Ladyhawk42":1xoqnsne said:I worked at two locally-owned pet stores, one in Fresno and one where I live now. Neither were any better than PetSmart. I think both owners started out wanting to do the right thing and ended up enslaved to the almighty dollar.
As an employee, I had to play veterinarian to any sick animals and of course I didn't know what I was doing. I was also too emotionally young to say, "You know, this is wrong. If you're going to have a pet store, you need to treat the animals better." I remember puppies languishing in those small cages and never being allowed out. Once, the owner ordered me to fix a conure's dislocated leg. I was also ordered to fix a cockatiel's leg after the original owner crimped the band and the cockatiel outgrew it. Well, removing the band did nothing, so...ugh...I don't even want to write what happened next. Some rats got out and grew feral. One night they got their protein by pulling the legs of finches through the bars of the cage and biting them off. The next day, I had to euthanize the finches. I would say how, but I already feel sick. I have a lot of those memories. To this day, they make me upset.
There were good times, too. It was just like the rest of life: good and bad. But a lot of the bad things didn't need to happen. Setting aside some vet money wouldn't have killed those pet store owners.
Behind the scenes things can get really scary in those stores. When I bred exotic birds, I tried to do it right. I took sick animals to the vet. Looking back, I see some huge mistakes, but at least they weren't cold-hearted, money-based mistakes.
I wonder...are there ANY good pet stores?
tgolden":3um3yw80 said:Y'all have to understand its not the employee at fault. They are doing what they are told and passing on care info they are told. These folks are not gonna risk they're jobs over some what we call bad husbandry. I don't blame them. Theses places are in to making the money not making the perfect habitat for each animal the comes thru there. Do I agree.....no. Its real ez to strand in judgment when its not your job and livelihood at risk. Y'all should cut them some slack man
tgolden":3ln72mgh said:So in your opinion employees of the pet stores should spend there off time studying husbandry of all the animals in the store and not get paid for it? And go against what they are told to do at work? Also keep in mind bird lady big difference in bird and reptile.
tgolden":2e83xe6b said:So in your opinion employees of the pet stores should spend there off time studying husbandry of all the animals in the store and not get paid for it? And go against what they are told to do at work? Also keep in mind bird lady big difference in bird and reptile.
shrambo":p7py685w said:Ok I'm not sure if my store is different or what. but. i work at petco. and prior to working there i was told horror stories by different people saying how awful the animals are treated and stuff. so i expected the worse. but. it couldn't be further from the truth.
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