Not all petstores are cruel.

**Basil&Clover** · #1 08-08-08, 03:49 pm

A few weeks ago I was walking down the street a few blocks away from my house. They were building a new strip mall on this particular block. I noticed a sign that said, "Coming Soon: Abigail's Animals", I decided I wanted to check out this pet store when it opened, so today I walked to it, and it was open. I walked in, and to my delighted surprise, I saw a C&C 4x2 guinea pig cage with two piggies in it, along with some other cages of different animals. I went straight to the GP cage of course. The thing that I was the most shocked about was the fleece bedding and the hay. I went to Abigail the owner, and asked what she fed these guinea pigs. She took me to the back room (which, by the way, was extremely neat&clean.) And showed me a rack labeled "Guinea Pig Things" It had extra pigloos, fleece, water bottles, and plenty of other things. I was espicially happy to see an open bag of Cavy Cuisine pellets and a big box of KM Bluegrass hay.I also asked her if she fed them anything else, hoping she would tell me if they were fed veggies or not. Abigail told me that she feeds her guinea pigs vegetables from that minifridge(there was a minifridge under the GP Rack). I asked if I could look. telling her I have a pig of my own. She said, "Of course." And I opened it and saw a huge variety of lettuces and other colorful veggies! I told her that this petstore is so amazing compared to the usual.

She told me that she hated how petstores treated animals, too, and wanted to make a difference, so she did research on every animal she had, and what was best for them, and only sells those things. I asked her where she gets her GPs from, and she told me she gets them as babies at our local shelter. I was so happy, and decided to myself this would be the only GP Place I'd ever shop at.
So, as you can see, not all petstores are bad.

**VoodooJoint** · #2 08-08-08, 03:56 pm

It all sounds so very "convenient". How often does your shelter get in babies? It seems that they must get in a pretty steady stream of them to supply this woman with pigs. I also have to wonder what kind of shelter gives animals to a petstore to sell to anyone with money to buy them? I could walk into that petstore you are talking about, point to a GP, pay for it and then take it home and feed it to my snake.

I think this woman is telling you what you want to hear. I suggest you check it out for yourself. Call the shelter she says she gets these animals from and ask them about this situation. If it's not true then you know that she is a liar and is actually buying them from a breeder (as I suspect). If it's true (highly unlikely) then you need to ask why they are giving animals to a petstore when they could be sold for reptile feeders or as impulse buys.

If you won't check it out yourself then please do supply me the name and phone number of this store as well as the shelter. I would be happy to get to the truth myself.

**Henle15** · #3 08-08-08, 04:02 pm

I am glad that at least she is taking care of them properly. But she does need to do screening to people who want the piggies. You should suggest that she only take in pigs that need to be re-homed from people or from a source such as a local "kill" shelter that euthanizes small animals.

She should file for non-profit status and be a rescue! She sounds like she wants to do what is best for the piggies.

**Basil&Clover** · #4 08-08-08, 04:05 pm

Okay, I'm going to call the shelter right now, although she said she found these two in the shelter when they were young, but I'm not so sure if she will keep getting them when these two are sold. Also, the shelter is the same where I have gotten my pigs, and there is usually around 3-4 GP's there. I'll let you know what the shelter says, though.

EDIT: I will suggest that to her. Henle. I was so excited that I didn't think of that. Oh, also, The shelter told me they did give two guinea pigs to Abigail, but Abigail didn't tell anything to the shelter about getting a steady stream of more. Apparently Abigail told them to call her when any young guinea pigs arrive.

**salana** · #5 08-08-08, 06:20 pm

Is she selling them, or adopting them out?

**VoodooJoint** · #6 08-08-08, 07:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by salana

Is she selling them, or adopting them out?

Thank you Salana. That was going to be my next question too.

**Haley0489** · #7 08-08-08, 08:21 pm

My guess is she's selling them, since she only wants "young" guinea pigs. The older ones need homes just as bad.

**Basil&Clover** · #8 08-09-08, 03:23 pm

Is she selling them, or adopting them out?

She's selling them.
I didn't say this place was perfect, but its probably the best pet place Iv'e ever been to.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #9 08-09-08, 03:50 pm

We are talking about pet stores that sell animals from breeding mills. But if she is snatching up the younger and more adoptable animals from the local shelter to resell, that is questionable too.

**Haley0489** · #10 08-09-08, 04:06 pm

I'd be less turned off [for a lack of better words] by her store if she took in all small animals regardless of age. Young ones are cute and cuddly, but the oldies need homes too. Does she also just sell to anyone or is she doing a screening or application type thing for prospective pet owners?

**dra&pigs** · #11 08-10-08, 06:33 pm

I have a local pet store like that near me. She basically takes in any guinea pig that the shelters locally can't house any longer (we have an overload of animals around here...even guinea pigs are always there) and keeps them in her pet shop with C&C cages, fleece, and veggies. I volunteeer there, and my primary job has been with the GP's. In their back room is floor time for them, although some are there for a long time because she often has older guinea pigs that people don't really want to adopt. She screens the people and has one or two follow-up visits as well. I personally love to shop there, to support a place who can fully care for all the animals. I never shop anywhere else for pet supplies. Plus, she never charges any more than $5 for the small animals, because veggies, hay and food adds up to be a lot. Check into things like that. Your right, pet stores are never perfect. But some people can get pretty close. Hopefully the pet shop turns out to be all right after your other research!

**Percy's Mom** · #12 08-12-08, 08:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloverLover

and a big box of KM Bluegrass hay.

Is she selling KM's hay or bought some to feed the pigs? If she's selling it, that's pretty suspicious as I'm pretty sure Linda doesn't have outside distributors of her hay. The only place to buy KM's bluegrass hay is on her website, Kleenmama's Hayloft :: Home.

**PixieStix** · #13 08-12-08, 08:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dra&pigs

Plus, she never charges any more than $5 for the small animals, because veggies, hay and food adds up to be a lot. Check into things like that. Your right, pet stores are never perfect. But some people can get pretty close. Hopefully the pet shop turns out to be all right after your other research!

Five dollars for a small animal just encourages impulse buys, buying for snake food, and encourages the 'disposable' metality. And she would not even be breaking even selling them for five dollars if she's taking proper care of her animals.

Yes, the 'perfect' stores are the ones with no live animals and high quality products.

**auburnmare5** · #14 08-13-08, 08:18 am

That sounds like a very nice pet store. I wish there was one liek that around here. If only all petstore could be like that. Unfortunately, they aren't.

**dra&pigs** · #15 08-15-08, 07:49 am

PixieStix....I never thought of it that way. Hmm...even with screenings they would still be considered impulse buys?

**Basil&Clover** · #16 08-15-08, 12:16 pm

She only had one bin of KM in the back room, and none in the actual store, so I'm pretty sure she's just feeding the pigs with it. Also, there is another Pet supplies place Called, "Pet Supplies 'Plus'" I think they have a website, anyways, its another place that I usually used to go to for GP Stuff. They sold Oxbow, and had plenty of other nice things.

**Wheek Weak** · #17 08-15-08, 02:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloverLover

Also, there is another Pet supplies place Called, "Pet Supplies 'Plus'" I think they have a website, anyways, its another place that I usually used to go to for GP Stuff. They sold Oxbow, and had plenty of other nice things.

...including guinea pigs, rats, mice, fish, birds, etc.

We have a Pet Supplies Plus here also. It makes me sick to see their ads in the Sunday paper, even though I have written to them several times regarding the fact that they sell animals.

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