I Hate Petsmart

[Dana64]

Originally Posted by pippy

Reading about this makes me wonder just why anyone would choose to buy a parrot from a pet shop?? Why not do the research, find a reputable breeder and buy from them?

It took me a while to find a breeder I was happy with but I'd have searched indefinitely and if I hadn't found one I simply wouldn't have bought my birds. I'd hate to be responsible for fuelling an operation such as those in that video. I'd be disgusted with myself.

I agree Pippy! There are many reputable parrot breeders in Toronto and surrounding areas. They are cheaper than the petstores and you get a full history, etc. It makes no sense to buy from a pet store.

But again, it would be hard for me, personally, to walk away from an animal if I knew it to be in distress. That's why I RARELY go into animal shelters and I only go to PJs in Pickering to have my Grey's nails trimmed (and when I go there, I walk straight to the "parrot grooming room" and do not look "sideways").... it may be ignorant of me (ostrich syndrome) but if I took the time to look around, I would leave the store crying....

[Aries]

My best friend works at petsmart. They really do an okay job with the care. The animals are taken to the banfield vet in the store when something is wrong with them. I would not buy a bird form there because like you said they come from the same place and your right about the bird mills. My particular petsmart does an okay job with their animals but I do understand the basic point. My friend has even really improved the care of the bettas while there. Which is really close to my heart. It stinks. Though I am new to birds I think they should take the nest out of the bird cages since they aren't monitored closely enough to breed in there which they do all the time. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[andyparade]

I'm so glad many of you are on the same page as me. Buying from breeders instead of pet stores is a much better idea. I think that rescuing birds is amazing too. There are so many awesome places to get "second hand" birds all over. And, I'd like to add that it is fairly easy to get birds without emotional or behavioral problems. I was lucky enough to get a half moon conure from a woman who gave him an amazing home, but couldn't care for him anymore with her new born daughter. I think this is the case all over. I assume every one understands the philosophy and ethics behind it, but saving a bird can help so much. There are so many birds our there begging for a nice home. Why not help them out before checking out a breeder? Just a recommendation for people looking for new additions to the flock. With that said, my quaker is a real dick. He's come a long way but he won't ever forget the negligence received from his last family. It takes a lot of work but it's worth it.

[Dana64]

Andy, except for Pigi, and my cockatiel (I hatched my 'tiel, I used to breed them), ALL of my pets are re-homes/rescues.

You are 100% correct. NOT all re-homes have "issues"... but the odds are increased with "rescues"...

My CAG Mackie is a re-home but, in my opinion, I rescued him. Read my blog for his story, if you are interested. Update: He is doing SOOOOOO MUCH better! I started the AviCalm and Featherific on December 23rd, 2008, and by the end of January he was fully feathered and his panic attacks, meltdowns, manic behavior has been diminished greatly. He still swears but not NEARLY as often and the anger isn't there anymore, just the words now... I'm going to keep him on the product for a few more months and then try to slowly wean him off...

Sorry for the temporary hijack... back to regular programming!

[Willow]

The point isn't that the care of the birds in petsmart is bad. The point is, everytime you buy a bird from them, they reorder 1 . . . maybe 2 . . . and they order from bird mills. The conditions in the bird mills are NOT good. If folks would learn about this and stop buying birds from petsmart, then the bird mills would be forced to shut down. Just like not buying puppies and kittens at petstores would shut down puppy mills. Instead, go to reputable breeders or rescues.

[Dana64]

in a utopian society that theory would probably work... unfortunately in the real world, it does not... because not everyone cares where they get their "puppy" (or parrot as the case may be) from... they just want it. It is usually this type of "pet purchaser" whose pet ends up in a shelter or rescue... and the petstore doesn't care about that pet (if they ever did at all)once the till is closed with their money inside.

[Aries]

People will not stop shopping there. I hang out there a lot becuase my friend works there. Rarely ever do I see people who have even researched the pet they are buying. Much less care about where they came from. I think people who know better all ready dont buy pets from there and their business is still booming. So I hate to be a pessimist but I dont think there is any hope.

[Dana64]

The only way, in my opinion, to really FIX the "problem" is for all pet stores to shut down. Only sell pet supplies, toys, fish. EVERYTHING else must be purchased from a breeder and breeders would have to be "government regulated", which would automatically shut down the "mills"...

and NONE of the above is EVER going to happen!

[Lisa B]

Thats why I am glad I dont sell birds in the store. Anyone can buy them, and well, as we all know, birds arent really just for anyone!

[IlovemyHanna]

Originally Posted by Dana64

The only way, in my opinion, to really FIX the "problem" is for all pet stores to shut down. Only sell pet supplies, toys, fish. EVERYTHING else must be purchased from a breeder and breeders would have to be "government regulated", which would automatically shut down the "mills"...

and NONE of the above is EVER going to happen!

@ Dana- that would be a great idea!! I couldn't agree more! If people took a stand then maybe the government would go through with it.