A PetCo to be proud of?

[PowerBBS]

This evening I went into PetCo to just look around. The "bird guy" that is there is actually a very good and caring fellow. We chat at him just about everytime we go in. He's got a 2 1/2 yr old quaker that he adopted from the store.

He does a really good job of getting all their birds out and socializing them. He's continually working with people who come in to help further bird "education". He keeps hinting that we should get one of the Alexandrine's they have there (as he's been there for a awhile).

Anyhow, he was telling us how he has had a few people come in who just walk off the street and ask about purchasing their GCC's. Amazingly, he asked some of the "right" questions to them to get them onto a proper track before adoption. He asked them why they wanted a GCC and if they new about any of the responsibilities of owning a parrot. They kind of looked at him dumfounded. He then proceeded to inform them about the nature of birds and how they aren't the same thing as a fish in a bowl that you just feed from time to time.

I was so impressed how he wasn't willing to allow the family to just walk in and say... Oh what a pretty bird and try to walk out with one. He was especially concious of the fact that they had a few kids and that a GCC is kind of notorious for being nippy. He was also concious of the fact that a GCC isn't necessarily the best family bird (especially around noisey loud children). He was concerned the bird would turn "wild".

I was just impressed how they weren't just interested selling a bird....

Anyhow, I just wanted to share the story.

[KDK241]

That is so great! Now if all pet stores would be that helpful....I know the one's here aren't.

[dodgewoman]

I agree, I would love if all the people who covered the bird area would be so knowledgeable and will to turn people away!

[patricia0913]

The Petco near me in Raritan NJ is very good in the same way. The woman in charge of the birds is very knowledgeable in birds and shares this with with interested customers. She is a parrot owner herself and I have spoken to her on many occasions. When you want to purchase a Parrot there, your name gets put on a list and she calls you in for an interview, and whoever successfully makes it through the interview may adopt a bird. I was in the store one day getting bird supplies and 5 high school kids came in (midday, not sure why they weren't at school) and they tried to purchase a hamster. After the small animal associate spoke with them, she would not even allow them to purchase a hamster, boy were they mad. They also believe in "Adoption First" and on occasion have different pets for adoption there from fish to birds. I just adopted a pair of keets for a fee of $25.00 which is a donation to the Petco Foundation. I like "our" Petco and the associates in every department are very good at their jobs. If only they sold Harrison's, but I have my bird vet for that. If you look on their website and look up adoption, you can read more about it.

[KimM]

That's good to hear. Many pet "chain" stores, as any large corp, are there to make $$ and meet a quota. The shop where I got my macaw is very conscientious, especially with scarlets and toos, etc. The potential owners are actually interviewed before they allow them to be purchased. If the owners don't feel they can handle it, they won't sell them the bird.. I still go to them for advice on my macaw.

[Tinker]

That's good - but I bet the manager will be firing him next! Most pet stores are simply about selling and it doesn't matter who the pets go to. If he get's into trouble for putting off customers I rather think he won't have his job for long.

[Ashling]

Today in college a girl next to me mentioned she wanted to get a macaw- she didnt understand the look I gave her. I knew that she had only ever had a budgie or three and didn't know much at all about any other parrot let alone a MACAW! And she hadn't even researched it- just thought they were cute (which they are :D) I've kept birds of all species, shapes and needs since I was 8 or 9, and have researched much about parrots, but I've never had anything bigger than a lory- and I wouldn't even think of getting a macaw yet myself! I wrote her a quick list- which ended up being a PAGE long- of the implications of getting a macaw- and how much work must go into their health and happiness. I'm glad there are people out there who inform people on the responsibilities of keeping a needy, intelligent animal like a parrot such as that man at the petshop!

[flyingfluff]

There definitely are a few responsible petcos or petsmarts out there. It just depends on the employees and if they are willing to go the extra few yards to ward of potentials buyers that dont know what the heck they are doing.

And up until recently, all I've owned were budgies and I've always wanted a macaw. I think I know enough about birds to know that, as much as I want one, I wouldn't be able to get one for a very long time. I'm still in college right now and it would just plain stupid for me to even try to afford one.

[DiorPorFavor]

Good to hear. Just driving by most Petcos and PetSmarts makes me want to go all radical Animal Liberation Front-style crazy. The Woburn, MA Petco has a sweet woman who takes great care of the assorted beasties, but I know she's probably the exception to the rule.

...and on that upbeat note, I'll go be a downer cry-baby elsewhere until I can cheer up.

[Abyssinian1]

If it is one thing that large chain pet stores understand it is bad publicity. another thing they understand is agressive viral activism that turns the public sentiment away from their business. Too much of that, and too bad a reputation among not only the animal rights folks but the middle and upper-class customers they want to attract and they will do something about it.

The best thing they could do, which would keep their costs low and improve their bottom line, would be to stop selling animals, period. They could sell anything related to animal care and keeping, but the animals themselves would be available only by contacting breeders that met with a stringent set of standards put forth by the pet sotre at the corporate level. Any breeder who failed to meet the standards for cleanliness, animal health and socialization would be refused references by the store. I don't see why the standard for cat and dog adoption should be one way and the standards for adopting a small animal, a bird, a reptile or a fish should be any different or any less strict. The money they would save on not having to house and maintain animals in the store (including labor) would offset the loss of money from sales of animals. Investors would see an increase in the value of their stock. The breeders would fell better knowing they had more control over who got their babies, the store would save money in many, many ways (including goodwill, which can be factored into the stock price), and the people who did purchase pets from recommended breeders would find that they wouldn't end up with pets that they didn't know how to care for. The animals would benefit most of all. it isn't a perfect system and would require some monitoring on the part of the pet store chain to make sure the breeders they had on their lists of 'people we recommend if you want this kind of dog/cat/bird/fis,rodent/iguana etc.' acted properly. Making connections with the vets in every market where they had a store might be a really good idea and acting as a resource that way would futher redeem their image.

Really, Petco, Petsmart... how hard is this? This makes sense from a business standpoint, let alone an animal rights standpoint.

*sighs* Just food for thought and me being an idealist.