Complaining at Petstores about Chinchilla Care?

[Gemma]

I'm sure you have all complained at a Petsmart or Petco, or at least under your breath.
From the plastic toys, to the lack of hideouts from store traffic...

I’m just curious because, while I do usually bite my tongue, this one store I walked into - - > had a male and female chinchilla huddled up.
I took one look at them and felt like I needed to bring them to a rescue!

Never mind, the clerk thought I’d want to see them…. by opening the cage and stepping back!
Frantic about the dangers of chins loose in a store I immediately scooped them up and almost cried how weak they felt, letting a stranger hold them. Additionally, my hands being coated in grease, and seeing just how severely matted they were.

I just want to know would you complain and undermine these “pet specialists”?

(This store is in Central Jersey, for anyone interested – they are still there, and have been for the past 5 weeks – standard male, and beige female)

 

[Smidgeyy]

Poor dears.

Mine came from PetSmart. It wasn't my choice since he was a surprise gift, but I was a bit peeved about it. Him and his brother were healthy, aside from the plastic and completely level cage that they were in. I know some places are worse.

I'd complain if I saw them in that condition. >.<

 

[TaylorMadeChinchillas]

Im so sorry to hear that. I work at a pet store (dont carry chins) and that is pure animal abuse. Call the store manager and if they do nothing, call the local animal shelter and or the news. Animal abuse is a serious problem that should not be accepted.

 

[AZChins]

I don't go into petstores anymore. I've been asked to leave a few times when I tried to ask them to change things. They aren't so nice sometimes, and don't seem to care about losing customers around here. You could always tell the manager at the store you were in that you don't plan on coming back to spend your money there unless they do something about the poor conditions you see. Be nice, that's all you can do. I gave up on petstores a long, long time ago...there's always some know it all there that knows sooooo much better than I do.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

in NJ contact NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife - exotic division Tell them what is happening. they are suppose to oversee this type of thing. That is why we that sell chin have to have a permit. Their permit to sell exotics could be taken away

 

[ServantofBlueberry]

I would contact someone, I used to work at Petsmart in Hamilton N.J. and they are supposed to be same sex stores, so unfortunately the staff may not be aware they have an opposite sex pair. They don't really train their employees on stuff like that. However, if the condition of them was bad I would do as stated above and contact fish and wildlife. Its sad that some stores seem to not have an issue with clear neglect of the animals in their care.

 

[david]

look many pet store hire morons who don't know the first thing about dogs and cats let alone exotics . I will say something if I see it . you can call the corporate office too and complain .

 

[tippyandshadow]

I would contact someone, I used to work at Petsmart in Hamilton N.J. and they are supposed to be same sex stores, so unfortunately the staff may not be aware they have an opposite sex pair. They don't really train their employees on stuff like that. However, if the condition of them was bad I would do as stated above and contact fish and wildlife. Its sad that some stores seem to not have an issue with clear neglect of the animals in their care.

That is the PetSmart i go to, they sit in those tiny cages all day with so much plastic and they look miserable. It's disgusting:banghead::banghead::impatient:

 

[karicola]

I had bought my chinchilla from a Petsmart, unaware at the time that this probably was not the best route and remember the conditions in the store being as everyone describes them. In defense of store employees, I myself work at a Petco in Central NJ and as far as I am aware of, we do not carry chinchillas in our NJ stores anymore, but even if we did, any training that associates like myself would have to do, does not include proper care for the animals. It does not matter is if we have knowledge about animals to start working there, most college students are just looking for a part-time job, not realizing the amount of information needed for animal care. They simply do not give us enough training. I had to go out of my way to learn about all the animals in the store just so I could properly sell them to customers without them leaving with false information about the care of their new pet. Corporate does not hand down any information on the proper care of the animals, nor do they give enough hours in payroll for proper care. As associates we also cannot change the layout of the cages. I know this is extremely frustrating, for many of you, as well as myself, but please do not get angry with associates. Many of us have no idea what is right or wrong and have absolutely no control on animal care. I have dealt with many customers who are outraged by the care of our animals and how our setups are, but voicing issues to us is useless and will probably never end up at a corporate level, because they simply do not listen to us. Calling corporate directly, or contacting a Wildlife Division is probably the best route to go.

 

[lightningturtle]

When I worked at Petco I made a point of warning people off plastic for ALL rodents, and encouraged people to visit forums like this one for resources I couldn't personally provide. I also gave all the hammies and gerbils dust baths whenever I could.

The reason I say this: the few associates who know to provide adequate care to the animals do so on their own time. To corporate they are stock to be ordered and sold.

Unless you're ordering thousands of dollars in supplies every month, no one cares if you stay or leave. Saying they'll lose your business if they don't change how they care for the animals they'll write you off as a nut.

Comprehensive care costs money. We lost an entire batch of rats to uri because corporate yelled at the manager for taking too many to the vet. A mis-sexed female mouse was sold on a discount as a feeder because management forbade me to pull her for a few weeks to birth her pups.

Unless they suddenly lose millions in business, no big pet store is going to change anything about their animal care.

Sorry about the rant. The futility of the situation had me immensely frustrated.

 

[compchar]

I live in the UK. I've just complained via email AGAIN to "pets at home" one of the uks biggest pet stores. my local one (Stratford upon avon) store has what looks like a very underweight male, I asked to hold him, and was right, boney. whether he's a young en or not i've kept an eye on him for weeks now as more pass through his cage and he stays. he hasn't grown in the slightest (he's distinctive, all the others are standard and he's an ebony which is rare for pets at home store)
ive seen bearded dragons missing limbs, royal pythons with heat burns, male chins with obvious hair rings all at this store.
the odd thing, is in the uk a breeder would charge £50-60ish for a pet quality standard. pets at home charge £120 for ill looking things.
its so sad.

 

[Shenanigans]

the odd thing, is in the uk a breeder would charge £50-60ish for a pet quality standard. pets at home charge £120 for ill looking things.
its so sad.

I can only hope that people over there interested in chins, though the market, support the breeeders a lot more than the stores. Maybe then the UK could have an informed population of chin owners and it could flow over into the US.... *dreams*

 

[lightningturtle]

I live in the UK. I've just complained via email AGAIN to "pets at home" one of the uks biggest pet stores. my local one (Stratford upon avon) store has what looks like a very underweight male, I asked to hold him, and was right, boney. whether he's a young en or not i've kept an eye on him for weeks now as more pass through his cage and he stays. he hasn't grown in the slightest (he's distinctive, all the others are standard and he's an ebony which is rare for pets at home store)
ive seen bearded dragons missing limbs, royal pythons with heat burns, male chins with obvious hair rings all at this store.
the odd thing, is in the uk a breeder would charge £50-60ish for a pet quality standard. pets at home charge £120 for ill looking things.
its so sad.

At least in the US, that's considered criminal neglect. I'd call the RSPCA on them.