cirrustwi
Retired Moderator
I just joined the forum and included in one of myposts that I manage a small local pet store. I know fromexperience that not all pet stores are good ones and thatmanybreeders and animal enthusiasts frown on them completely, especially inthe areas of animal care and knowledge. I have seen quite afew things that made me shake my head in disbelief, but I have seensome great things too. In my store I am the "exoticsexpert". Basically when it comes to the typical exotics,there aren't many I haven't kept at one time or another, from furriesto feathers to scales, I've had them all and if I haven't I knowsomeone who does/did. I believe that this is really importantin a good pet store employee. I have employees who all keepcertain animals and when we have a customer who has a question, they goto that person. It helps that we are small and have wonderfulloyal customers whose interests we know and who know ours.
I'm not saying that only small stores are good, in fact, I haveencountered more then my fair share of bad ones. Large chainstores can be wonderful. I know one in my area where themanager and at least 3 of the employees have rabbits and one breeds andshows angoras, so this is a great store to get help withquestions. The key is to find a store where people haveknowledge and are willing to become more knowledgeable about propercare and good products for the animals, themselves and you theconsumer.
The very best thing you can do if you see mistreatment of an animal isto tell the manager of the store about it. Even if they arenot driven out of the best motivation, they should make changes to helpthe store. Sometimes you might have to tell them more thenonce, but if the changes are made and the animal's health/happinessimproves (or if they can sell it easier ) they will thank you for theadvise in the long run.
It might help to know that all pet stores, at least in PA, and I'mfairly certain everywhere in the USA, are policed by the Department ofAgriculture. We have random visits, usually twice a year, butsometimes more if a complaint was made or a problem was found, by the"Dog Man" who checks on our kennel and the "Bird Man" who over seesexotics. If problems are found, we have so much time to fixthem and they WILL come back to check, or we are fined a substantialamount. If it is a blatant problem, we are fined on thespot. And they will shut you down. Problems canalways be reported to them. Unfortunately, most states do nothave regulations governing things like nutrition, generalhappiness....they only regulate cage size/occupant numbers,cleanliness, general health and so on. So it isstill your best bet to talk to the people who work there.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope it gives a little advise and offers some knowledge from inside.
I'm not saying that only small stores are good, in fact, I haveencountered more then my fair share of bad ones. Large chainstores can be wonderful. I know one in my area where themanager and at least 3 of the employees have rabbits and one breeds andshows angoras, so this is a great store to get help withquestions. The key is to find a store where people haveknowledge and are willing to become more knowledgeable about propercare and good products for the animals, themselves and you theconsumer.
The very best thing you can do if you see mistreatment of an animal isto tell the manager of the store about it. Even if they arenot driven out of the best motivation, they should make changes to helpthe store. Sometimes you might have to tell them more thenonce, but if the changes are made and the animal's health/happinessimproves (or if they can sell it easier ) they will thank you for theadvise in the long run.
It might help to know that all pet stores, at least in PA, and I'mfairly certain everywhere in the USA, are policed by the Department ofAgriculture. We have random visits, usually twice a year, butsometimes more if a complaint was made or a problem was found, by the"Dog Man" who checks on our kennel and the "Bird Man" who over seesexotics. If problems are found, we have so much time to fixthem and they WILL come back to check, or we are fined a substantialamount. If it is a blatant problem, we are fined on thespot. And they will shut you down. Problems canalways be reported to them. Unfortunately, most states do nothave regulations governing things like nutrition, generalhappiness....they only regulate cage size/occupant numbers,cleanliness, general health and so on. So it isstill your best bet to talk to the people who work there.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope it gives a little advise and offers some knowledge from inside.