petland

[Stasia]

Hello all! I have a dilemma I'm hoping I can get some opinions on....

I was offered a part time job at Petland where I think I would love to work since they have puppies, kittens, birds, and more and I'm just a sucker for those adorable faces. But my problem is I'm concerned about where they come from. The employees say of course that all the animals are from reputable local breeders and the pets stay at the store until they get adopted regardless of age. I'm hoping this is true so I can happily take the job, but I don't want to be naivve. Is it possible that they really could get all the pets from good breeders or do you think this simply isn't true? Thanks for any opinions or experiences!

Stasia

[Roo]

By definition, a "Good Breeder" would never, *ever* sell a puppy via a petshop. Never. Ever.

A good breeder has all their pups spoken for (and then some) pretty much before the breeding ever takes place, and cafefully screens and asks for references on the new owners before selling a pup. And by the time they have done all the health checks on the parents, paid for the vet bills for mama and pups (and ideally, put a few titles on the parents in both conformation and a working class), they aren't making a whole lot of profit, and are probably losing money.

I wouldn't buy so much as a sprig of millet from a store that sold puppies or kittens, and would love to see every last one of them go out of business.

If you can't resist those adorable faces, then try to get a job with a vet hospital or shelter. Those pups in those shops are the ones who survived a living hell to get there, and supporting those stores in any way just condemns more to suffering.

Those puppies in that store aren't being "adopted", they're being *sold*. The store buys them as cheaply as possible from brokers marks them up ridiculously high, and sells them to make a profit for the business. Concern for the bottom line trumps the welfare of the puppies. Can you stomach that?

Don't do it.

[Vega]

Stasia, I once worked at a Petland, and we didn't get our animals from "local reputable breeders". Actually most of the puppies that came in were shipped in on airplanes then delivered store-to-store on a big 'ol delivery truck. Rarely were they shipped with any water...to help cut down on animal waste...80% of them arrived dehydrated and covered in feces. :eusa_wall I have no vet training, however they sent me and another girl (who just finished tech school) to pick which animals we would bring into the store and which were sent back to the breeder. An uneducated say on my part decided if those puppies were worth hundreds of dollars, or euthanized when sent back to the breeder (AKA puppy mill).

Working there was heartbreaking. We had birds that were ill (this was before I had gained any knowledge of their proper care) and usually kept the budgies in a bin out on the floor. The other employees were sooooo concerned about making their commission that they'd stay on the floor instead of taking the time to clean cages. Also we only had a certified vet come in once a month, normally the employees gave the vaccines (the other girl and I both worked at the same animal hospital so it was usually the two of us doing this) and did an over all check. The quaratine area was actually a small storage closet with 3 cages stacked on top of each other.

I kinda left on a quit/fire agreement. They set up a sale quota, which I wasn't able to make, because I stayed in the back room cleaning/feeding the animals. And no, that store did not keep their animals until they sold. We were told they were sent to another location to increase their chance of adoption...but I don't ever recall getting in-coming animals from another store....

I worked there for maybe 2 months, and hated every minute of it. I ended up going to a Pet Supplies Plus, where I got my experience and training with parrots.

In the end it truely depends on the store and it's managers. That was just 1 Petland so I can't say they are all bad...and I think it ended up getting shut down within the first year.

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Vega

That was just 1 Petland so I can't say they are all bad...and I think it ended up getting shut down within the first year.

If the store sells puppies, or if they are part of a chain that sells puppies, then they are bad. </brokenrecord>

[Stasia]

WOW. Thanks to both of you Vega and Roo. I REALLY appreciate your feedback and thanks for sharing your Petland experience Vega, that really helps me make decision NOT to even go for the full interview. I have another offer from the humane society, not the kind of work I was hoping for since it is office work, but at least I'll sleep better knowing I'm helping animals that are in need of true adoptions. Thanks again and I will certainly steer clear of these types of stores from now on!

Stasia

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Stasia

I have another offer from the humane society, not the kind of work I was hoping for since it is office work,

Stasia

But it's pretty essential for the organization, is good experience for you, *and* you can no doubt learn all sorts of good animal stuff while you're there, and then get into more hands-on work, if that's your thing (sometimes folks can be most helpful to animals using their talents for things like fundraising, or running the office).

Best of luck to you. :)

[Vega]

Plus, I hear a lot of stories at shelters about keeping some of the animals in the office to help socialize them! I think the Humane Society would be a MUCH better choice, just for your own peace-of-mind. And the office workers are usually the most important part of running a shelter, they are the ones who help set-up the adoptions, and maybe after you're there for a while you get get your foot in other areas.

[Stasia]

very true guys, thanks for the support!! :)

Stasia

[Crebain]

Take the job, maybe you can help if there are problems. But there may not be, either. Don't close any doors based on preconceptions or the experiences of others.

If you don't like it, you can quit. But if you don't try it, you'll never know.

[Rue]

Yes, there are pros and cons associated with any petstore...and as a rule I wouldn't buy a puppy or kitten from a large chain either...

...and Petland does have ludicrous mark-ups...and I don't think they nec. get their animals from reputable breeders either...

...but I have to say, our local store is very, very clean, and the physical health of the animals is monitored and maintained...I have to commend them on that at least...and most of the full-time employees are fairly knowlegable...

...at any rate, you can always quit the job if it doesn't work out for you...