The Problem With Pet Stores
Most pet stores take SUB-STANDARD care of their animals. There are very few pet stores that provide adequate cage space, non-wire bottom floors, non-aquariums, healthy bedding (non-pine, non-cedar), fresh water daily, separation by sex, and proper vet care when needed. MANY pet store small animals have mites (contagious) and upper respiratory infections (contagious),
frequently resulting in death. Many pet store small animals are miss sexed, and some will even kill their sick animals rather than pay for vet care. Stories of a bash over the head, sticking them in the freezer or leaving them in the dumpster are not uncommon in both smaller Mom and Pop stores and big chains alike.
And here is the BAD PART: ALL pet stores SELL their animals. They DO NOT adopt them out. There are NO SCREENING procedures, no adoption contracts, no follow-up visits, and little, if
any education (most advice is incomplete, frequently inaccurate, and sometimes very wrong).
I have heard many people tell us of certain pet stores in our area that they thought were just fine when in fact, they are among the worst (as evidenced by legal cases pending with animal control). Many people have no clue what goes on behind closed doors in the pet stores, or where the animals come from, or where the sick ones go. Most people don't know how to tell
if an animal is sick or if they are buying a male or a female. Many of these pet stores have been reported to animal control officials numerous times to no avail. The point is, unless you know what to look for, what may seem like a good store, usually isn't. And even if it is, the chance of animals going to a substandard home is very high. Be on the lookout for neglect at your local pet store.
Breeding Cruelty
Those who breed millions of exotic and small animals each year for profit
are contributing to the companion animal overpopulation crisis. Every newborn animal means one home fewer for the animals desperately waiting in a shelter. Online Exotic animal auctions or local stock yards which sell animals to the highest bidder or to the first person who pays the asking
price are taking impulse buying to a new low by allowing buyers to order birds, reptiles, and “exotic” animals online for delivery. Unlike unwanted CD's or sweaters, which can easily be tossed into the closet or sold second hand, animals are not objects to be purchased on a whim and disposed of when the novelty wears off or the child looses interest.
Exotic Wild Animal
Every year, many people purchase “exotic” animals, like hedgehogs, macaws, monkeys—even tigers and bears—from pet shops or auctions to keep as “pets.” But life in captivity is a death sentence for countless “exotic” animals who suffer from malnutrition, improper care and
environment, loneliness, and the stress of confinement. Robbed of their natural habitat, denied the
space to roam, they're forced to pace in endless repetitive circles around the
same empty cubic inches.
Caged and captive birds, meant to fly and enjoy others of their own kind, go crazy
from confinement, causing them to have temper tantrums and mood swings. Birds
are intelligent—they can also be mischievous and destructive, chewing carpet,
electrical and phone wires, and practically any other material in your home, as
they suffer enormous frustration because of their unnatural environment.
Kids Can Be Cruel
Whether intentionally or not, some children can be cruel. Baby animals and small animals are especially vulnerable to broken bones or even death when roughly handled by overly eager or aggressive children. Many children quickly lose interest in caring for animals who require special care and feeding—and who suffer without necessary care. Millions of impatient, frustrated parents take unwanted animals to crowded animal shelters every year, others pass animals off to acquaintances or simply lock them in outdoor cages to go mad from boredom, loneliness, and frustration.
Adding a companion animal to the family is a huge responsibility. Everyone in the family must be amenable to the lifelong commitment to care for and spend time with the selected animal. Carefully consider the time, training, and expense required to properly care for the animal, including food, accessories, inoculations, and veterinary care, including emergency care.
If you decide you have the desire, time, and resources to properly care for a companion animal, wait until the busy holiday season is over before bringing the animal home. A new family member needs your time, patience, and attention—all of which are in scarce supply during a busy season of parties and festivities. “Pet” shops use the natural appeal of rabbits hamsters and
Where The Animals Come From
The vast majority of rabbits sold in pet shops are
raised in “animal mills,” breeding cages located all over that are notorious for their cramped, crude, and filthy conditions and for their continuous breeding of unhealthy and hard-to-socialize animals. Birds, rabbits, and mice and other rodents are often mistakenly thought of as “starter
pets” and sell very well, so pet shops keep their stores stocked with them.
Unfortunately non of these establishments are regulated or have any laws they have to abide by.
Sugar gliders, chinchillas, tarantulas, some bird and reptile species, and others are often called “exotics.” The journey for many of these animals begins in places such as Australia, Africa, and the jungles of Brazil. Closer to home, 20,000 prairie dogs are torn from their homes in Texas every year and shipped to pet stores. The few laws and penalties that exist hardly dissuade dealers when compared to the money that can be made from smuggling: Prices on animals’ heads
range from a few bucks for a giant cockroach to tens of thousands of dollars for
a hyacinth macaw. Animals in pet shops are often subject to inadequate care from people who are unprepared or unable to provide for their needs; many of these animals will be abandoned, or they will die from neglect or improper care.
What To Look For In Pet Stores
Healthy young animals are usually energetic and have shiny coats. Look for signs of ill health, such as listlessness, diarrhea, emaciation, dull coats, runny eyes, and dry noses. Sick animals should never be housed with healthy ones. Check the general sanitation conditions; notice signs of cockroach infestation, rodent droppings on the floor, and rusty or dirty cages. Also look for signs ofalgae or scum in water bottles, empty water containers, or animals having difficulty drinking from them. Rabbits must have water (it can be in a bowl), and there must be some sort of solid flooring (if a tray is used, it must be flat on the floor) and absolutely no wire bottoms which can create painful infected feet. Watch for signs of upper respiratory disease: eyes covered with an inner membrane, runny eyes and nose, and sneezing. Rabbits should have a water bottle, not a dish. They should not be listless. If an animal is sick, you may notice other animals in the cage walking over him or her. Watch for patchy dirty coats and excessive
scratching. Birds must have a properly sized perch (i.e., birds’ feet should go three-quarters of
the way around the perch). Check for other birds who might be beating up on one bird—this is especially common in smaller birds (you may see feathers missing from the head, back, etc.). A bird should not be resting on the bottom of the cage, which is a sign of illness or of having been thrown off the perch by others. Cages should not be crowded. Check to make sure they have food and water at all times and some sort of ventilation ( an animal cant survive in a closed Tupperware or sealed aquarium.
What You Can Do
You can help animals sold in pet stores in the following ways:• Encourage pet stores that sell animals not to do so. PETCO recently agreed not to sell large birds (such as cockatoos and macaws), recognizing the inherent cruelty in confining these wild animals and subjecting them to inadequate care.• Report any sick or injured animal to your local animal control agency or police department immediately.• Don't become discouraged if they don't follow through with checking on your complaint, contact them multiple times and demand they do something. if nothing else your constant pestering will make them deal with it so they don't have to hear from you any more. Contact animal rescues or the township to try and work on proper legislation. Lastly, don’t support pet stores that sell animals. You can purchase supplies for companion animals from pet supply stores or catalogs that carry full product lines but don’t treat animals as merchandise.
Please Click on the Following Links For More Information
http://www.helpinganimals.com/ga_petstore.asp
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=36
http://www.petsmartcruelty.com/
frequently resulting in death. Many pet store small animals are miss sexed, and some will even kill their sick animals rather than pay for vet care. Stories of a bash over the head, sticking them in the freezer or leaving them in the dumpster are not uncommon in both smaller Mom and Pop stores and big chains alike.
And here is the BAD PART: ALL pet stores SELL their animals. They DO NOT adopt them out. There are NO SCREENING procedures, no adoption contracts, no follow-up visits, and little, if
any education (most advice is incomplete, frequently inaccurate, and sometimes very wrong).
I have heard many people tell us of certain pet stores in our area that they thought were just fine when in fact, they are among the worst (as evidenced by legal cases pending with animal control). Many people have no clue what goes on behind closed doors in the pet stores, or where the animals come from, or where the sick ones go. Most people don't know how to tell
if an animal is sick or if they are buying a male or a female. Many of these pet stores have been reported to animal control officials numerous times to no avail. The point is, unless you know what to look for, what may seem like a good store, usually isn't. And even if it is, the chance of animals going to a substandard home is very high. Be on the lookout for neglect at your local pet store.
Breeding Cruelty
Those who breed millions of exotic and small animals each year for profit
are contributing to the companion animal overpopulation crisis. Every newborn animal means one home fewer for the animals desperately waiting in a shelter. Online Exotic animal auctions or local stock yards which sell animals to the highest bidder or to the first person who pays the asking
price are taking impulse buying to a new low by allowing buyers to order birds, reptiles, and “exotic” animals online for delivery. Unlike unwanted CD's or sweaters, which can easily be tossed into the closet or sold second hand, animals are not objects to be purchased on a whim and disposed of when the novelty wears off or the child looses interest.
Exotic Wild Animal
Every year, many people purchase “exotic” animals, like hedgehogs, macaws, monkeys—even tigers and bears—from pet shops or auctions to keep as “pets.” But life in captivity is a death sentence for countless “exotic” animals who suffer from malnutrition, improper care and
environment, loneliness, and the stress of confinement. Robbed of their natural habitat, denied the
space to roam, they're forced to pace in endless repetitive circles around the
same empty cubic inches.
Caged and captive birds, meant to fly and enjoy others of their own kind, go crazy
from confinement, causing them to have temper tantrums and mood swings. Birds
are intelligent—they can also be mischievous and destructive, chewing carpet,
electrical and phone wires, and practically any other material in your home, as
they suffer enormous frustration because of their unnatural environment.
Kids Can Be Cruel
Whether intentionally or not, some children can be cruel. Baby animals and small animals are especially vulnerable to broken bones or even death when roughly handled by overly eager or aggressive children. Many children quickly lose interest in caring for animals who require special care and feeding—and who suffer without necessary care. Millions of impatient, frustrated parents take unwanted animals to crowded animal shelters every year, others pass animals off to acquaintances or simply lock them in outdoor cages to go mad from boredom, loneliness, and frustration.
Adding a companion animal to the family is a huge responsibility. Everyone in the family must be amenable to the lifelong commitment to care for and spend time with the selected animal. Carefully consider the time, training, and expense required to properly care for the animal, including food, accessories, inoculations, and veterinary care, including emergency care.
If you decide you have the desire, time, and resources to properly care for a companion animal, wait until the busy holiday season is over before bringing the animal home. A new family member needs your time, patience, and attention—all of which are in scarce supply during a busy season of parties and festivities. “Pet” shops use the natural appeal of rabbits hamsters and
Where The Animals Come From
The vast majority of rabbits sold in pet shops are
raised in “animal mills,” breeding cages located all over that are notorious for their cramped, crude, and filthy conditions and for their continuous breeding of unhealthy and hard-to-socialize animals. Birds, rabbits, and mice and other rodents are often mistakenly thought of as “starter
pets” and sell very well, so pet shops keep their stores stocked with them.
Unfortunately non of these establishments are regulated or have any laws they have to abide by.
Sugar gliders, chinchillas, tarantulas, some bird and reptile species, and others are often called “exotics.” The journey for many of these animals begins in places such as Australia, Africa, and the jungles of Brazil. Closer to home, 20,000 prairie dogs are torn from their homes in Texas every year and shipped to pet stores. The few laws and penalties that exist hardly dissuade dealers when compared to the money that can be made from smuggling: Prices on animals’ heads
range from a few bucks for a giant cockroach to tens of thousands of dollars for
a hyacinth macaw. Animals in pet shops are often subject to inadequate care from people who are unprepared or unable to provide for their needs; many of these animals will be abandoned, or they will die from neglect or improper care.
What To Look For In Pet Stores
Healthy young animals are usually energetic and have shiny coats. Look for signs of ill health, such as listlessness, diarrhea, emaciation, dull coats, runny eyes, and dry noses. Sick animals should never be housed with healthy ones. Check the general sanitation conditions; notice signs of cockroach infestation, rodent droppings on the floor, and rusty or dirty cages. Also look for signs ofalgae or scum in water bottles, empty water containers, or animals having difficulty drinking from them. Rabbits must have water (it can be in a bowl), and there must be some sort of solid flooring (if a tray is used, it must be flat on the floor) and absolutely no wire bottoms which can create painful infected feet. Watch for signs of upper respiratory disease: eyes covered with an inner membrane, runny eyes and nose, and sneezing. Rabbits should have a water bottle, not a dish. They should not be listless. If an animal is sick, you may notice other animals in the cage walking over him or her. Watch for patchy dirty coats and excessive
scratching. Birds must have a properly sized perch (i.e., birds’ feet should go three-quarters of
the way around the perch). Check for other birds who might be beating up on one bird—this is especially common in smaller birds (you may see feathers missing from the head, back, etc.). A bird should not be resting on the bottom of the cage, which is a sign of illness or of having been thrown off the perch by others. Cages should not be crowded. Check to make sure they have food and water at all times and some sort of ventilation ( an animal cant survive in a closed Tupperware or sealed aquarium.
What You Can Do
You can help animals sold in pet stores in the following ways:• Encourage pet stores that sell animals not to do so. PETCO recently agreed not to sell large birds (such as cockatoos and macaws), recognizing the inherent cruelty in confining these wild animals and subjecting them to inadequate care.• Report any sick or injured animal to your local animal control agency or police department immediately.• Don't become discouraged if they don't follow through with checking on your complaint, contact them multiple times and demand they do something. if nothing else your constant pestering will make them deal with it so they don't have to hear from you any more. Contact animal rescues or the township to try and work on proper legislation. Lastly, don’t support pet stores that sell animals. You can purchase supplies for companion animals from pet supply stores or catalogs that carry full product lines but don’t treat animals as merchandise.
Please Click on the Following Links For More Information
http://www.helpinganimals.com/ga_petstore.asp
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=36
http://www.petsmartcruelty.com/