Pet Store Chins

[Rebecca1122]

Hi,

I was recently just in a Petco near my house. I was going to look at chinchillas (not potential chins but just to see them), and I saw two chins.

They were caged together. The cage was small and had no shelves and one plastic chewed up Igloo for the two to sleep in. They also had no hay.
I asked someone who worked at the store how old they were and what gender they were.
He replied by telling me he had no clue. What if there was a female and male!?
I felt so bad for those chins. They had no where to go and it was so sad.

I know it is not the best idea to get a chin from a pet store because there isn't much information on them. But I do feel bad for them, and in a way, by taking one from a pet store, it is like you are giving the chin and happier and healthier life.

Anyway, I just felt so bad for them.
Does anyone have the same feelings?

 

[ticklechin]

All chinchillas deserve good homes, regardless where they come from.

 

[Gabby88]

They do deserve a good home, but perhaps this pair should go to an experienced chin owner since one could possibly be pregnant if one is male and the other is female. An experienced owner would also be able to tell the sex before purchasing one or both of them.

 

[Mikayla]

I feel the same way as Dawn. Some people say that then your just making room for more to come in, but to be honest, someone else will buy them and if you have the right resources for one, it might as well be you.

 

[Siany]

I hate the way some pet stores treat their animals and i would get them if i could just so they could have a happy life I have noticed some of the pets stores around in the uk are selling chinchillas less and it makes me wonder if its because they dont know how to properly care for them or if its because they are not making much of a sale on them.

I dont think its bad to get chinchillas from a pet store if you can provide for them, obviously it wouldnt be wise to breed them but i cant see anything wrong if you just want to give them a happy life. I think my Lola was from a pet store originally and she is doing ok now. Although i got her from a person who didnt treat her properly, the only difference i see in her and Dotty is that Dotty is bigger and you can just notice which was in a better quality before.

I do wish though that pet stores learnt how to properly care for the chinchillas, i mean if your willing to sell them at least know how to look after them. If pet stores dont know how to care for them what do they do when someone asks for advise on caring for them, do they just say heres a book that you have to pay extra for and the information is probably wrong ??

 

[tunes]

As mentioned, the biggest issue would be if they were not the same sex. Then you would be dealing with a possible pregnancy. I would be SURE of what the sexes of the animals are before you purchase one.

I also believe that all chins, rats, hedgies, whatever, deserve a good home - regardless of where they are from. Would I prefer it if animals were only bought from breeders and not kept in pet stores? Yes, of course. But unless everybody, everywhere stops buying from every pet store (which will never happen) then allowing the animals to sit and rot in a pet store mistakenly believing that is going to make a difference seems cruel to me.

 

[chinchatcomics]

We adopted a male chinchilla from a neglectful owner and then decided to buy another from a pet store. They told us "he" was around 6 months and seemed in good health although when we put "him" in a dust bath it was clear he didn't know what do to.

Turned out after we successfully paired them as cage mates that in fact our "he" was a she! Short of the long is to be careful and I do agree that if you have the resources to take care of a pet store chinchilla to do so

 

[ticklechin]

If you are going to buy/adopt a chinchilla the first thing you do before you take posession is to flip the chinchilla over and inspect the plumbing since everyone seems to be able to make mistakes, breeders to owners!

 

[AMGTWINS]

I had bought my girl from a pet store.I was going to make the long drive to get one from a breeder but when I saw he r in the store so sad looking and in need for a bath I had to get her! She was housed with males so I knew she could be prego.i got her around Easter and she just had a baby last week!I was lucky to witness the birth,it happened as I was walking out the door for my pre k students graduation! Mom and baby are doing great!I just couldn't leave her there I wanted to take all of them!

 

[starleomach]

Many of us at one point had a pet store chinchilla. If you are not breeding it doesn't matter. Like said every chinchilla needs a home. and even good breeders sometimes have a genetic issue like Malo pop up. Down side with pet store you may not get a gaurentee you would with a breeder and you don't know the background but chinchillas can make good pets however they look and wherever they came from

 

[Chin_Parent]

I believe all of my chins came from pet stores originally, I just got them through other avenues. Chinchy's a big plump boy who has fantastic fur and the others are on their way to being the same (here's hoping) a few months down the road after some loving care.

I'd personally choose a rescue over a pet store chin, but in a way, getting a chin from a pet store is a rescue of sorts. Luckily none of the pet stores in my area have them.

 

[Rebecca1122]

Update:

I recently complained to the manager at Petco about the chins' housing and care, and some good changes were made.

I felt so bad for those poor little things that I had to do something about it!

I donated a wooden hiding house for the chins and 2 chin chillers. I also gave some loose Timothy hay for the chins, and all of that has been put into the cage.

The manager was so pleased at my care for the chin, that he told me I should come daily and care for the chins!

So, I have been going to visit the little girls (I checked and they were both females) when I can, and usually at night when most people are gone and when the chins are active.
I usually take them out and hold them and take the top off of their cage and play with them. They seem much happier and almost every time I go in their, they are on their chin chillers.

I have also noticed that their fur seems greasy and that they are not cared for properly. So tomorrow I am going to donate some blue cloud dust and a bath house.
Hopefully those little girls will be happier in no time!

 

[GorillaJTA]

Update:

I recently complained to the manager at Petco about the chins' housing and care, and some good changes were made.

I felt so bad for those poor little things that I had to do something about it!

I donated a wooden hiding house for the chins and 2 chin chillers. I also gave some loose Timothy hay for the chins, and all of that has been put into the cage.

The manager was so pleased at my care for the chin, that he told me I should come daily and care for the chins!

So, I have been going to visit the little girls (I checked and they were both females) when I can, and usually at night when most people are gone and when the chins are active.
I usually take them out and hold them and take the top off of their cage and play with them. They seem much happier and almost every time I go in their, they are on their chin chillers.

I have also noticed that their fur seems greasy and that they are not cared for properly. So tomorrow I am going to donate some blue cloud dust and a bath house.
Hopefully those little girls will be happier in no time!

I am glad you are taking an active interest in the chins, but you are donating equipment to a corporation that is supposed to provide for their animals and probably has a lot more money for it that you do. If they have a care sheet, you can show them what they are not providing and they should provide it.

 

[Rebecca1122]

Okay, thanks for the knowledge. You're right - they have the money to pay for things, but they don't get them.

They do have a care sheet. On that care sheet, many things are listed that they do not have, so I plan to go tell them tomorrow that they should take care of their animals as it says so on their care sheet. Doing so would be much better for the animals than right now.

Thanks

 

[chinchatcomics]

good for you for trying to help those chins, Rebecca. And yes, get that care sheet. it is ultimately the pet store's responsibility to ensure the health, happiness and safety of all of their pets. I hope someone will give those girls a new home!