Pet Stores Petco

[Froggirl009]

I was at petco last night and there was a dog training class going on in the back. There was a fence thing around it and it said stuff about petco. One of the things said "think adoption first". Before that there was something on the radio thing (or whatever they have playing at petco) I wasn't really paying attention to it but it was talking about how you should adopt animals from shelters and rescues. I know that that petco stopped selling animals a few years ago, but do none of them sell animals now?

 

[Paula]

They still sell birds and small animals, like guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters etc.

They only encourage adoption for dogs and cats, and that's only after tremendous pressure to stop selling puppies and kittens. As far as they're concerned, birds, reptiles, and small pets are still nothing more than merchandise.

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Petco did not stop selling animals. They still sell animals. They claim to be pro adoption to look good - yet they still sell animals from pet mills.

 

[CavyLuver516]

Hey - just because guinea pigs and hamsters are small doesn't mean that they shouldn't be adopted too! Wow, small animals really get the shaft. = (

 

[sealion]

They say "think adoption first" to look good, like previous posters said, but only for dogs and cats.
I never went to petco, but I used to go to petsmart. A few weeks ago I went in there just to check on the animals and all, and on top of all their aquariums with their "merchandise" in them, their was information about pets. For guinea pigs, hamsters, birds...But for the info on bunnies, it said : You can probably find a bunny in need of a home at the shelter.
They only said that because they don't carry rabbits anymore ! So if someone said : "Why do you support breeding ?" they can always say they advise people to adopt cats, dogs and rabbits so they are pro-adoption.
WRONG

 

[fieryone]

Call me ignorant because I'm not up on Petco and Petsmart, but why do they not sell rabbits but sell guinea pigs, ferrets, etc? Did they never sell rabbits, or were they also pressured to no longer sell rabbits in addition to the cats and dogs but not smaller small animals?

 

[sealion]

Fieryone, I think they once carried rabbits, like dogs and cats, but were pressured to no longer sell them, but I can't seem to know why it bodered people that they were selling bunnies and not guinea pigs, hamsters ...

 

[iPiggy]

Fieryone, I think they once carried rabbits, like dogs and cats, but were pressured to no longer sell them, but I can't seem to know why it bodered people that they were selling bunnies and not guinea pigs, hamsters ...

At the Petco here they had a rabbit with a guinea pig. I was about to give the manager a piece of my mind about that, but my mom dragged me out of the store "before someone was injured":grumpy:

 

[CavyLuver516]

Oh, I would've liked to give them a peice of my mind too. My mom would've done the same thing...grrr (to mom, but mostly the manager!!) DO these people know ANYTHING?? 1 more reason not to trust Pet Shops...

 

[wonderwhiskers]

Here in England, no pet shop sells cats or dogs.
I think its so weird when I watch programmes that show petshops in America .. Like I was watching Paris Hiltons British Best Friend not long ago (It was rubbish! ha!) ..But anyway ..they showed a petshop in America ..which sold everything! Like mini pigs ..not guinea .. monkeys, cats, dogs and all the usuals ..but it was soooo weird!
If they did that here, people would totally freak out and go crazy mad about it!

I don't actually think the petshops are that bad here ..
compared to other countries anyway! I still don't agree with them ..but they are deffo not as bad as America, from what I've heard!

Pets at home is our biggest petshop brand ..and its not great ..but its not the worst place ever.
Rabbits and guinea's are always seperate, normally tidy with plenty of food and water .. not really big enough ..but pretty big ..never too crowded ...

Could be better though!

(And before anyone bites my head off .. I don't buy from any petshop ..all my pets have either been rescued or have 'found us'.

 

[Paula]

I don't actually think the petshops are that bad here ..

If they sell live animals as merchandise, yes, they are that bad.

(And before anyone bites my head off .. I don't buy from any petshop ...

I'd appreciate it if you'd avoid making statements like this. It's presumptuous, unnecessary and definitely not appreciated.

 

[Froggirl009]

The only live things the petco near me sells is beta fish in those small containers... Once I went there and half of them were dead. It's just sick. :weepy:

However, the petsmart by my house sells hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ect.

 

[wonderwhiskers]

If they sell live animals as merchandise, yes, they are that bad.

I'd appreciate it if you'd avoid making statements like this. It's presumptuous, unnecessary and definitely not appreciated.

No they are'nt that bad. Have you been to a petshop in England?
If you have you'll know that there are some decent ones.
Theres one about 45 minutes away from me that 'sells' animals..but from local people .. for example accidental litters, and animals that the Rescues are too full to take in.
Even pets at home sells lots of merchandise that supports rescues, and I'm pretty sure that they donate a certain amount every month to the RSPCA and other organisations.

..
I don't buy animals from petshops, because I don't agree with chain-stores like pets at home breeding animals when there are already so many needing homes.
The other petshop I mentioned ..I would'nt have a problem with anyone buying a pet from there ...They don't make much money from the animals, they don't breed them and they are healthy and happy.
I don't think I personally would buy a pet from there. becaise all my animals have sort of found me, or I have 'inherited' them, and rescued them from various places.

I think its unfair to judge a place if you haven't personally been there yourself. And I'm proud of my country and its animal welfare policies.
Besides a few idiots - which there are everywhere, the majority of us have respect for animals.

Also, as for making assumptions ..before joining any forum .. I always read the previous posts ...and I have seen how the members here .. not pointing the finger at anyone, and it is most likely just a minority few .. In all the previous posts I have read, when anyone has said anything that is even remotly positive about a petshop .. they have been critised for it.
Which I would not appreciate, as I think I have done alot for animals in my short time on this world .. not enough yet .. but I'm still young, and I will do as much as I can,whenever I can for the rest of my life.

 

[wonderwhiskers]

Also, petshops in England don't sell to under 16's. I'm not sure if thats the case in America?

And once not to long ago I was in pets at home buying some bedding, and I took my young neighbour with me, who is 3. I let him stand by the rabbit enclosure and 'talk to the bunny wabbits' ..
Not long after a shop assistant came up to us and told me that she does'nt think I should buy my son (LOL! How old do you think I am) A rabbit as they don't make good childrens pets. I started to tell her how I was'nt going to be purchasing a rabbit, and she just carried on and told me no small animals are great for children.
Then she ran off and come back with a bag full of animal care leaflets .. of every kind!
I was'nt even remotly interested in buying a pet, and she still put in the extra effort to make sure an animal would'nt be going to an unsuitable home.

I've also seen people being refused pets .. 3 young men who wanted to buy a hamster weren't sold one, because they did'nt look trustworthy.

I

 

[Paula]

Theres one about 45 minutes away from me that 'sells' animals..but from local people .. for example accidental litters, and animals that the Rescues are too full to take in.

But they're still making a profit off of those animals. Do they do any screening for the people that come in to buy the animals? Do they question their knowledge on the pets they are wanting to buy? Do they make sure the buyer has the proper cage, food, etc.? Do they make any realistic effort at getting a background or history on the animals the people have owned in the past? I doubt so. More likely than not, they simply sell the animals to anyone who can pay for them. And if that's the case, I don't have to go there to know they are no better than stores who get animals from breeders and mills and sell them to anyone with enough cash to pay for them.

Even pets at home sells lots of merchandise that supports rescues, and I'm pretty sure that they donate a certain amount every month to the RSPCA and other organisations.

It's great that they may be making a donation to rescue groups. That doesn't change the fact that they're still selling animals as merchandise. That they may be doing something fundamentally good (making donations to rescue groups) doesn't change the fact that they are also doing something fundamentally bad (selling animals for profit).

...and I have seen how the members here .. not pointing the finger at anyone, and it is most likely just a minority few .. In all the previous posts I have read, when anyone has said anything that is even remotly positive about a petshop .. they have been critised for it.

That you've seen it happen before doesn't mean it will happen to you. If you say something someone doesn't agree with, members have every right to step up and say they disagree.

ETA:

I was'nt even remotly interested in buying a pet, and she still put in the extra effort to make sure an animal would'nt be going to an unsuitable home.

I can appreciate a situation like this, but suspect that it's an isolated incident and due to the care and concern of an individual worker and most certainly not store policy.

I've also seen people being refused pets .. 3 young men who wanted to buy a hamster weren't sold one, because they did'nt look trustworthy.

I find your interpretation questionable. In any case, workers wouldn't be put in a situation to refuse to sell an animal to anyone if the store they worked for didn't offer them for sale in the first place.

 

[wonderwhiskers]

But they're still making a profit off of those animals. Do they do any screening for the people that come in to buy the animals? Do they question their knowledge on the pets they are wanting to buy? Do they make sure the buyer has the proper cage, food, etc.? Do they make any realistic effort at getting a background or history on the animals the people have owned in the past? I doubt so. More likely than not, they simply sell the animals to anyone who can pay for them. And if that's the case, I don't have to go there to know they are no better than stores who get animals from breeders and mills and sell them to anyone with enough cash to pay for them.

Well no, they aren't really making profit. The store owners have to pay employee wages, food, bedding and of couse medical bills. (Yes, the do take the animals to the vets, I would'nt have known about my brilliant vet's if they had'nt told me about it. Abit of a longer drive, but so worth it!),and the animals are 'sold' at reasonable prices.

As for proper care ..yes! They are good. I've got to know them quite well .. not brilliantyl, but they remeber what animals I have, and always take an interest. When they noticed I'd stopped buying cat products, they mentioned it and I told them she died, they told me how sorry they were, and they did genuinly seem sorry for me.
They also once gave me a free light reflecting dog-collar, because I mentioned how worried I was about my blind dog living near a road, and people sometimes come into our garden (kids getting their balls normally). That was pretty sweet. They are also normally really helpful about food and stuff, and they are always rightl even if I it means I buy a cheaper product, they never lie about it.

Oh, and I was once there when they refused to sell some pet mice to a man, because he had been telling them about his new snake the week before. I really respect them for that.
And in England, we don't actually have 'mills'. We have private breeders ..but no mills like you do in America.
As part of the EU, we do actually have different laws, and animal protection rights.

Also, no they do not 'vet' the buyer .. but I think you can tell if someone is going to be a good owner. The staff at all the PS I have ever been to always talk in depth to the buyer ..and I've seen so many times people being refused service, as I have mentioned above.

It's great that they may be making a donation to rescue groups. That doesn't change the fact that they're still selling animals as merchandise. That they may be doing something fundamentally good (making donations to rescue groups) doesn't change the fact that they are also doing something fundamentally bad (selling animals for profit).

I agree with you on this point, but the quote you took from me ...you took it out of context. I said that they werent that bad COMPARED to other countries.
Thats very different to 'not that bad'. We still have a long way to go, and we are no where near perfect ..but we are on our way, and I feel the petshops here do actually care for their animals reasonably....and alot of the workers, most infact are animal lovers who are knowlegeable about animals.

That you've seen it happen before doesn't mean it will happen to you. If you say something someone doesn't agree with, members have every right to step up and say they disagree.

I agree, and I'm demonstrating my rights by replying ..just as you are.
However, it is also my right, and your right, and everyones right not to be harrassed for putting their point across, especially if what they have said is fair and balanced. Like my comment was.

Also, I said that, because to me, being critisied for anything to do with animals is one of the worst things.
I give my only day off work to volunteering, and have done as much as I can for animals of every kind, so to come on here and be critisied about animals, just for saying some positive, and true points about petshops would be unfair.
Thats why I said it, and it was'nt directed at anyone, so to be honest I don't even know why its an issue.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Thats why I said it, and it was'nt directed at anyone, so to be honest I don't even know why its an issue.

Because lately, more and more, we mods are seeing people say "don't bite my head off for..." or "I don't want to be harrassed because I...". Who says anyone is going to harrass them for anything? By making such statements you are assuming that your post will cause this to happen. But, how do you know it will happen? You don't. So basically you are just assuming and assuming can and has gotten a lot of people in trouble around here.

You are entitled to your own opinion but that does not mean that others agree with it. This site is Anti-petstore that sells animals for a majority of reasons.

Some of these stores that you've personally been to that actually sell the animals, have you been in their back rooms? Have you been there on days they get in animals and seen the conditions of how they are brought to the store? Do you know exactly where they get the animals? Are they bought from mills or backyard breeders? Have you been to the mills or backyard breeders places? Do you know how the animals were raised? Petstores are more than just the appearance when you walk in. It's more than cage sizes in the store, more than how the animals are taken care of in the store. There are a lot of behind the scenes things that you don't see.

 

[Paula]

That they have to pay employee wages and other costs of operating a business is a moot point. Every business has to put out money to make money. The point is they are selling these animals for less than they paid to acquire them.

Pet stores in America have to pay vet bills for the sick animals they are selling too, when they opt for veterinary care instead of something more convenient ... It's the price of doing business.

Beyond that, one of the reasons stores sell animals is that they serve as an impulse buy that's a gateway to selling more products - cages, accessories, food, etc. - which results in more profit for the store.

That some workers took note of the loss of your cat and helped with your blind dog is great, but nothing more than the generosity of those workers.

I can certainly appreciate that you've come to respect and appreciate this store and its staff. That doesn't change the fact that they continue to sell animals instead of encouraging adoption at a local shelter or rescue.

And in England, we don't actually have 'mills'. We have private breeders ..but no mills like you do in America.

It makes no difference. They are still creating lives while others are homeless in shelters.

I agree with you on this point, but the quote you took from me ...you took it out of context. I said that they werent that bad COMPARED to other countries.

I disagree. If they are selling animals, they are just as bad. That there may be some points that are better than stores in other countries doesn't change that fact.

In what way have you been harassed or criticized for anything that has to do with your animals?

 

[wonderwhiskers]

Because lately, more and more, we mods are seeing people say "don't bite my head off for..." or "I don't want to be harrassed because I...". Who says anyone is going to harrass them for anything? By making such statements you are assuming that your post will cause this to happen. But, how do you know it will happen? You don't. So basically you are just assuming and assuming can and has gotten a lot of people in trouble around here.

You are entitled to your own opinion but that does not mean that others agree with it. This site is Anti-petstore that sells animals for a majority of reasons.

Some of these stores that you've personally been to that actually sell the animals, have you been in their back rooms? Have you been there on days they get in animals and seen the conditions of how they are brought to the store? Do you know exactly where they get the animals? Are they bought from mills or backyard breeders? Have you been to the mills or backyard breeders places? Do you know how the animals were raised? Petstores are more than just the appearance when you walk in. It's more than cage sizes in the store, more than how the animals are taken care of in the store. There are a lot of behind the scenes things that you don't see.

The before anyone says anything is just a throw-away comment. I did'nt mean anything by it, and it was'nt directed at anyone.
Although I was somewhat standing up for the petshops ..its because although I have never agreed with them ..I did'nt realise how actaully decent they are over here in the U.K, but hearing some of the things on here about the American ones .. wow.
Anyway, it was just a way also of reminding people that I DON'T buy animals from petshops, despite my post.

No, I have never been in the back of Pets at Home, but 2 of my close friends have for Work Experience, and neither of them told me anythng awful about it. They are both animal lovers, and they know I am, so surely the would have mentioned it if they had seem something horrific.
However, I'm not naive ..maybe they were kept from the 'bad bits' because they were'nt paid employees? Who knows.
What I do know is that alot of the workers in Pets At Home are animal lovers, and I'm pretty sure they would kick up a stink about it if there was.

Also, the local petshop is open plan. There are'nt any backrooms, its in the back of a shopping market, and the two enterances are the only doors in shop, except for a small stock room, which has no animals in it. I know this because I once helped one of the workers carry a delivery box (full of dry dog food) into the bacl.
They also do a pet sitting service, and that part of the shop is seperated by half a wall, and a sliding glass wall .. I can't really explain it .. but theres nothing horrible there either.
(I would'nt use the pet sitting service thougjh, I would be scared of my babies catching something, so my grandaddy minds my pets if i have o leave them for a few days)

 

[Gryffy&dewey]

Petco did not stop selling animals. They still sell animals. They claim to be pro adoption to look good - yet they still sell animals from pet mills.

hmy: No way! My guinea pig, dewey, is very healthy and he's from Petco.
Apparently the Petco you go to does do it, but mine doesn't. That or you are thinking of Petland. They do it. If you've been there the cages are glass and filthy. They just feed and water them. They don't clean their cages! And if there is too many that they can't sell, they kill them. Belive me, I know this.
:weepy:
Clickthe picture and you will see my guinea pig dewey.