|
|
We have often said that pet stores are not a good source to get pets. This is from the experience that they don't always know their stuff, and recommend products that can be harmful to our pets' health.
The trouble is, pet stores purchase their pets from breeders who are not interested in the home the pet gets - they are interested in the supplemental income or the "cool" factor that they have such a hobby. Pet stores and their breeder suppliers want the looks that get a buyer interested, but should realize they are gambling with the animal's health and longevity. Pet stores often do not look into the living conditions or genetics/pedigree planning of the breeder's operation, and some may find it cheaper and easier to do it badly in-house.
So, those of you who are offended at this point ask "Well, what's a pet store to do? Where else are people going to get animals?" And the answer is: when a pet store helps shelters place rescue animals, or acts as a shelter with due vet care for surrendered animals, if it posts ads for members of the public who need to rehome their pets, if it passes referrals to registered breeders that it evaluates with strong criteria rather than take the animals in-house, then it helps perpetuate humane responsibility all its rewards. If it refuses to breed or sell live "feeder" animals, if it educates those who ask for live feeders why this is a bad practice, and if it procures only frozen feeders that are humanely killed - it is taking responsibility to not participate in a black-market, cruel economy that necessarily takes place hidden, behind closed doors.
A pet shop that doesn't carry animals usually makes up for the floor space and sales (which, by the way, are a minor part of the store's revenue) by a variety of products - though I readily admit that's not always true in the small animal department. A pet shop that doesn't carry animals can be profitable and should be supported.
This is where pet stores who meet my criteria get posted. They are either recommended or volunteer themselves, and participate in any program that helps local small animals.
My criteria are:
- sell no animals whatsover, but post ads to help people and shelters rehome pets (but not advertise to find sires or dams, or to adopt intentional litters - that information should be behind-the-counter only)
or
- co-operates in programs to help shelters place rescue animals
- acts as a shelter with due vet care for surrendered animals
My first entry on the list is for a favour that this petstore rendered me: when I lost Tofu from an adopter who surrendered the rat to an unknown person, I sent out Reward posters to recover her. This pet store got my poster, contacted me because Tofu had been with them for one week, and boarded her for almost a month before a ride could be arranged to get her back to me in Montreal. Edmundston, NB, has no SPCA or Humane Society and has only one SPCA officer who works on the police force.
Animalerie R L Tropical
506-739-7130
180 Bd Hebert,
Edmundston, NB E3V 2S6
In Montreal, I go to Little Bear, Croque En Bol, and Mondou. None of these stores sell animals, and I have rarely seen ads to procure sires, dams, or adopt intentional litters.
If you have a pet store that meets these criteria, please let me know.