Question about buying supplies from a pet store that sells animals

[Adorable]

I have 3 options and none are close to my home, or convenient to the things I’m normally doing with three young children. If at all possible, I try to support them but it doesn’t always work out that way. PetSmart started selling Oxbow at some point and I only noticed when I was passing time in a strip mall, waiting for a friend and letting my kids look at the animals.

So… if no one buys Oxbow because they’re boycotting these stores, won’t they just quit selling it? I’m assuming the people who know enough to get the better brands, would also know not to get their pets from a pet store. Even if the random person who got an animal there did splurge for the Oxbow, wouldn’t that be one more pet that at least got some quality food?

Someone might need to draw me a road map because I’m wondering how it’s a good thing to avoid these places if they can see that high quality foods are more lucrative than animals.

[sophistacavy]

There is already a thread on this, I remember when it first came out. http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...ighlight=oxbow

[Adorable]

I only read the first page of that link but this stood out to me.

At the end of the day though, purchasing supplies in petstores that sell animals is still condoning what goes on in and behind the scenes of the petstores. You are still contributing to pet mills, animal cruelty, too small cages, overcrowded conditions, poor diet and a host of other problems.

What if they were rewarded for the product many times over what they were rewarded for the animal? Would it make a difference? I don’t know, and that’s why I need a road map.

[sophistacavy]

Well, if you go on to read the entire thread, it might turn out to be that road map that you're looking for. It is really helpful when deciding what to do concerning buying at pet stores that sell animals.

I think the general concensus was not to buy anything from those types of stores, but I am willing to bet like a bunch of money that many people support everything we do here as in not getting animals from pet shops, but they still buy supplies from there, because of the convienience factor.

I am trying to slowly but surely phase that out of my life completely, and sooner or later (sort of a new year's resolution for me) I will only get supplies and food from stores that don't sell animals.
But it's up to you. If it is the only, most convienient option for you, and it could affect the quality of life for your children in that much of a negative way (since you mentioned that going to those 3 options aren't convienient to the things that you are normally doing with your kids), then go to whatever is most convienient for you and your family. As long as you never get an animal from the pet store, which obviously you wouldn't

[Adorable]

I did go on to read most of the rest of the thread and another post from Ly& Pigs stuck out for me.

We all have a decision to make, either we support petstores or we don't. The way the cycle of abuse stops is with us. If we stop supporting petstores that sell live sentient beings, then that's one small step towards something better. The more people that boycott shopping in places like PetCo, PetSmart and other stores that sell animals, the more they get the message that it's not ok to do what they are doing and then their views may start to change. It's not going to happen overnight, but it may happen in the future. We do have the power to change the future into something better.

I’m just not sure that boycotting the store entirely is better than supporting the good products and letting the rest fail. If you don’t show numbers, they won’t know what the problem is and possibly go out of business. But, if they see that the quality products are selling and the live animals are failing, maybe it could lead to a change.

I know I’ve spouted off in a few pet stores to people who didn’t know any better than to get their pets there. Maybe if more people were in the store buying quality food, saying the same thing, it would turn a person or two in the right direction and the pet store would lose even more live animal sales.

[salana]

Originally Posted by Adorable

What if they were rewarded for the product many times over what they were rewarded for the animal?

They are, and they still sell animals.

[sophistacavy]

I see your point, that makes total sense, Adorable. But Salana is right too. The pet shops have always made much more with products than with animals. Stores use the animals to lure in customers, in the hopes that they will buy products, or buy an animal and then buy all the products it needs right there in their store.

And another problem is that the quality products will always have to cost more than the crappy products, and customers will continue to buy what costs them less. Some people just cannot be convinced to buy a better quality product, simply because they think that it costs too much to be worth their while.

[Adorable]

I’ve been anti-pet store for more than 20 years and the only real change I’ve seen is that (mostly) dogs, cats and rabbits aren’t sold anymore. Why can’t the next step be to show that good food and bedding is a bigger money maker than the animals? They’ll never get it if the store is boycotted by the people who wouldn’t buy animals in the first place, and the ones who do buy supplies, came in to purchase a GP and some cheap accessories.

Am I delusional to think that it’s better to have pro-adoption people frequenting a store for Oxbow pellets than avoiding it, and letting the store call the shots?

[Ly&Pigs]

The quote from post #3 was mine. I recognized it.

Even though they are selling one good high quality item doesn't make up for the fact they are still selling dozens of low quality or bad items. I don't know what the price is for the Oxbow there but if there are other brands cheaper, the average Joe will buy the cheaper food leaving the Oxbow on the shelves.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

You can buy Oxbow from other venues. There is a difference.

[salana]

When you go into a pet store and buy a bag of oxbow, they don't know if you're anti-petstore, or if you bought a pig from them and are continuing to buy food. All they see is the money. And since they are getting money, they assume their business model is working, and they will continue it.

[Adorable]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

I don't know what the price is for the Oxbow there but if there are other brands cheaper, the average Joe will buy the cheaper food leaving the Oxbow on the shelves.

I've never compared pellets but Oxbow hay is only a dollar or so more expensive than Kaytee.

Originally Posted by salana

When you go into a pet store and buy a bag of oxbow, they don't know if you're anti-petstore, or if you bought a pig from them and are continuing to buy food. All they see is the money. And since they are getting money, they assume their business model is working, and they will continue it.

Thanks. That is the connection I needed.

This comment, on the other hand, was pointless.

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

You can buy Oxbow from other venues. There is a difference.

My dilemma is solved anyway because I just placed an order with KM. For the times I may need to fill in the gap, it will be less of an issue to travel so far.

[Sammy and Peanut]

This thread makes me feel extremely happy that I live right down the street from a feed store that sells high quality food for all animals and is full of anti-pet store employees.

[Paula]

The concept itself isn't complicated. Stores that sell live animals as merchandise shouldn't be encouraged or frequented, especially by people that know better, because any business given to them is positive reinforcement. They aren't carrying Oxbow products because they care about the welfare of the animals and want to see them get proper nutrition, they're carrying Oxbow because they think it will boost their profit margin.

Originally Posted by Adorable

This comment, on the other hand, was pointless.

It's ridiculously pretentious to pose a question and then post judgmental comments on the responses you get.

[Adorable]

That response contributed nothing to my question of why it’s still bad to buy quality products from a store that sells animal. I’d also acknowledged that I knew how to do it.

You are welcome to your opinion on what, exactly, is presumptuous and judgmental though.

[Paula]

How exactly would you feel if someone went through and called your posts pointless, or stupid, or silly? I don't think there's any place for it from the person who started the thread seeking the advice. Asking for clarification is one thing, calling it pointless is another entirely, whether it is or isn't.

You don't know what people reading the thread will gain from any of the replies. Furthermore, calling a reply out as pointless, IS pointless.

[Adorable]

I’d hope no one would call my posts pointless because I try to add something of value that applies to the question, instead of just some fluff. If someone doesn’t agree with what I had to offer, that’s entirely different. I agree with what that person said, but it was really nothing more than a standard (fluff) post that didn't bother to address the real question.


Like I said, you are welcome to your opinion. It doesn’t make that comment any less pointless though.

[Adorable]

By the way, are you going to continue to harp on my “rudeness”, or get back to the question I asked? I think rudeness has been covered here and the consensus is that the message overrides the way it’s presented. My message is that you don’t need to speak the obvious, so it shouldn’t matter how I say it, right?

[Ly&Pigs]

Please, enough arguing. Let's get back to the original topic of the post. Thanks.

[Adorable]

I agree. You should either try to answer the OP and address relevant posts, or get off the computer and spend more time with your Guinea Pigs.