Do your Pet Stores sell Animals?
I'm doing a little research within the community (if you don't mind). I just read a news piece this morning where in Surrey, B.C. (here in Canada), they will be banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores effective June 1/18. Do you have the same legislation? Can you please tell me if your pet stores sell animals - and where you're from? Feel free to comment on how you feel about this one way or the other too. Thanx in advance for your participation
~Shell
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35
Western Australia.
Pet Stores sell Fish, Reptiles, Birds, Puppies, Kittens, Guinea Pigs, Rabbits, Mice, Rats, Hermit Crabs, Axilottle Walking Fish.
Cheers Dave
I appreciate your reply Dave. I'm disappointed to hear that especially puppies and kittens are sold
~Shell
They are looked after well while awaiting a new owner. But I must add that I would prefer them in a pet store that put into a tied up bag and dumped at the rubbish disposal site as others are.
I know which I would prefer if I were a puppy or kitten.
Ban sales of these pets in pet stores and unfortunately that is where they will end up.
Not my opinion. Fact.
Dave
Hello, Shell. Your post struck a chord with me because selling pets in pet stores (espeically puppies, kittens, rabbits, and guinea pigs) is a real sore spot for me.
I live in Maggie Valley, NC, and our PetSmart does not sell puppies, kittens, or rabbits, but does sell guinea pigs, mice, rats, reptiles, and fish.
PetSmart is active in animal rescue and has an area where cats that are up for adoption are on display for people to fall in love with them and give them new homes. In addition, they have dog adoption events periodically throughout the year.
I am very much against the sale of puppies in pet stores because you have no idea what conditions they were raised in. I think often times they are the product of puppy mills and often have health issues as a result. I do not like the idea of providing a puppy mill with an income and would never buy a pet from one.
I once rescued a wire fox terrier from a lady who had bought it as a cute little fuzzy puppy, but did not know anything about the breed. She was an elderly lady, and couldn't cope with her dog escaping and running loose every time she opened the door to get the paper or her mail. Mitzi had been traumatized from being in a cage in a pet store for several months before this lady took pity on her and bought her. She was house trained, but that was about all.
I had a fenced yard, and had had wire fox terriers before, so I knew what they needed in the way of training, and Mitzi did fine with me. I think she lived to be 14.
I admire PetSmart for their efforts to help find unwanted pets a furever home.
OK, I'll get off my soapbox now! Looks like I should have written a post instead of a reply to your survey!
Carol
Thanx for your reply Carol. I agree that in most cases, dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills - and am happy to hear of more and more stores that now will only adopt out from local shelters and rescues. I'm glad you had a good experience with your Mitzi, and that she lived a good long life with you.
~Shell
Thanks, Shell. I have also adopted 4 cats (at different times) and 2 other dogs. The black lab that I rescued was so wonderful. I trained her for pet therapy certification, and we went to libraries and schools for my "Read to Raven" program. Kids that were afraid to read in front of other people would read to her because they knew she wouldn't laugh at them. I lost her in 2014 and now have another rescue, a black lab/pointer mix who is very shy. I think she had been abused. She is doing much better after being taken places for socialization, but I do not think I will be able to use her for pet therapy, one of my passions that I miss so much. Time will tell, I guess.
Carol
Thanks, Shell. Even if she doesn't make the cut, which I doubt, she is still a really sweet dog, and so attached to me. She's a great watchdog...knows the cars that belong on my mountain. If it's not one she knows, she barks until it's out of sight. If it's one that she knows belongs here, she doesn't bark at all.
Carol
They do not sell dogs or cats here. Those are only in the store to be adopted after rescue from the pound (they don't sell dogs or cats that are bred for sale). I am so glad for this since there are so many thousands of dogs and cats put down every day in this country in shelters! Good for the pet stores helping to find homes for those that get rescued!
They do however sell small animals like hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, ferrets, birds and fish. I don't feel too bad about that since it is dogs and cats that have the massive problem with overpopulation and not having good homes here.
I am in Alaska and I think this is similar to how the pet stores operate in the other states of the U.S. These are chain stores found around the country.
Thanx for leaving your comment. I'm glad to hear that's the way your stores operate in Alaska too. I know what you mean about the overpopulation problem - especially with cats. There is a local organization here called Cats R Us, and they mostly do a Trap Neuter Release program of the feral cats in the city
~Shell
We have a similar program for neutering feral cats and then releasing them. One problem with that is that sometimes the cats refuse to leave afterwards! I have a friend in CO who has too many cats of his own because he failed to neuter them, but kept the kittens anyway. Now they are all neutered, but it's a little late, I think!
He trapped a feral cat that was hanging around, had her neutered in the trap-neuter-release program, and took her inside until she was healed from the surgery. She remained wild, but refused to leave once he turned her loose! He named her 21....guess why! I think he was on the borderline, if not a full fledged hoarder!
Yes, that's for sure. I called this guy a borderline hoarder because he does take pretty good care of his cats (now that he finally had them all neutered). He feeds them well, keeps their shots current, and loves them all. But it is still WAAAY too many cats as far as I'm concerned. His neighbors, as well. They took him to court for having so many cats, but I guess they lost because he still has a house and yard full of them!
Carol
Dogs are not sold in reputable pet stores here in Manitoba. Neither are Cats. Rabbits, Gerbils, Hamsters, mice and birds are sold in our Petland stores still. Cats are often seen in Pet Stores but are as Rescues, to be adopted for a fee of course from the Rescue that they came from.
Thanx for your answer Maddy. It's similar here in London, Ontario where dogs and cats from local rescues are featured at adoption events at Petsmart & Pet Valu. I think the 1 pet store that sells exotics still exists here, but am not sure exactly what they sell
~Shell
Everyone has gone barking mad! In Malaysia where I am now they have some excellently maintained pet stores that sell all sorts.
In some parts of the world they sell dogs as Food, that is not the same as dog food!
Wayne
Thanx for your reply Wayne. I'm unfortunately aware of the dog meat farms, and the wonderful folks with Great organizations that are shutting them down 1 by 1. I'm curious...are there a lot of stray street dogs in Malaysia?
~Shell
I am from Northeast Texas. Yes, our pet stores sell a wide variety of animals. You may even purchase exotic species with a license and regular inspections of the exotics.
Jerry
I'm from Malta, and here pets are sold from stores. These are usually taken care of very well. We never bought a pet from a store though. Ours have either been given to us, were rescue ones, or strays (cats).
Thanx for letting me know James. I'm glad to hear you've got rescues and strays! Me too
~Shell
Oh yes, Shell, and many people here would prefer to go for a rescue pet, rather than buy. I think it makes a big difference, at least for us it does.
I agree! I can't take in any more animals at the moment, but am happy to 'Give Back' to 1 local Rescue and The Humane Society by volunteering at their festivals in the summer. It's great fun to get out among the dogs, since I miss having them...and they have Awesome names: Bark in the Park & Pawlooza. :-D
~Shell
One of my sisters works at the local SPCA. She loves every minute of it, and it takes great dedication to do that sort of thing. Although I think it boils down to love for animals, which she has loads of.
I'm afraid we all work here at home, and having a dog left alone for hours on end during the day is nothing short of being cruel. With that, we opted for a cat, called Rodger. At one point, we had three in one go. They've all gone to Cat Heaven now, and Rodger is the newest on the scene. Mine you, he's quite happy to be the only cat in the house :)
James
I am from the Netherlands and yes they sell
Fish, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs.
And some specialized shops also sell turtles, mice, snakes, rats and lizards species.
Thanx for stopping by and commenting Loes. Here in London, Ontario we also have 1 shop that sells 'Exotics' like snakes and lizards. Are puppies and kittens only offered for adoption from shelters and rescues in the Netherlands?
I do have one pet store that does sell animals I don't ever see puppies but the have kitten rabbits guinea pigs and that sort of things. I am from Arkansas US. I like them doing this because they do find them a good home and these animals are not in the pound
Thanx for your reply Melissa. I also don't like that animals end up in the shelters. At least here though, they are no-kill shelters...as opposed to some places in the States
~Shell
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That doesn't sound good to me. Pet stores sell animals that are healthy.