PetSmart info

[Xjrosie]

This may need to be moved, idk.

But, I was in PetSmart grtt8ng cat food and stuff, when I stopped to look at the reptiles. They have a ball python that has an eye cap still on, and it's been over a week. I keep watching it now when I go in.

A conversation with the cashier led to me finding out that if the animals are there too long, they give them away for free just to get rid of them.

I'm adamantly against ever purchasing animals from a chain store like that, but I don't know how to feel about getting one for free. On the one hand, I'm not out any money if it's sick, but also it makes room for them to get more animals in. At the same time, they are known to kill animals that are perfectly fine if they no longer have room for them.

What would you do? If you could get a free lizard or snake, would you do it even if it meant getting it from those guys?

 

[xp29]

This may need to be moved, idk.

But, I was in PetSmart grtt8ng cat food and stuff, when I stopped to look at the reptiles. They have a ball python that has an eye cap still on, and it's been over a week. I keep watching it now when I go in.

A conversation with the cashier led to me finding out that if the animals are there too long, they give them away for free just to get rid of them.

I'm adamantly against ever purchasing animals from a chain store like that, but I don't know how to feel about getting one for free. On the one hand, I'm not out any money if it's sick, but also it makes room for them to get more animals in. At the same time, they are known to kill animals that are perfectly fine if they no longer have room for them.

What would you do? If you could get a free lizard or snake, would you do it even if it meant getting it from those guys?

If there are local reptile shops near you, they probably take in surrenders. Call them and ask if they want/will take a surrender and if so drop it off. It's more likely to get a good honevthat way.

 

[ChileanTaco]

What would you do? If you could get a free lizard or snake, would you do it even if it meant getting it from those guys?

I'd only if I would like to get an animal of that species anyway.
Reason: I want that animal having a good home, and if I would just rescue out of empathy but have no space, time... it doesn't feel right for me. (I had turned down some rehomed pets, different species from cats to frogs, as it didn't work out for me.)
I would, however, always temporary take in an animal/ pet in need. "Temporary" means: rehoming is planned right away when I get it. This would include taking it from PetSmart, and bringing it to a (good) shelter or rehome it on my own. (With said frog, that would have been an option: I had time, space, but was already in the planning stage of moving abroad for a new job - no way to take a frog with me, but I would have had half a year to rehome it. Luckily somebody else took the frog.)

I personally also think: If my only option to get a pet would be to get one for free, I should think about whether I could really come up for all the costs during my pet's life. That doesn't mean that I would not take one for free, but just that I have to be honest to myself why. There were many times when 50 Dollars, yet alone 100, 200... were a bunch of money for me, for sure not an amount I had paid for something that is optional like a pet, a hobby, and a free pet might have been tempting, but 50, 100, 200... is a small fraction of what it costs on the long run. If, however, getting it for free just means some money saved that I would have been able to spend to pay for my pet, then fine!

 

[Xjrosie]

I'd only if I would like to get an animal of that species anyway.
Reason: I want that animal having a good home, and if I would just rescue out of empathy but have no space, time... it doesn't feel right for me. (I had turned down some rehomed pets, different species from cats to frogs, as it didn't work out for me.)
I would, however, always temporary take in an animal/ pet in need. "Temporary" means: rehoming is planned right away when I get it. This would include taking it from PetSmart, and bringing it to a (good) shelter or rehome it on my own. (With said frog, that would have been an option: I had time, space, but was already in the planning stage of moving abroad for a new job - no way to take a frog with me, but I would have had half a year to rehome it. Luckily somebody else took the frog.)

I personally also think: If my only option to get a pet would be to get one for free, I should think about whether I could really come up for all the costs during my pet's life. That doesn't mean that I would not take one for free, but just that I have to be honest to myself why. There were many times when 50 Dollars, yet alone 100, 200... were a bunch of money for me, for sure not an amount I had paid for something that is optional like a pet, a hobby, and a free pet might have been tempting, but 50, 100, 200... is a small fraction of what it costs on the long run. If, however, getting it for free just means some money saved that I would have been able to spend to pay for my pet, then fine!

Yeah, I didn't mean get it just because it's free. I wasn't even planning on getting an animal right now. Five is enough, especially with the crap Thor pulled tonight. I just thought, you know, when I am ready to get another, it's good info to have filed away.

 

[xp29]

Yeah, I didn't mean get it just because it's free. I wasn't even planning on getting an animal right now. Five is enough, especially with the crap Thor pulled tonight. I just thought, you know, when I am ready to get another, it's good info to have filed away.

Yup.
I wish box stores were better regulated. I know they have their place, but I think they are very unscrupulous.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

It is always hard to resist adopting or purchasing a reptile or other animal from a pet store. It is the
fault of the upper management who doesn't seem to have enough ethics to be sure they are taken
care of properly. It has been going on a long time & for some reason, reptiles always seem to be on
the low end of the totem pole for funding & care.
Just make a decision based on your feelings, at that time. Most of the time, that wont steer you wrong.

Tracie