A Heaping Handful of Righteous Ire

[ladysprite]

Someday, when the last pet store in the world has been burned to the ground, I will gather together every child who has ever suffered and lost a pet from their callous and mercenary attitude, and we will dance the hokey-pokey on the store's ashes as we sow the earth with salt.

I have had it up to my eyebrows with pet store puppies dripping with mange and kennel cough and worms. I am fed up with half-starved lizards and rats with pneumonia. And yesterday, euthanizing a bird that had only been out of the store for five days because it was too sick to move, too weak to perch, and so emaciated that I could use it's keel as a cheese knife - the third bird in this situation within the past three months - it took all of my willpower and then some to avoid marching down to the pet store myself and unleashing my wrath on the manager there.

I am a nonviolent person. I have no intentions of beating him black and blue, though that does hold a certain appeal right now. All I want to do is grab him by the ear, march him back to the clinic, and sit him down in front of the four-year-old boy who was sobbing his heart out and asking me if his bird was dying because he was bad. And Mister Marvelous Pet Store Manager can explain to this child that no, he was a good boy, and the bird was just dying because the store didn't care, and knew they could turn a profit anyway. I'm sure that'll make the kid feel much better.

The store's involvement ends when the animal leaves the door. They don't have to deal with the frustration and the heartbreak and the pain that comes when people get attatched to an animal that winds up in ICU less than a week later. They graciously offer to take the animal back and give them a new one - they don't understand, I guess, the difference between a living creature and a slipcover. And this is why slipcovers should be sold in chain stores, and living creatures shouldn't.

Meanwhile, I mop up their messes, and I call their managers, and I tell them about the problems. And they recite the carefully-worded statements they're given from on-high, pointing out that since I didn't see the animal when it was sold, I can't prove that it was sold in that condition, and no formal action can be taken. And I sit, and I seethe, and then I move on to my next appointment and hope that maybe at least now there's one more family that will never buy from a pet store again.

Damnit.

Comments

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

I suppose that the logical public policy would be rather callous but would solve at least some of the problem: anyone who sells a pet is responsible for professional vet bills (well, for obvious things) for 30 days after sale, including one "well-pet" checkup. Yes, of course it'd jack up the price of the pets, but at least no one could imagine that a pet really costs only $3.50 plus supplies (or whatever they sell some of the small animals for).

I'm with you!

[maggledy.livejournal.com]

Most of our family pets came from one of the best places in the country to get a pet (IMO) The Denver Dumb Friends League. Pretty standard, sensible policies; lost animals are cared for until they are well enough to adopt before they are put in kennels where the public can see them. You MUST have your animal spayed or neutered before you take it home. Cost of adoption includes fixing, microchipping, several blood tests for disease, and a well-pet checkup. You are required to visit with a dog or cat in a visiting room for at least a few minutes to make sure your personalities mesh, and they will watch how you interact with their animals for a few minutes before they leave you alone with them. They screen adopters and give advice on how to acclimate your new pet to your home and any other pets, they have a 24-hour helpline in case there are any problems, and a 30-day no-fault return policy.

The exceptions? A few cats who showed up and stayed, and a Norwegian Elkhound whose breeder wanted rid of her because she was far too short for breed-standard.

Wouldn't it be nice if puppy mill and pet store owners were subjected to the same conditions their animals are?

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should be happy all the dogs we had when I was a kid were either a) strays or b) dogs someone couldn't handle and were giving away or c) pound puppies.

We're going to the no-kill shelter when the time comes to get a family pet. And no, it won't be a responsibility lesson for our child. The dog will be a family member, just like all of us. So will the cat, if I have my way and we get one of each.

I like that the PetsMart in our area brings in the shelter once a week to show their animals and do a potential owner meet and greet. I think the store also does a free clean-up and prep-for-home (i.e. flea dip, haircut, etc) for people that get their dogs on a shelter day there.

That said, what if when the time comes Sandra would like an iguana (not my first pick because of some of the bacteria they carry) or a bird? Are there safe, sane, non-abusive environments to buy or rescue such animals from?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

That said, what if when the time comes Sandra would like an iguana (not my first pick because of some of the bacteria they carry) or a bird? Are there safe, sane, non-abusive environments to buy or rescue such animals from?

Completely aside from the bacteria issue, iguanas are quite possibly the worst pet species in existence. They have insanely specific and intense habitat requirements, they're nearly impossible to feed properly, they die at the drop of a hat, and if they live they get big enough that they require not just a cage but an entire room of their own. If she wants a lizard, get her a skink.

As for where to get a good reptile or bird, ask your local exotics vet. If they can't recommend someone, look around for a decent breeder. If you do have to get one from a pet store, look at their habitats - make sure they're clean, and not overcrowded. Make sure the animals look healthy - bright, clear eyes, no feces stuck on them, not too skinny. Feathers should lie flat, scales should be colorful and clear. And take your new critter to a vet within 24 hours of adopting it. Also, before you buy the thing, talk to a vet about it's habitat requirements - most of what the pet store will tell you is wrong. (If you do want an exotic, I'd be more than happy to talk with you about finding the right critter, and figuring out it's habitat and diet....)

[cadhla.livejournal.com]

I can't agree with that assessment of iguanas. Burmese pythons are possibly the worst pet in existence -- and I say this as a woman who has had and loved them dearly in the past. Iguanas, for all their failings, also have their advantages. Of all the commonly kept 'pet' reptiles, iguanas are the most genuinely affectionate. They have personality. Adult iguanas are capable of being some of the sweetest, most loving creatures I've ever shared space with.

Yes, I do iguana rescue. Yes, I would happily ban sales of iguanas in standard pet stores, because the way they are treated and the size at which they are sold is horrific. This said...

Is Sandra willing to settle for a second-hand iguana? There are rescue organizations around the country, and most of them will let you meet the lizards before you choose one to take home. Adult iguanas require more space than infants, but infants become adults, and this lets you skip the lizard teenage years (not always fun). If you really want a baby, look for your nearest vivarium -- here in California, the East Bay Vivarium and Hoffman's Reptiles fill that nitch, selling happy, healthy, well-socialized little herps to people that meet their standards.

Don't write off the iguana just because he takes up space.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Don't write off the iguana just because he takes up space.

I don't write them off just because they take up space. I write them off because, for any but the most experienced herp owner, they're extraordinarily difficult to handle.

A dedicated, experienced reptile owner and handler can take good care of an iguana, yes. And for those owners, they're incredibly rewarding pets. They're friendly, social, and beautiful. But for inexperienced owners, the demands of space, temperature gradients, humidity, lighting, UV balance, diet, supplementation, and hygiene are nearly impossible to juggle. The average lifespan of iguanas in the wild is over 20 years; in captivity it's about 8 months.

There are starter-lizards that are much easier to handle, and in my experience equally rewarding. Once a person has some experience, then if they want to jump into the commitment of owning an iguana, it might be worth trying.

[faithwallis.livejournal.com]

With that answer, I think my answer to iguana or "exotics" is a huge NOOOOOOO.

I don't like them. Sorry, know they're a member of the species of Earth too, but just don't like them. Birds, iguanas, etc just don't have the ...um...hate using this term..."durability with children" that something somewhat mammalian does.

Hopefully, we can get her to deal with the fact it will be a dog or a cat or nothing. Hubby and I have grown up with dogs and want to wait until the kid is out of "love them to death...almost literally" mode. He remembers their beagle almost getting strangled to death when he'd hug her and doesn't want that to happen to an animal we bring here.

Any recommendation on age when bringing a pet into a home is appropriate? We don't plan on having any more children and Sandra will be 2 on May 1.

What do you recommend parents do to acclimate both the pet to the kid and the kid to the pet, age group wise?

I know this sounds silly, but would you mind writing a post about kids and animals and what is appropriate behaviour and what parents need to be aware of.

OR, would you recommend some books on the subject?

Thanks!
Faith

[matildalucet.livejournal.com]

My mom's rule of thumb was no crawling kids and preferably only one creature to "potty train" at once. I'm not sure if that was for her sake or the pup's though. I seem to remember wanting to trade in my youngest brother for a dog, but I've gotten over it.

[cadhla.livejournal.com]

When she hits the age wherein she's making 'wanna pet' noises and you've judged her able to handle them, you may want to consider a rat.

Rats are more social, friendlier, and generally more durable than hamsters (which I refer to as 'goldfish with teeth'). If properly handled and socialized, they can be incredibly sweet, affectionate companions with a very good grasp of appropriate behaviour. I would never recommend a hamster for a child; I recommend rats all the time.

Also, most areas have 'ratteries' -- private breeders who keep their rats as socialized and healthy as possible. A little research before purchase can get you a small, healthy, happy caged companion animal.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that's awful.

Can't you report the store to the animal control folks for not taking sufficient care of their animals? Or are the the authorities swamped and happy to swallow the lie from management?

Failing a report to the authorities type action, why not write to you local newspapers - all of 'em? And maybe the TV stations. And perhaps draft a big ol' informative poster to go up in your clinic about the hazards of buying from a pet-store and why a person might want to try their local shelter, first?

The police might take exception to your burning the stores down, but driving them out of business via grassroots means, not a problem. ;)

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I can't report them because, technically, they're not breaking the law. There's no law against selling unhealthy animals, as long as they don't make a health guarantee. Also, they do offer to exchange the animals, which is all that's required for business reasons.

As for writing to newspapers and putting up posters, big chain petstores can afford better lawyers than I can, and I have no interest in bankrupting myself and possibly losing my license - unfortunately, I can't *prove* that they're selling sick animals (since I don't see the animals immediately after purchase), and as a professional in the industry I'm held to higher standards of accuracy in issues like that. It's a lousy place to be, and it makes me feel like a coward, but the best that I can do is rant in my own journal about the general state of pet stores and encourage anyone who asks me specifically to look for a different place to acquire a pet. :(

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hmm, good point.

Can you at least post an "informative notice" in the clinic suggesting that anyone who buys a pet from a store *immediately* takes it to their vet for a checkup? Or is even that actionable?

[siderea]

unfortunately, I can't *prove* that they're selling sick animals (since I don't see the
animals immediately after purchase)

It takes more than 5 days to starve a bird to emaciation, doesn't it? Surely some diseases have incubation periods, such that the literature would back you if you reported "Receipt for animal dated 1/1, animal dies on 1/3 of a disease with a 10 day incubation. Ergo..."

Are there no inspection regulations for pet stores? I would think for the simple reason of safety for humans there are some basic regulations. Are there not? Would agitating for stricter inspection laws help?

Also, while you certainly don't want to pit yourself against the pet store lawyers, some of your clients -- who are the other wronged parties -- surely must be pretty pissed. In cases where an animal was sold with an infectious disease to a home which already had another animal, couldn't the customer sue not only for replacement, but for the endangerment of their other animals?

You'd think someday one of these puppy mills would wind up killing the dogs of some ambulance-chasing lawyer.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Yes, there are inspection regulations for pet stores. Unfortunately, the organizations that enforce them are grotesquely underfunded and understaffed. It's all they can do to handle the worst mass-offenders, let alone a store whose worst crime is a handful of sick cockatiels.

As for incubation periods, that would depend on me being able to confirm the exact disease responsible. There are a *lot* of things that can cause the same signs in birds, and almost all of them are nearly impossible to diagnose. (Birds are notoriously difficult to catch definitive diagnoses for - any given test is about 50% accurate. It sucks, and we're working on new tests, but that's all we have right now). I've been sending the bodies out for testing, but all the tests have come back inconclusive, so I don't have a leg to stand on against the store. It would be great if the owners decided to sue, but I can't bring it up or encourage them, and if they did I really can't safely testify on their behalf.

I've investigated this as much as I can, trying to find a safe way to help get this under control - but it seems like all I can do is hold people's hands while I tell them their new pet is sick, tell them it's not their fault, and make sure they don't make the same mistake twice. Damnit.

[sjo.livejournal.com]

It is terrible what pet stores do to creatures. It's disgusting and cruel and inexcusable that they are allowed to get away with it.

I try to remind myself that although I can't give my pets the quantity of attention I'd like to, they could be a lot worse off:

• Calypso, my eldest cat (15), was adopted from the Oklahoma City animal shelter when she was so young that her eyes were blue;
• Natasha (feline) was found abandoned with the rest of her litter in a friend's parts car;
• Lady (hound) was abandoned on Mom's property when she lived in NC;
• Bunnicula (rabbit) was rescued from the Shenandoah County Fair, as she was so thin she slipped between the bars of her cage to escape;
• Murphy (cat) was rescued by Gordon, who found him laying in the middle of the road aapparently having been hit by a car;
• Vera (dog) was rescued after we found her wandering around in the middle of the road -- the folks at one house where we knocked told us she lived in the house across the street where the animals regularly wandered into the road and got hit by cars, and animal control was a regular visitor;
• Pewter (cat) was discovered by Adrienne and Gordon at Berkeley Springs -- she has gained a LOT of size since we've had her.

People are inhumane. I swear I like my pets better than I like most people.

[evilshell.livejournal.com]

Thank you for saying this. It should be broadcast far and wide, honestly.

We adopted Luna, Farouche and Selena from a cat "sanctuary" in town. We figured the cats would be coming from a place that had a good record and good kitties because of what we'd seen there (we'd gone to an open house, tremendous response from the public) and from talking to them.

Farouche died 5 days after we brought him home, from effusive FIP (confirmed by autopsy).

We adopted Selena about a week after he died, from the same place. All three were littermates. She died on Christmas day from dry FIP, just 3 months after we brought her home (not confirmed by autopsy, but clinical symptoms were consistent).

Luna continues to be her annoying self, lovable, sweet and annoying. Her FIP status is unknown.

Based on what the shelter told us, both of the vets we used for Selena and Farouche (one was the shelter practice, the second was independent), this place has a serious FIP problem. No fewer than 8 cats died from FIP in a 1 month period. Yet nobody ever says anything about this shelter but how great they are. No wonder they didn't balk at paying for Farouche's bills at their own vet, they must be used to it by now.

Yes, it is really nice to see a large, old home in the city filled with free-roaming cats, looking at you from the window perches the shelter has. But it makes me sick to think of how many of them are sick and dying because the damned place doesn't care enough to bleach litterboxes and the "kitten rooms" when there have been sick cats in them. Oh, I could rant on and on. I was calling the place a cat factory, which is so close to how they are at pet stores.

Bastards. All of 'em.

I hope that little boy learns that he didn't do anything wrong, and his parents get him another bird (from a reputable dealer!) and he can bond with it. That bothered me the most (and was the one thing we were grateful for with our ordeal - that we didn't have children to be subjected to this).

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

What you said.

Like the rest of your commentors, I get shelter pets when I get pets. I've recently come to understand the uses of good breeders for certain situations, though I personally don't need a dog for any complicated purpose, so I doubt I'll have use for one. The backyard breeders and pet stores are... evil. Plain and simple.

[matildalucet.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing most of my animal companions were hand-me-downs with guidance because if I relied on pet store info I think we'd be in trouble. At least for guinea pigs, it takes extra effort to get the right bedding and avoid harmful stuff because the store claims are wrong. I almost got Niles an exercise ball because Steve had enjoyed playing with tpau's hamster in its ball. Only from reading the Guinea Pig Daily Digest did I find out piggies should never be put in one because it hurts their backs. Snacks with seeds, cedar bedding, harnesses all say "guinea pig" on them with no warning that this stuff could be bad for them. If there isn't a law requiring truth in advertising pet products, there should be. Grrrr...

It's not hard to find shelter dogs and cats. "Exotics" (and how can they be exotic if they're in every Petco and Petsmart?) are harder to find in shelters, though not impossible. If we decide to adopt another piggy when Niles goes home, I may need help finding a piggy shelter in the Boston area. Melrose only shelters cats. :-(

Put your left arm in put your left arm out......

[madamruppy.livejournal.com]

I HATE PET STORES!!!!!!!!!! I am so there with you, hell I'll buy the salt.

I know it has been mentioned a bit, but there are rescues for all pets. I think rescues, shelters and reputable breeders are the only places to get pets. I am the proud guardian and caretaker of three rescued pugs. I can't say enough about how wonderful rescues are. They take the time,as does a GOOD breeder, to find out if you know what you are getting into. They do home inspections (I do that for one group), the ask questions, they require spaying and neutering, the follow up and they have a return policy - animals that don't work out go back to the rescue. There is some variation among different groups but in general that is it. I have told some people not to get pugs because their lives/lifestyle wasn't right. Pugs have lots of medical problems and unlike a lot of short haired breed they shed like little demons 24/7/365.

Another thing is that so many people don't educate themselves properly on their pet choices. Example, they have always owned dogs so lets get an italian greyhound because they are cute. Always translates to some labs or other big mostly kept outdoor dogs. There is no research into the special requirements of the IG. Or, I owned some parakeets as a kid I think I'll get an African Grey because they talk. Greys are very difficult birds to deal with even for someone with experience in large parrots. Of course going to a breeder isn't always a promise of success. One woman I know was told by her breeder that pugs don't shed. I about split my sides laughing over that one.

I think that it is quite possible that I am almost as militant about responsible pet ownership as Lady Sprite. I will never achieve her level because I am not a vet, but that is the only thing that could make me more so. Don't even get me started on commercial pet foods........

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I really hope that not all pet stores are that evil. I got my first cat from a pet store when I was 6 or 7 (almost 30 years ago - eeek!) and she lived happily with me for 17 years. Maybe it's gotten worse recently... I haven't been to a pet store in years.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I'll help with the pet stores.

Our most recent cat is a shelter cat. He was exposed to feline panleukopenia at the shelter (the day after he was vaccinated for it). The shelter warned us that it might be a problem, and what the incubation period was, and when our poor kitty came down sick a week later, we were able to take him to the emergency room, tell the vets what he likely had, get him isolated immediately and treated almost as fast. It was not a fun or cheap experience, despite the $300 the shelter kicked our way for treatment of shelter-related illness, but our kitten survived and is today a healthy and rambunctious cat.

The shelter also shut down their kitten and cat area for thorough cleaning and didn't take cats for about a month afterwards.

Had the shelter been less responsible, we would not have known the urgency of getting the kitten to the vet, might have waited to see if he bucked up on his own, might have infected other people's pets in the waiting room when we did go, and probably would have lost him. We both would have been devastated. I won't even go near pet stores at this point, because I'm afraid of exactly that, and I cannot *imagine* going through such a thing with a child.