I Hate Petsmart

[nene142]

It's actually that damn rainbow world exotics! Everything I have seen from them is horrible! Man I ball when I see stuff like that it's so nasty and horrifying! Unbelieveable!

[tabooh]

To answer your question about where I live up until the 24th of Feb, I live in Canada. After which I will be living in Tacoma,WA. Sorry for the confusion and jumping ahead of myself here!

Pet smart here in Canada I am not to sure about, but I do believe that they do not sell live animals, but I could be wrong, they are not as big as lets say Pj's pet store. But I have heard some positive stories about the company Pet smart in the States and some not so good ones to. I guess it would have to do with whom is running or managing the store/location.

For the most part it for myself, I tend to avoid buying any pets from pet stores in general. I find good breeders to buy from, that way I can see their living conditions and ask many questions or concerns that I may have that can't be answered at the pet stores.

[r2rusmc]

Everyone wants big brother to jump in until it happens.

Ya know there are fish forums on the web that feel the exact same way but about fish.

Are you friggin serious?

[amanda143]

Originally Posted by r2rusmc

Everyone wants big brother to jump in until it happens.

Ya know there are fish forums on the web that feel the exact same way but about fish.

Are you friggin serious?

lol my father in law has a huge picture of a nazi hanging on his wall that says Big Brother is Watching...freaks me out everytime. =P

[odhinn]

Originally Posted by amanda143

lol my father in law has a huge picture of a nazi hanging on his wall that says Big Brother is Watching...freaks me out everytime. =P

Now that sounded bad if read wrong...lol
It is an antique WW2 poster that they hung up all over occupied Europe. Unfortunately it is true today because no one seems to learn from the past.

[shosh]

Breeders should have to pay for breeding every year.....X amount of dollars for a "breeder's contract, for example. They would need to supply this contract to the pet stores for assurance that they are a registered breeding facility and these papers would be passed on to the consumer. That way there is a paper trail leading back to the original breeder. These contracts would be distributed by the local SPCA, for example, and the breeder would be subject to indiscriminate visits for inspection. Violation of the basic and necessary needs of the birds and babies and any unsanitary conditions would be subject to a fine, if not remedied, and the license could be revoked. All licenses should be displayed where potential purchasers could see it and verify its legitimacy.

All pet stores would be required to purchase their birds ONLY from these breeders and any found in violation would be subject to fines and lose their ability to SELL birds. This goes for any other animal, as well.....

I think something like this is imperative for dogs especially.....but it could work for all animals.

This could also help weed out those awful Craig List breeders.....if someone suspects a Bird/Puppy/Cat mill, they can report it. No license means big fine.

It's not an original idea but one, I believe, whose time has come...for the sake of the animals.

[andyparade]

There's several posts about the unlikely actuality of Petsmart stopping the sales of birds. Believe it or not, it has happened and will happen again if people who really care, like us, do something. Does anyone remember another huge pet chain that just recently stopped selling birds because of a PETA led boycott. That's right, PETCO. Say what you will about Peta, that's not the point. The point is that through a collective of people who cared, birds were no longer mistreated at that store. It can be done with Petsmart too! Instead of questioning what doing the right thing will amount to, why not do the right thing because you know it is right? Send a letter to Petsmart saying you refuse to buy from them until they stop selling birds. Hell, even if you skip out on the letter writing, at least you're doing something. This is no call to arms. This is merely asking people to STOP doing something. That is, buying from a cruel chain pet store until they change their ways. It's so easy, and as bird enthusiasts, there is little reason for us not to be doing this already.

[r2rusmc]

Originally Posted by shosh

Breeders should have to pay for breeding every year.....X amount of dollars for a "breeder's contract, for example. They would need to supply this contract to the pet stores for assurance that they are a registered breeding facility and these papers would be passed on to the consumer. That way there is a paper trail leading back to the original breeder. These contracts would be distributed by the local SPCA, for example, and the breeder would be subject to indiscriminate visits for inspection. Violation of the basic and necessary needs of the birds and babies and any unsanitary conditions would be subject to a fine, if not remedied, and the license could be revoked. All licenses should be displayed where potential purchasers could see it and verify its legitimacy.

All pet stores would be required to purchase their birds ONLY from these breeders and any found in violation would be subject to fines and lose their ability to SELL birds. This goes for any other animal, as well.....

I think something like this is imperative for dogs especially.....but it could work for all animals.

This could also help weed out those awful Craig List breeders.....if someone suspects a Bird/Puppy/Cat mill, they can report it. No license means big fine.

It's not an original idea but one, I believe, whose time has come...for the sake of the animals.

What about the hobby breeders with only a pair or two?

What about the accidental breedings or the one time only situations?

What about the ones that don't sell to pet store?

What about brokers?

Paper trail back to the breeders eh? What about the bird that is sick because of the way it was maintained in the store? Suppose that is the breeders fault as well?

How do you see that the pet stores are following the regs? How do you recommend that the bird in question is the bird on the paperwork? Oh wait, every finch has a microchip?

Surprise inspections to the aviary? Guess Bio-security doesn't mean much to you huh?

Never gonna happen except for some oversight on the big time breeders.

[KimM]

The PetSmart where I shop is very clean.. very few birds (and only small species such as canaries, finches, etc) and they have regular adoptions for several rescue organizations in our area... i.e. Greyhound rescue off of the track and a local person who has a shelter for larger abandoned, abused dogs i.e. labs... etc. the have a vet clinic and a pet grooming at this store as well. It's a shame they come from such deplorable conditions. Perhaps you could appeal to Pet stores as to their "suppliers". Instead of going after the messenger, help them become aware and get to the root problem.. the breeders. Perhaps they would consider changing breeders. there are plenty enough out there.. I'm sure they could find reputable ones.

[shosh]

Well, I do know it would make a huge difference with dogs and cats..and maybe the microchip issue is the main difference.

I'm not saying it's perfect and birds present different problems than dogs/cats...but bird bands are, in a way, akin to a microchip, though...so birds that have them already ARE traceable back to the breeder even if the breeder is not nor should they be held accountable to the consumer once the pet store has the bird. Another reason to make pet stores more accountable but putting the onus on them to purchase only from licensed breeders to avoid fines and to make sure they keep the birds in excellent condition.

As for hobby breeders...no one is saying that they can't breed their birds once/twice a year and sell them if they choose although if the subject is about bird stores and making them more accountable, it is perhaps something to consider. There is very little regulation of pet stores so how do you get them to comply with keeping their animals safe and healthy...maybe that is where it should start. A standard of care that they need to maintain along with documented proof of where they purchased the birds from...