What not to sell?

[Draenog]

I'm thinking of posibly starting a pet store one day, and I'm getting amazing info from past posts. I now know to never sell kittens and puppies. I see posts here and there telling about things people shouldn't get like cedar wood shavings for rodents. What are some more things a shop owner should avoid stocking? :)

[Moosley]

*fluffy* hamster bedding (the stuff that looks like cotton wool.

Wheels with rungs, like the wire ones....

[Prickles]

Any brand of hedgehog food should be avoided. Don't get me started with Vitakraft hedgehog food...i can go on and about how bad it is. Play it safe and ignore all the brands of hedgehog food. They're just not worth it.

[Draenog]

Well, what are some brands of cat food that could be substitued instead of hedgehog food?

[Jennicat]

Guinea pig foods with seeds in them, running balls for guinea pigs, running wheels for guinea pigs, vitamin C water supplements for guinea pigs, too small cages...

[Prickles]

Chicken soup for the pet lovers soul is a good brand. Nutro/Natural Choice is also good. I've heard that Wellness is good too. Just make sure you sell the light version as hedgehog food.

[Pippin]

Ferrets: Terrible food such as Marshalls, Kaytee, and 8-in-1 foods other than Ultimate. Roll around balls for them. Too small of cages. Any harness other than "H" ones. The water bottles that open from the top.

Geckos: Heated rocks and calcium sand.

Fish: Bowls! Don't sell goldfish to people unless they understand that they need very large tanks (55 or more).

And even worse than ceder and pine shavings are the green chlorphyll shavings.

[abbyful]

Dogs. It irks me to see dogs in pet stores. :( It would be great to arrange with a local shelter to bring animals in once a week for an "adoption day" though. :)

[abbyful]

Fish: Bowls! Don't sell goldfish to people unless they understand that they need very large tanks (55 or more).

Selling bowls is okay, just make sure people know they're only for bettas, not for goldfish.

[Jennicat]

Selling bowls is okay, just make sure people know they're only for bettas, not for goldfish.

Think again, they're not good for bettas either.

[abbyful]

^ A 1 gallon bowl is an acceptable size for a betta. Also, with bowls, you don't have to worry about strong flow from the filter, which most bettas dislike.

[mynoven]

with bowls, you don't have to worry about strong flow from the filter, which most bettas dislike.

That's NOT true!!! My betta LOVES the filter!! If it is a strong flow, that means the water is way to low....

If you get a bowl, it will be harder to maintain the Ph and Nitrogen cycles in it. You will be doing water changes every 2 days!!!

If you get something a little bigger....like a 5 gallon, with filter and heater, you will not be doing water changes as often, maybe every 2 weeks.

I have mine in a 10 gallon, and after cycling the water for 2 weeks, I only need to do water changes once a month, or if the test strips say that my nitrogen is too high.....

If you keep them in a bowl, it is harder to maintain, besides.....they like to move around!! How would you like to live in a closet your whole life? Give them a house!! (minimum most say is 1 gallon, BUT, IMO, it should be a minimum of 5 :p)

[mynoven]

I'm thinking of posibly starting a pet store one day, and I'm getting amazing info from past posts. I now know to never sell kittens and puppies. I see posts here and there telling about things people shouldn't get like cedar wood shavings for rodents. What are some more things a shop owner should avoid stocking? :)

Don't sell Rat food with seeds and corn!! Stick to Mazuri or Tekland Lab blocks.....Also, you should give the ingredients and option for Suebbes.....I am not completely sure what is in it, but I know that some rattie owners prefer Suebees over any lab block!

[abbyful]

"That's NOT true!!! My betta LOVES the filter!!"

That's why I said "most", not "all". I agree, some bettas like it, but there are many who don't.

Here is a "do-it-yourself" to help with filter currents though, if you have a betta who doesn't like it: http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/9/347/

[Jennicat]

1 gallon for a fish that size, in a stagnant bowl is not ideal. It's like keeping a rat in an aquarium. You can, but why would you?

[abbyful]

Minimum does not mean ideal, it means minimum. It means that nothing smaller than that should be used. (And water only turns stagnant if you don't change it enough.)

[Jennicat]

The definition of stagnant is not flowing in a current or stream. All water that is sitting in a bowl is stagnant, regardless of how often you change it.

[abbyful]

When most people refer to stagnant water, they are meaning this definition "Foul or stale from standing: stagnant ponds." (source: dictionary.com) Stagnant has the connotation of being stale/foul, not just motionless.

[Jennicat]

Your source lists that as the secondary defintion, not the primary one.

[abbyful]

Yes, it is the secondary definition, but it's what most people think. If you mention "stagnant water", the majority of people are going to think "gross water that's been standing for a while and is smelly/yucky/whatever". That's why I said that the word "stagnant" has the strong connotation of the second definition.

[mynoven]

Yes, it is the secondary definition, but it's what most people think. If you mention "stagnant water", the majority of people are going to think "gross water that's been standing for a while and is smelly/yucky/whatever". That's why I said that the word "stagnant" has the strong connotation of the second definition.

MOST people do not know how to properly care for fish either....to say stagnant to newbies...yes, that's what they think.....to more experienced fishyowners...stagnant is none flowing water.

Technicalities, gotta love them!! :p

[abbyful]

^ I don't see your point mynoven. So there are multiple definitions for the word "stagnant", and the word has certain connotations associated with it. Your post is off on a tangant. True, there are a lot of people that don't know how to care for fish, but those people also include people getting a 10 gallon tank and stuffing in a pleco and a bunch of goldifsh or something. You can't refuse to sell something just because someone might use it wrong. Fact is, a 1 gallon bowl is an acceptable home for a betta. A petstore will be expected to carry them. It may not be the absolute best setup available for a betta, but it will do and people want the bowls for their desks at work and such.

And also don't forget the purpose of a petstore (or any store) is to make money. You have to pick your battles, else you won't have any business.

[Jennicat]

A petstore will be expected to carry them. It may not be the absolute best setup available for a betta, but it will do and people want the bowls for their desks at work and such.

And also don't forget the purpose of a petstore (or any store) is to make money. You have to pick your battles, else you won't have any business.

Actually, there are many thriving pet stores in this area that do not sell cruel products, and do quite well. Phydeaux pets is about a half hour drive from us. They only sell high qualtiy dog food, don't sell rawhide junk treats, only provide small animals foods that are quality and don't sell the crappy pet store cages, they sell quality flea medication, not the crappy Hartz stuff that kills animals, and they're making profit.

Oh, and the nonprofit that I volunteer at that only sells quality pet supplies as well.

Not to mention the store Wag on the other side of town which does the same thing but focuses primarily on dogs.

The big fish store downtown (which I don't remember the name of, as I don't have fish anymore) doesn't sell bowls. They don't sell betta "setups". The smallest thing they sell is a 5 gallon minibow. Amazing that they're in business by your standards, and yet they're thriving.

Being a business doesn't mean that you have to be an irresponsible business that advocate and enables people to buy harmful products that harm and kill animals, and encourage them to lead miserable lives. However, as a consumer, you can support these types of businesses and continue to support people who enable others to harm animals out of ignorance.

[abbyful]

A 1 gallon bowl for a betta is not cruel. It's the minimum size requirement.

[daddysgurl9245]

Ok, this person came here asking for ideas, not a fight. And abbyful, just listen to them! This isn't going to get anywhere and keeping a betta in a 1 gallon is cruel! Put your self in the fish's shoes! (hehe)

[abbyful]

^ All the sources I have checked and the fishkeepers I know state that 1 gal is the minimum size. I never said it was the best size, but it is the minimum.

[daddysgurl9245]

Yes, whatever you believe. Now, I think we should stop this and tell the OP what she wanted to know.

[PooingCavy]

Abbyful, pleance shut up and move along. 1 gallon is harmful for betta, they are suitable for sea monkeys and triops and thats all.

[PooingCavy]

Sell 1 gallon tanks, but ONLY IF theya re bought with brine shrimp or seamonkeys or triops. Those are like those instant pets. Let NO ONE buy it alone, or for any fish

[mynoven]

Abbyful, pleance shut up and move along. 1 gallon is harmful for betta, they are suitable for sea monkeys and triops and thats all.

That's uncalled for, and it is NOT harmful....just not reccommended.......only harmful if water is left dirty and uncleaned.

[Pippin]

Sorry for starting all this.:o
I was refering to goldfish but I don't think bettas should be kept in bowls either. Bowls just don't allow good oxygen exchange.
I can't say anything about small tanks for bettas though. I have a male temporarily housed in a tank that is probably around 1-2 gallons until I can get him into a 10 gallon. My other guy is in a 10 gallon. I know a lot of good betta breeders keep their stock in 1 gallon tanks without gravel/plants. Frequent water changed make it possible. But for a pet betta, I would try to keep it in a 10 gallon.

[Khay]

Don't sell any animals (The life of an animal is not something to make profit from. Responsible breeders do not profit from breeding, especially in rodents.)

And don't sell unsafe/unsuitable things for animals. Make sure you do your research on whatever you sell, and none of that dri-tail junk x_X

[mynoven]

Don't sell any animals (The life of an animal is not something to make profit from. Responsible breeders do not profit from breeding, especially in rodents.)

Then what's the point of opening a pet store?

What's wrong with making a little money, while making some animal lovers happy?

Buying a pet in the store is easier for some people, besides, if breeders do not make a profit, how are they going to properly care for their animals??

[Jennicat]

Then what's the point of opening a pet store?

What's wrong with making a little money, while making some animal lovers happy?

Buying a pet in the store is easier for some people, besides, if breeders do not make a profit, how are they going to properly care for their animals??

Responsible breeders a.) don't make a profit and b.) don't sell through pet stores since they do interviews with potential owners.

Only animal mills sell to pet stores. Where animals are mass produced, are kept in poor conditions, and are treated miserably. That's what's wrong with selling animals.

[Spudnik]

I'd love to own a pet store in the future... selling pet SUPPLIES and donating space for the RSPCA to come and display some of the unwanted pets that they have for adoption. I'd rather not contribute to the horrific overpopulation, not to mention the abundance of unhealthy animals that animal mills spew on a daily basis.

[Khay]

mynoven, the point of the pet store should be to sell supplies to people who have responsibly aquired an animal. Not to make profit off of a living thing who is the outcome of overbreeding, extensive inbreeding, and irresponsible breeding. Responsible breeders do not make profit. Any profit they do make goes right back into caring for the animals under their care.

[abbyful]

Don't sell any animals (The life of an animal is not something to make profit from. Responsible breeders do not profit from breeding, especially in rodents.)

No animals at all? Or just none of certaiin types? I can see not selling dogs and cats and such. But not selling any animals (not even fish) seems kind of odd and I don't think you'd be in business very long.

[Jennicat]

No animals at all? Or just none of certaiin types? I can see not selling dogs and cats and such. But not selling any animals (not even fish) seems kind of odd and I don't think you'd be in business very long.

You keep saying that, even when I pointed you to three stores in our area that are thriving without selling any animals whatsoever (not even fish).

[Khay]

No animals at all? Or just none of certaiin types? I can see not selling dogs and cats and such. But not selling any animals (not even fish) seems kind of odd and I don't think you'd be in business very long.

NO animals. dogs and cats are not any more important than fish. And fish are not any less important than dogs and cats. All pet store animals come from irresponsible breeders and/or mills.

There is a local pet store that sells nothing but high-quality dog food and dog supplies in my town, they do very well.

You don't have to make profit off of the life of an animal (Terrible thing) to thrive in the pet-supply world.

[Jennicat]

Considering that pet stores always claim that they don't make a lot of profit off of the animals anyway, I'm surprised more don't carry animals, to be frank.

[abbyful]

I don't think many people would have pets if no petstores carried animals of any sort. (Whether or not that is a good thing or not is another discussion). In reality though, how many people are going to pay $20-30 for overnight shipping on a 99 cent danio fish? In some areas, there just aren't breeders for every type of pet people want. And those breeders may or may not do a better job than the ones the pet store gets thier animals from.

I'm not saying "yes, you should carry animals" or "no, carrying animals is bad", I'm just saying that carrying animals of certain varieties isn't necessarily bad if the pet store owners are knowlegable about where the animals come from. And just because a person gets an animal from a breeder rather than a pet store doesn't mean it came from a good breeder. I do think some animals, such as dogs and cats, should not be "sold", but it's good to have a local shelter or rescue have space so they can show some of the animals that need adopting.

[abbyful]

Considering that pet stores always claim that they don't make a lot of profit off of the animals anyway, I'm surprised more don't carry animals, to be frank.

They may not make profit off the animal itself, but everything that goes along with it they do. Someone wants to buy a $10 hamster. Well, that $10 hamster gets a $40-50 cage, food, treats, bedding, etc. Before you know it, the $10 hamster has racked up $75 in sales for the petstore.

I think everyone will agree that the price of the animal, whether it be $2 or $2000, is (almost) always the cheapest part.

[Jennicat]

We get the same amount of business at the nonprofit. Someone adopts their hamster from the rodent rescue that's there, they buy a cage from us, they buy food, they buy toys, they buy bedding. And the $10 adoption has racked up $75 in sales from us, AND we're not supporting mill breeders.

[abbyful]

^ I can see that working well if you're in a larger city. Smaller towns there's usually only 1 animal shelter that has cats and dogs and rarely has any other animals. I guess it all depends on the market and the resources available.

[Jennicat]

^ I can see that failing only if you have lazy pet owners who truly don't care about animal welfare and would rather take the lazy way out.

I guess we're a special state since people drive quite a ways to reach good, conscientious retailers who don't support cruelty. :)

[abbyful]

I grew up living 90 miles from the nearest Walmart. There are areas that just don't have pet rescues within a feasible distance.

I agree that dogs, cats, and the like should not be sold at petstores. I don't see a problem with small rodents and fish. I don't see it as worth the drive for 5-10 hours to get a single mouse, or to pay high shipping on a single fish (site unseen as well). I grew up on a farm, though, and I see things like fish more as livestock than actually 'pet' pets. On the farm, livestock have certain worth, and if it's going to cost more than their worth, that it isn't worth it. (Ex: If a bull isn't doing his job, he's just losing money for the farm, therefore, he gets replaced.) Pets are in a different category, pets are part of the family, so monetary cost doesn't matter as much. To me, dogs and cats are "pets", fish are livestock.

This is just my personal opinion. I know some people will disagree with it. (And I don't want to get into a big argument over who's right and who's wrong. I respect your opinion and it's good that you have it and stand by it, but it's just not for me.)

[Jennicat]

"I don't see a problem with small rodents and fish. "

I work with a small rodent rescue. Come talk to me when you've had to deal with small rodents purchased from pet stores, kept for years under conditions that make them medically crippled, and then try to home them. Pet stores CAUSE ignorant owners to have pets that they're not ready for. We routinely have to drop $500 in vet care for guinea pigs that people have kept in conditions that they were told was 'fine' by pet stores.

Rescues travel. We travel as far as 3 hours away to place animals, and most rescues do.

FYI sweetie, I grew up in a rural county too. On a farm, with cows, horses, and the whole shebang. I can ride horses, fix cows, help deliver calves, you name it. We had to drive over an hour to get to a Walmart as well. So you're preaching to the choir.

Being from a rural area doesn't give you an excuse not to care about the poor conditions that pet store animals are purchased from and sold to.

[abbyful]

Jennicat, there's no need to get defensive. I stated my opinion, you stated yours. We have different opinions, but there's no need to argue about them. I never said that I supported poor animal conditions. Even with livestock, they should be cared for and have proper housing and vet assistance if need be.

[Jennicat]

I guess I have a hard time understand your position. You don't agree with a dog or a cat being sold in pet stores, becuase that's cruel and wrong. Yet you state you would buy a mouse from a pet store. Why is the suffering that the mouse had to endure lesser than the dogs? I just don't understand.

[m0usey]

Can we please stop arguing :)?
Let the OP decide whether they want to sell bowls and animals...or just make a different thread for this. Its spamming up this thread.

I would suggest that all fish tanks you sell have to come with a filter. That way they have no choice to take it home with the tank.

I would also have a 'return pets' policy. If someone ever decides they don't want their pet anymore that they got from your store they should return it to you.

Try your best to only get high quality foods for all the pets. I'd also suggest having free care-sheets on all the pets you sell...many people have no idea what the proper care of an animal is...by giving someone a good care sheet (which I'm sure you could easily obtain just by asking on all the forums here :)) you could save many animals' lives.

I like your idea Spudnik! Instead of selling animals, just offer to give a home to the RSPCA's pets that are up for adoption. I don't know exactly how you'd go about doing that but I'm sure you could figure something out :).

[Deguism]

If your planning on opening a petstore, then its your responsibility to take care of the animal. If people want to buy from you, then you could interview and make them fill out a form and make sure the owner takes very good care. You could even check up on the animal in its new enviorment (and if the potential owner doesn't want you to, then they can't buy from you). That way, you know that the animal's life is in good hands.

Another thing you could do is put the prices of the animals up. It wouldn't be to make a profit, but so that the person who wants to buy will make their decision wether they are really to spend a lot of money on the animal. You could also donate the money that you make from the animals to a shelter or another organization.

Also, only buy from responsible breeders, and not from people who any do it to make money and are cruel to the animals.

[Jennicat]

Can we please stop arguing :)?
Let the OP decide whether they want to sell bowls and animals...or just make a different thread for this. Its spamming up this thread.

Back to henning again, I see. :)

[Spudnik]

Deguism, no responsible breeder would sell to a petshop. :undecided

That is one reason that I believe you were wrong in breeding your guinea pigs despite being repeatadly advised against doing so.

[daddysgurl9245]

I don't see it as worth the drive for 5-10 hours to get a single mouse, or to pay high shipping on a single fish (site unseen as well). I grew up on a farm, though, and I see things like fish more as livestock than actually 'pet' pets. On the farm, livestock have certain worth, and if it's going to cost more than their worth, that it isn't worth it.

It think it's worth it and I can bet you MANY people do. I would drive for long hours to get a single mouse. It's an animal, part of the family, they deserve to have a good life too! What if someone was having a baby and they only hospital that's clean and trustworthy is 2-3 hours away? Would you rather have it there or in a dirty, non-trustworthy hospital? I would take the 2-3 hour away one. It's the same for an animal...

[Khay]

It think it's worth it and I can bet you MANY people do. I would drive for long hours to get a single mouse. It's an animal, part of the family, they deserve to have a good life too! What if someone was having a baby and they only hospital that's clean and trustworthy is 2-3 hours away? Would you rather have it there or in a dirty, non-trustworthy hospital? I would take the 2-3 hour away one. It's the same for an animal...

I agree, a single mouse is worth as much as ANY animal.

I have driven 8 hours (8 hours there, 8 hours back) To adopt a pair of rabbits rather than giving a pet store breeder business, and I will do the same thing for mice.

I actually was planning on doing the same thing for two female mice that I am adopting to introduce to my female mouse (Free-ad) ---- But turns out they can fly those mice to a town about 3 hours away from me ;) Makes things easier, but I would still have traveled the 16 hours to bring the mice home if flying them were not an option.

[m0usey]

Back to henning again, I see. :)
Actually Jennicat, I just think it's unfair that Draenog asked a question (not even a stupid one this time lol) and the thread is now full of arguments. I think these should be moved to a different thread.

[Jennicat]

The question was asked 3 months ago, and the question was about what to sell in pet stores. We're debating about why it is or isn't ok to sell certain animals and products in pet stores. It's a relevant debate. Before this started, the thread had been dead for over 2 months.

[abbyful]

I'm not saying either of us is right or wrong, I'm just stating what my views are. I'm not saying my views are correct or incorrect, but it's just my opinion. That's all I have to say, I'm not going to argue who is right or wrong. Maybe we're both wrong in some people's eyes. (There are some people who think it's inhumane to house any animal. But that's thier opinion, I'm not going to tell them they are correct or incorrect.)

This is my last post on this thread, I don't want to argue about something that there will be no resolution about.

[Spudnik]

Jennicat, I felt that you might find this (http://www.petshub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64457) thread interesting.

As you're too ruddy old to have MSN and have scared the other person off, I thought I'd show you here. :p

[Jennicat]

Jennicat, I felt that you might find this (http://www.petshub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64457) thread interesting.

As you're too ruddy old to have MSN and have scared the other person off, I thought I'd show you here. :p


LOL, I'm not Methuselah, and I do have MSN. ;P

[Spudnik]

Where might I find your MSN address? I'm tired of stalking English people. :p

[daddysgurl9245]

Hahahahahahahaha....

[Jennicat]

Can I email it to you? It's my name so I don't just want to post it around. ;)

[Spudnik]

Yeah, sure. My addy is displayed anyway.

One stalker at a time, eh? I hear ya. ;)

[mynoven]

^ I can see that failing only if you have lazy pet owners who truly don't care about animal welfare and would rather take the lazy way out.

I guess we're a special state since people drive quite a ways to reach good, conscientious retailers who don't support cruelty. :)

I stopped reading after this.....I am slightly confused....

Lazy way out, meaning....buying from a petstore??

If that is what it means...I am lazy!!

If about the smaller towns and not having enough shelter...well, again...it's not the peoples fault!!

I always buy my animals from petstores......Breeders are expensive, and why not RESCUE those poor critters in the pet store? It's not their fault they are there.

I guess I am not a big buff on who supports what ,a nd who does what....I just think I am saving that poor critter in the store :o

OK, I am going to continue reading the other posts now ;)

[mynoven]

ok, sooooo, I think I am still confused...but that's natural with me;)

I haven't seen dogs or catsbeing sold in a petstore...I have seen adoption people, or the human society show up at petstores to adopt out the animals....

As far astraveling....must be nice to have a car!!

I am a cab driver, my car is an old taxi that barely works....I wouldn't trust it to drive 4 or 5 hours.

If someone has the means to do that, then yay for them! If not...petstores are available!!!

I only buy ratties though....OH, and my daughters fish....but that's all!!

[mynoven]

I ran outta time editing...lol

also wanted to add:
It's hard to determine what kinda person a person is......interviews and ect. are kinda pointless...

A serial killer could walk in and say all the right things, and make someone totally believe that he is an awesome animal lover, but once they get them home....well, you are not watching are you?

As for someone doing check-ins....well, you would have to call and let them know you are coming because if not, they might not be there, and blah blah blah.......Once you call, that gives them time to clean up, or hide stuff, or do whatever it takes to make things appear fine.

Unless of course the animal appears abused or neglected.....but that's a different story, that means the animal should be taken away and the pet owner should be thrown in jail or fined....depending on what has been done to the animal...most likely jailed though :)

OK, I have to go back to work!!

[Jennicat]

When you buy an animal from a pet store to "rescue" it, you cause it's parents and siblings more agony. It's supply and demand. You buy a mouse, the mill breeder breeds another set of mice. You buy a guinea pig, another poor backbred animal bears another litter. Pet stores around here don't carry degus. Why? Because nobody bought them when they had them.

And yes, it is lazy not to try and shop at stores without animals. Even if there's not one near you, there are a lot of online stores that do not support the cruel small animal mill industry.

Most people wouldn't shop at a store if they knew that they used child labor, but people won't drive an extra 10 minutes even to get to a pet store that doesn't sell animals. It's sad.

[mynoven]

Can you prove pet stores do that? Child Labor?

How does it cause the siblings and parents more agony?

How do you know that the animals the pet store is getting is such a poor animal?

What is a mill breeder? (like a Backyard Breeder?)

See, some of us are just uneducated....I do not believe the child labor thing with animals (what labor?)....just me though....unless you got proof!

What's a good debate without proof?

I am going to do some research as well, but if you have a link, I would appreciate it. :)

I have gotten all my rats from pet stores, and my 4 new girls are the first ones that I have gotten that where actually sick!

There are 2 rat breeders in bremerton/ Port Orchard area, and they both closed down. The closest rat rescue is in Kirkland and Belllingham.....which is about 3-5 hours away......one of them ships depending on circumstance, and the other MIGHT drive half way...

You are in the South East, it is easier there! I lived in Florida and Rescues & Breeders where everywhere!

Up here, it is a little harder, especially without reliable transportation.

I wish the one place here in Bremerton was still open!! They had dumbos only!! I want one so bad, but 6 ratties is enough for now :)

Thanks!

BTW, I like you signature!! It's cute :p

OH....online shopping....no credit cards, and I am impatient, if I want something, I do not want to wait 2 weeks for it to show up....maybe if I had a lot of money that would be a different story :)

[daddysgurl9245]

mynoven-I think she's trying to say that if a person knew that they used child labor at any store, not just a pet store, they wouldn't shop there. And she's also saying it's cruel to sell animals in pets stores, but people won't drive to a pet store 10 minutes away that doesn't sell animals. So, she's pretty much saying that child labor and selling animals in a store are both wrong and that you shouldn't support either. Yes, a mill breeder/backyard breeder are pretty much the same thing. They breed animals for stupid reasons, in poor, unhealthy conditions and the animals they breed are in horrible health and pretty much live in cages and never touch the ground. I hope I made that clear enough! :p

[mynoven]

OH< I thought she was saying the pet stores used child labor......yes that clears up a little........I do not know of a pet store around here that doesn't sell animals! I will look into that....

We drive 20 minutes to Petsmart for stuff....because they match price stuff :) hehe....I still am lookin into stuff......thanks daddysgurl!

[Deguism]

I wish they opended up a PetCo or PetSmart in Montreal, I would go there all the time! Often I have to run to every petstore in my area if I am looking for something specific, but with a PetCo I wouldn't have to anymore!

[daddysgurl9245]

You're welcome!

[thefab4]

I can tell you from experience working at a large chain petstore that a lot of the small animals came in sick, most often the rats and mice. We'd often have to refuse delivery on ill animals. I'm sure a lot of them didn't survive the trip back and who knows if they get treated when they get there or not. Sometimes we'd keep ones we knew were borderline just because we knew they'd get medical care if they stayed. On one hand I'm surprised the chain stores still sell animals, I know that a lot of times we took losses on animals because they needed vet care plus if they stay in your store even a few weeks you generally end up paying more for their upkeep than you are going to make selling them. So seriosly selling animals really isn't neccsary for a pet store to stay in business and make a profit.

I know a lot of the small private pet stores around here that sell animals buy them from local people. These people are just back yard breeders, they just breed different types of animals. Also from knowing a couple of people that have worked at a couple small stores there animals are generally not vetted. It would just cost them way too much. I think that selling animals could be a detriment to a small pet shop.

I'm done going on and on now.

[Rachy1412]

I buy my stuff online. Cruelty free! :D

[Ilikecats]

Selling bowls is okay, just make sure people know they're only for bettas, not for goldfish.
Bettas need a larger environment than you think. At least 5 gallons. Bowls aren't big enough for anything to be happy.

[Ilikecats]

I always buy my animals from petstores......Breeders are expensive, and why not RESCUE those poor critters in the pet store? It's not their fault they are there.If you buy them there they will just going to be replaced. We bought all of our gerbils at a pet store but they were going to euthanize the 3 that we bought together and the other one was a companion for a gerbil that died last year. We couldn't find breeders or rescues. It would of been cruel to keep him alone. Our betta was rescued and our cat (18 yo and counting.:)) was free from a person that had a cat that got out.

[mynoven]

If you buy them there they will just going to be replaced.

Ya, that was clarified...thanks :)