My fiance and I were at the local pet store, looking for another lava ledge. They didn't have any...but to my surprise they now have degus. There were about eight degus in a small aquarium which was clearly an overcrowding situation. Then, I noticed that there was a female in labor who had just had two tiny babies. I brought it to the attention of the manager, and she said "oh **** they're all supposed to be male!"...so I pointed out the female and she said she'd just leave her in with the babies and the seven males! I asked her to remove the female so she wouldn't be bred back...or if her babies are females then when they are old enough they might be bred to the father. She said degus are good "parents" and it would be fine. Then I noticed that there was an open bowl of water, not a water bottle, in the aquarium. I mentioned that the babies might fall in and drown and she said she had "never heard of that happening." UGH! I would have taken the female and the babies but I have no degu experience and I wasn't about to give that pet store ANY money. That is the last time I am ever going in there. They also had three chinchillas and they were greasy, clearly hadn't had a dust bath in ages. They all looked about six to eight months old, possibly littermates. Sad. I wish pet stores weren't allowed to sell pets, only supplies.
Degus at the Pet Store
- Thread starter Andrea
- Start date
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Ash
Trouble....
I'd be calling and trying to talk to the owner/manager of that pet store about the idiocy of their employee. Every place I've known of always puts any animals that end up birthing due to mis-sexing in a quarantine room until the babies are of weaning/selling age. It used to happen a lot with hamsters at the pet store I worked for. We'd only get 1-2 hamsters in at a time, and occasionally the females were pregnant due to the idiocy at the suppliers.
I agree 1000%!
You know what, I am going to call the SPCA. I'm not sure that anything will be done but I agree that it is animal cruelty. I noticed that this store has been getting a lot more exotics and I'm sure people are buying them not knowing their needs. Such a shame 
ChinnyMom
slave to Rhino and Guss
hope the SPCA takes it seriously!
if it's a larger chain type store, i'd also be forwarding an email to corporate.
if it's a larger chain type store, i'd also be forwarding an email to corporate.
http://www.welovepetspa.com/
I am also contacting them via their website. They also were selling a boa constrictor...poor thing was in such a tiny little aquarium tank.
ETA: http://www.welovepetspa.com/smallanimals.htm small animal page
I am also contacting them via their website. They also were selling a boa constrictor...poor thing was in such a tiny little aquarium tank.
ETA: http://www.welovepetspa.com/smallanimals.htm small animal page
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BooBoo*TheKiddo*
Well-known member
Those poor things.
The pet store near me had degus as well. I was shoved from the store because this guy had 6 degus in a tiny $12 fish tank from walmart. I tried telling them they needed more room and he was arguing with me. To say the least, I've never been back. Had buying them not been helping him out, those girlies would have lived with me.
The pet store near me had degus as well. I was shoved from the store because this guy had 6 degus in a tiny $12 fish tank from walmart. I tried telling them they needed more room and he was arguing with me. To say the least, I've never been back. Had buying them not been helping him out, those girlies would have lived with me.
Not sure how true this is..but a little research:
Pennsylvania: Not legal unless bred by a PA licensed breeder (There are NONE for Degus). Warning: In PA animals found will be seized and destroyed as per F&W
Perhaps "warning" the petstore of this will have them do something? I'm sure they can face hefty fines...
A few sites I saw say it's illegal to have them here, however google searches results in quite a few for sale in PA. (How many are real, and how many are the PGC faking the sale? I wouldn't put it past PGC)
Pennsylvania: Not legal unless bred by a PA licensed breeder (There are NONE for Degus). Warning: In PA animals found will be seized and destroyed as per F&W
Perhaps "warning" the petstore of this will have them do something? I'm sure they can face hefty fines...
A few sites I saw say it's illegal to have them here, however google searches results in quite a few for sale in PA. (How many are real, and how many are the PGC faking the sale? I wouldn't put it past PGC)
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Wow so they are illegal? I will absolutely bring that to the attention of the pet store. It's so irresponsible of them to not do their research first . Of course the ones who suffer are the animals...so sad. And yeah, the PGC is out of hand...they have been for years (ever since they "overtook" the power of USDA licensing).
. Of course the ones who suffer are the animals...so sad. And yeah, the PGC is out of hand...they have been for years (ever since they "overtook" the power of USDA licensing).
CJR
the dreamer
I just sent them a letter that will certainly get their attention.
"You are aware that they are illegal in Pennsylvania, right? If the PGC finds out that you have them, they will seize and destroy them, not to mention you will get fined really heavily. I think it's like $500 per animal or something like that?"
Got a little bit creative on the number, but I figured it would get their butts in gear.
Pet stores just make me so angry.
"You are aware that they are illegal in Pennsylvania, right? If the PGC finds out that you have them, they will seize and destroy them, not to mention you will get fined really heavily. I think it's like $500 per animal or something like that?"
Got a little bit creative on the number, but I figured it would get their butts in gear.
Pet stores just make me so angry.
From the limited research I did, it looks like most people believe them to be illegal.
Pretty much follows PA's "best" logic.. They are legal if they were bred in the state, and you are state licensed. However, they will not give a breeder a license as it's not a PA domestic species, thus none of them were ever "bred" in the state, but brought into the state illegally. This is how they get you with sugar gliders, too. They are legal--if they were bred in the state by a licensed breeder...but the license is nearly impossible to get, leaving us with no licensed breeders in state.
Pretty much follows PA's "best" logic.. They are legal if they were bred in the state, and you are state licensed. However, they will not give a breeder a license as it's not a PA domestic species, thus none of them were ever "bred" in the state, but brought into the state illegally. This is how they get you with sugar gliders, too. They are legal--if they were bred in the state by a licensed breeder...but the license is nearly impossible to get, leaving us with no licensed breeders in state.
I emailed them as well, currently awaiting a response. How can one prove that the animal was bred in state by a licensed breeder? Do you get paperwork? Does this apply to all exotics? I only ask because I have wanted a fennec for my entire life and there is a PGC licensed breeder of fennecs in PA but I always assumed you need the two years of experience to be able to own the exotic. I do have experience but not to the level where they dole out the permit. I've learned to just accept the PGC's ridiculous regulations. The fact that animals such as degus, hedgies and gliders are illegal never ceases to amaze me. Apparently primates are still legal though?
I am guessing the breeder would give you the proper documention needed, and help you to get the permits. Do you have the 2 years experience on file? I wonder if working with the breeder would work better with getting the proper permits required.
As far as I know primates are still legal. As a venomous reptiles (you can walk into a reptile shop and get a king cobra with a vaild ID stating you are over 18, a gila monster, beaded lizard, etc )
Heck you can own a hippo in the state of PA with nothing other then a certain amount of land fenced with a certain type of fencing, and providing a specific quanity of water.
As far as I know primates are still legal. As a venomous reptiles (you can walk into a reptile shop and get a king cobra with a vaild ID stating you are over 18, a gila monster, beaded lizard, etc )
Heck you can own a hippo in the state of PA with nothing other then a certain amount of land fenced with a certain type of fencing, and providing a specific quanity of water.
Still haven't heard back about the degus. I may check up on them tomorrow. I tried to get a fennec permit through the breeder a few years back but I couldn't keep driving to her farm (it's fairly far away). The best state for exotics IMO is Florida...we should follow by example. But anyway, don't wanna get off topic, I will update if I hear anything.
I went back to check on the degus. They are still there, but no babies in sight. I asked what happened to the babies and it was reported to me that there had been no babies and that all the degus are male. Nice "cover"...I guess they got rid of them.
caiti
Well-known member
Wow, that's really horrible.
Sdo9396
Well-known member
this makes me so mad!!! pet stores will do anything to make a buck!!! they don't care about the welfare of the animals at all!! :hair: I might make an angry phone call tomorrow....
