PetSmart - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**FuzzButtLover** · #1 01-28-07, 12:54 am

This is what PetSmart has a link to on from thier main page.
PetSmart | Press Room | The Facts (If link doesn't work just go to PetSmart - Pet supplies and pet products for healthier, happier pets and you will see a small box that says "How we care for pets"
Does any one believe it after seeing what "fay" is giving to us?
After visiting the link that "fay" gave everyone, did anyone e-mail PetSmart, I know that I did, even though I love to shop at PetSmart because they have a lot of great products I'm not going to until that stop selling animals. That is what I even stated in my e-mail to them. What does everyone think about this, do you guys think they are telling the real truth? I'm leaning torwards the no side since they don't have any proof. Like they say you have to "see" to believe and I am not seeing any animals being taken care of considering the videos I have seen in "fay"'s link.

Actually I do see a slight difference in the store, MAYBE all those e-mails are working. This doesn't mean that they are or aren't. They seem to be trying to show everyone the proper care they give to thier animals, but then again they could just be trying to cover up their buisiness ways. I don't know?

**jump it** · #2 01-30-07, 02:20 pm

I pat you on the back. It is great that you are standing up for something you believe in. I too refuse to shop at Petsmart and Petco but at times I might sneak in there and buy little things; nothing that will give them a huge profit. I mostly shop at a small, local pet supply store called Pet Value. It is located by my Walmart and ShopRite. It doesn't sell animals and is a few dollars cheaper on bedding and hay. I think that we all can make a differance just by doing little things. For example, by simply not shopping there. There are always alternatives; even online shopping works great! Well, I congratulate you and I just wanted to comment about it

**jump it** · #3 01-30-07, 02:31 pm

And just alittle something else to add:
Our local Petco is always empty. There is literally never anyone shopping in it. It is brand new and in my opinion, was a complete waste of money and time. That has to be a good sign of our progress. Boycott!

**fourbwabbys** · #4 01-30-07, 03:00 pm

Quote:

I mostly shop at a small, local pet supply store called Pet Value. It is located by my Walmart and ShopRite.

That's hilarious! I shop there too! I was there a few weeks ago to pick up a cat carrier for when my pigs go to the vet. They are so friendly and have great prices.

**jump it** · #5 01-30-07, 07:25 pm

HAHA fourwabbys! That is funny! I was there on Sunday with my dad and sister. We needed 2 more bags of Carefresh and he didn't want to go in so he asked "How much money do you need" And I answered, "Well... the big bags are about $12 each and we need two.. so..."
My dad doesn't have a clue how much it costs to keep 2 guinea pigs! He was shocked that it cost him almost $30 for these so called "rats". He calls them "rats" in a funny, sarcastic way. He never was put in the situation where he had to buy anything for them or clean the cage; accept he feeds if the "women" of the house are away. Anyways, we try to keep the cost aspect of guinea pig keeping a secret from him.

But anyways fourwabbys: you go to the one thats on the multi-level shopping area, near Hollywood Video? That is too funny!

**fourbwabbys** · #6 01-30-07, 07:27 pm

Yep, the one in Hillsborough right?

**jump it** · #7 01-30-07, 07:42 pm

The one in Hillsborough and also the one in Clinton? I am not sure what specific 'address' it has but I am pretty sure it is in Clinton. I may be wrong though. It doesn't take long to get to the Pet Value in Clinton and Hillsborough is a decent 20-30 minutes away, so it is probably Clinton.

**fourbwabbys** · #8 01-30-07, 08:23 pm

That's probably what I'm thinking of. It's like right across the street from Hollywood Video, in a seperate building.

**fourbwabbys** · #9 01-30-07, 08:49 pm

Sorry, I mean across the street from the Blockbuster, a few streets over from hollywood video.

**cavyowner2007** · #10 02-15-07, 08:22 pm

Our Petmart is selling sick pets. It is sad. I went in there and they had sick pets in cardboard boxes with no food or water =( I would not adopt from that place even if it was the last pet place in the world! I was discusted and I let them know I was too. If only other places around us supplied carefresh bedding. I hate going in there where they have boxes that say "Im sick, please don't handle me". I was temped to adopt the poor rabbit I saw there but then I thought it would be better for him to pass then for hundreds of rabbits to pass for the same reasons. Makes me sad how petmart is. =(

**Jolene** · #11 02-16-07, 02:11 pm

I buy all my supplies from a a place called Foxglove. They only sell house, pet, and garden supplies, nothing in there is alive except for the plants and the tellers.

I would NEVER shop at PetDumb, even if my life depended on it. That store is disgusting.. And always will be.

**cavyowner2007** · #12 02-16-07, 03:58 pm

If I can find another alternative im out of there. Our petmart is probably the 4th or 5th sickest in the world. The way they keep their animals is sick. Everytime im there I can't help but to fix up the cages a bit. Their pigloos are always tipped and their food bowls and water bottles are always on the ground, and they try to eat. So I stand up the pigloo, hang up the water bottle, fix the hay rack, and also pick up the food off the floor and stuff it back in their bowl. I know, thats sick, but if they want to eat there really is no other choice. I looked everywhere for their food container but they must keep it in the back. =/ saddens me. I saw a pet store about half a mile from where im origonally shop so im going to see if it has carefresh, and timothy hay. If it does, petsmart can kiss my money goodbye because we won't be back. I hate petsmart. It is not a pet friendly enviornment.

**jdomans** · #13 02-17-07, 01:35 pm

I am happy to say that finally I can get all my major needs met at a family run feed store. It has been around since the 60s. I get all of my food for pigs, chin, and dog there as well as my shavings. I will have to see about her parakeet food as well. Any fun stuff will be ordered online. As long as I can get the keet food from her then I have no reason for PetsMart or any other corporate company.

**cavyowner2007** · #14 02-17-07, 05:39 pm

congrats! =)

**Res Judicata** · #15 02-17-07, 07:13 pm

I stopped in the local Petsmart yesterday under protest to buy a small bag of Oxbow hay to tide me over until either get my KM order, or can get to the ARL to get more if needed. The ferret cage is awful, full of of poop, the guinea pigs didn't have any veggies, just the remains of two small oranges and one pigloo, and of course the small rodents were crowded like you wouldn't believe. I was already mad at myself for not paying better attention to my hay supply, strung out and tired from a 10 hour day at Trial Practicum, and not happy about the weather keeping me from getting to the ARL before it closed. So, I took out all that anger complaining to the manager about the conditions of the animals. Maybe if enough people complain something will get done. I will never go back; I'll be keeping a better eye on my hay from now on.

**BAll3rinA** · #16 02-17-07, 08:53 pm

I have finally decided to never go to Petco again! I found a feed supply about 20 mins away and bought oxbow hay and cavy cuisine for the first time. My pigs liked it right away. I just don't know where to go to get carefresh...But I know that I really don't want to support petco or petsmart anymore!

**cavyowner2007** · #17 02-17-07, 11:03 pm

I hear petco is bad. I am glad we don't have on in Ohio close by me. Glad to hear you've stopped going. But for carefresh the only place I know to get it is at petsmart, or in your case petco. I still will have to continue to go to petsmart, unfortunatly. But I need to supply the best for my girls even if it pains me to walk in. =/

**cusunfireguy** · #18 02-18-07, 10:25 am

I've never purchased an animal at Petsmart but I have on occasion purchased fish from there for my aquarium. I was in there a few months back and was looking at the fish and was just horrified at the conditon they were in. The temperatures were not correct, they had fish in with other fish that were not suitable tank mates, and the list went on and on. They even had fish that were cosmeticly altered with a type of "tatoo" to make them more colorful. I spoke with the store manager and pitched a fit! Needless to say, the fish dept. manager, who had no experience, was fired and they hired a certified fish dept. manager. So now, my local Petsmart has gotten 100% better in that area and have increased their "survival" guarantee from 2 weeks to 6 weeks.

This is fine and well for the fish dept. But I agree, they should not sell animals!

Steven

**seagirl96** · #19 02-19-07, 07:20 pm

Good job cusunfireguy! I think Pertsmart & Petco stores must vary according to the owner of the franchise and or the manager. I went into my local Petco to buy a Beta fish. There were several little cups with only water inside, no fish. I asked a sales person why & she told me that someone was stealing their fish, not the containers, just the fish. This sounded soooo preposterous that I looked between the little shelves the fish were on & underneath were several dead betas in various stages of decay. There were no covers on the little cups & the fish jumped out but no one except me ever looked for them! I never went back to Petco. My local Petsmart, on the other hand, is much cleaner, has some (not all) good employees & has a vet in house most days. They rarely have live animals other than fish but they do have Humane Society cats visiting most days for adoption. The next town over has a terrible Petsmart but a better Petco where they don't sell guinea pigs but they have let the local shelter bring in a couple of pets for educational demonstrations. I think public opinion has been very effective with some stores. After all their customers are animal lovers.

**pdqgp** · #20 02-19-07, 11:03 pm

I do believe that the stores, regardless of the chain, will vary in quality based on the franchise owner and management. The help in all retail store is poor. That's not likely going to change unless wages go up. Or in my opinion, if more folks interested in animals decide to go work there. Like the hardware stores in my area. The real good one, a very small regional chain, employs a number of older/retired folks who actually know what they are doing.

Similar to what others here have said, I have no idea how Petco stays in business. The one right near me is always empty. I went there the other day to price supplies and was there with maybe three employees and one other customer. The animals were all clean and well cared for. One Cavy there has been there for a long time though. I'd say she's about 2lbs and according to the employee, has been there for 7months or so.

Petsmart isn't too bad in our area. I don't like the store for it's layout or lighting. Sounds silly, but the atmosphere isn't great. Again, animals like birds and rodents were all in good shape and in a climate controlled section that seemed to be pretty new. Of course the cages were small, but then, it's a store, not a rescue operation. They always have a ton of cats up for adoption there. I saw a family bringing in literally a 6 wheel cart with a pile of kittens. Must have been 25 kittens in that thing. I over heard the owner? saying they were to be given up and not wanted.

Lastly, the Petland in our area, is completely re-done and new inside. I know this is not a pro-pet store site, but every small animal/bird was in a what I would say is a great enclosure. Huge area for the Cavies. I even commented on how clean everything was and the gal helping me said after the new management came in about 1 year ago, the store was redone and they have a crew come in a clean the store and cages every night at 9:30pm. It looked like it too.

Someone here said Meijer grocery stores sell pets....now that would freak me out. I never go there for food let alone an animal

Problem there stems from one stop shopping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by seagirl96

Good job cusunfireguy! I think Pertsmart & Petco stores must vary according to the owner of the franchise and or the manager. I went into my local Petco to buy a Beta fish. There were several little cups with only water inside, no fish. I asked a sales person why & she told me that someone was stealing their fish, not the containers, just the fish. This sounded soooo preposterous that I looked between the little shelves the fish were on & underneath were several dead betas in various stages of decay. There were no covers on the little cups & the fish jumped out but no one except me ever looked for them! I never went back to Petco. My local Petsmart, on the other hand, is much cleaner, has some (not all) good employees & has a vet in house most days. They rarely have live animals other than fish but they do have Humane Society cats visiting most days for adoption. The next town over has a terrible Petsmart but a better Petco where they don't sell guinea pigs but they have let the local shelter bring in a couple of pets for educational demonstrations. I think public opinion has been very effective with some stores. After all their customers are animal lovers.