What have you got against Pet Shops?

[DragonKeeper]

I know you all think Pet Shops don't care about their animals, and I think this idea has grown as a generalization for all Pet Shops, but thats not true.

I am doing work experience at a pet shop, and they really do care alot about their animals, they have sold their bearded dragons but are really dreading the day when they are picked up, they have hundreds of birds, fish, mice/rats and 3 pythons and 2 beardies and they love them all, they even talk to them all, the owner walks around the shop with a half blind rat on her shoulder...

Not all pet shops are bad.

[tfor2]

I have to agree with you on that one. Not all pet shops are uncaring.
If i owned a petshop i know i would care for the animals and provide the best possible care needed which includes vet treatment when necessary.
But i think like any business you have those who are just the money crunchers who like to see the bottom line (money) Also the franchises i dont like, i feel that places like pets paradise should never have herps as they have a shocking reputation for puppies and kittens.

[Hoppa1874]

oh dragonkeeper.. im glad u are working at a really nice pet shop.. it is nice to finally hear about a shop that is nice to their animals.. great score

[Greebo]

Originally Posted by DragonKeeper

I know you all think Pet Shops don't care about their animals, and I think this idea has grown as a generalization for all Pet Shops, but thats not true.

That is a generalisation as well. All generalisations are wrong

[waruikazi]

I have nothing against them. If i find a pet shop or a herp/dog/cat/bird breeder that are doing something i don't like i wont shop there or purchase anything from them simple as that. I don't have a problem paying a bit extra knowing that i am supporting a buisness that is doing the right thing.

[da_donkey]

I dont like them full stop, not just because of some animal neglect, but more because it makes it to easy to buy an animal on a whim.
For example, going to do your grocery shoping and walking past a "cute" little dog or a "cool" looking snake and going in handing over some money and leaving with an animal.

There is no lengthy thought out process, its just too easy.

donk

[nagz]

i'm with da_donkey. plus, stuff's too expensive. that is all

[shamous1]

Most of the pet shops that I have been to around the place (and I'm talking about the ones with reptiles) have them in sub-standard conditions. Not only that but the vast majority have inexperienced young kids working with them who are actually poo scared of the animal; in question.

It is one thing to stock and sell reptiles but it is another to have knowledge and know how to care for them in the way that they should be cared for. Too many of them crap onto the customer and give false and misleading information. JMO

[flinders]

quarantine would be the biggest issue with constant turn over of animals from different breeders.with certain diseases spreading faster than most realize it's not a great idea to purchase animals from these places

[mysnakesau]

I own a pet store and let me give some insight on how my store runs. Quarantine is almost impossible but thats why my birds receive constant preventative medical treatments. I don't overstock my cages and not afraid to say no when ppl ask me to take more. I get abused but hey, at the end of the day my cage isn't overstocked and the cranky customers get over it. They get clean cages every day, their food and water is replenished more than once a day. My puppies come home with me every night and sleep inside my house. My rats get an occasional treat of chicken casserole baby food. I have 50 fish tanks and a big canister filter I move from tank to tank doing at least 3-4 water changes every single day, even my fighters get to spread their fins rather than being constantly locked up in little spaces. I talk to my animals one of my cockatiels is constantly woof whistling while another rings like a mobile phone. I don't have staff, my hubby and I run it ourselves but I do accept work experience students. But they don't get to feed my fish- once I let one feed my fish, never again. When my fish jump out on the floor I panic trying to get them back in their tanks. So my pet store has a very loving atmosphere. My husband wanted to be in his own business, I opened the store for the love of the animals.

[herptrader]

Pets shops are fine for products but the Herp Shop is better ;-)

As for selling animals few do a decent job though I am sure it is possible. In my opinion though, if you buy an animal directly from a breeder you are in direct contact with somebody who probably knows what they are talking about. (You cannot breed successfully unless you have an inkling of what you are about.) This was the original motivation behind the Herp Trader and its relationship with the Herp Shop.

The Herp Trader is about putting prospective buyers in direct contact with breeders.

[sengir]

Originally Posted by da_donkey

I dont like them full stop, not just because of some animal neglect, but more because it makes it to easy to buy an animal on a whim.
For example, going to do your grocery shoping and walking past a "cute" little dog or a "cool" looking snake and going in handing over some money and leaving with an animal.

There is no lengthy thought out process, its just too easy.

donk

Thats what a license is for to stop impulsee buyers. I don't know how it woks elsewhere but in QLD you get you r license from QPWS and generally takes bout 10-20 working days for it to arrive hence stopping the impulse buying fad. JMO

[mysnakesau]

Yes that protects the licensed animals but don't need a licence for cute little dogs

[croc_hunter_penny]

Originally Posted by sengir

Thats what a license is for to stop impulsee buyers. I don't know how it woks elsewhere but in QLD you get you r license from QPWS and generally takes bout 10-20 working days for it to arrive hence stopping the impulse buying fad. JMO

that only prevents the first impulse buy once you have the licence then theres no stopping the impulse!

i don't buy from pet stores because i cant afford to, unless i have to (last minute things)

[moosenoose]

I've found 'The Amazing Amazon' here to be the most consistently clean and well managed pet shop around. I know they'd had problems with mites and the usual things but they always seem on top of the situation!....and NO, I don't know of anyone who works or runs the place either ....and they aren't cheap, but reasonably well stocked (There's my plug, is it worth anything?? )