, and helping relieve overpopulation, enabling the shelter to take in more animals. The reason the shelter animals don't always have the best of care isn't due to laziness at all. Shelters have SUCH a hard time with funding, they simply do not have the staff, facilities, or money to give them the best stay at the shelter. They do their best with the limited resources they have.

Do you really still want to support pet stores?

[Percy's Mom]

Is there really need for ANOTHER thread like this? If anyone needs to know why pet stores that sell animals are bad, please look though the many threads that fill the kitchen. This has been brought up and argued many times.