petsmart

[MyLilPintoBean]

Chintastic-Ok I read this and that manager was being ridiculous. We face inquiries about the way our animals are cared for on a daily basis and, as far as I know, no one has EVER been asked to leave our store for that.

I forgot to add last night in my sleepy state that we give fresh timothy hay at least twice a day and we give them dust baths 2 or 3 times a week for 20 minutes. I'm not saying the department or my store is perfect by any means... (I wish we could hang hammocks for the chins!!) but we try to do the best we can with what we are given.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

Chintastic-Ok I read this and that manager was being ridiculous. We face inquiries about the way our animals are cared for on a daily basis and, as far as I know, no one has EVER been asked to leave our store for that.

I forgot to add last night in my sleepy state that we give fresh timothy hay at least twice a day and we give them dust baths 2 or 3 times a week for 20 minutes. I'm not saying the department or my store is perfect by any means... (I wish we could hang hammocks for the chins!!) but we try to do the best we can with what we are given.

we need more people like you in petstores, not people like chintastic described.

 

[Chintastic!]

we need more people like you in petstores, not people like chintastic described.

Totally. My friend, Jackie is her name, said that since he left people are so much happier. The animals are better cared for, and she likes going to work now. I understand that not all stores are created equal, just look at Walmart- we have two near me, one could be the headquarters for PeopleofWalmart.com, but the other is pretty nice. Its just a store by store thing and one store is not going to be exactly the same as another. I found it extremely odd that I was asked to leave, I filled out an online form and complained. Anyway its good to see not all PetSmarts are as bad as mine, or as bad as it was. Thanks for being a great ambassador to the animals.

 

[VolunteerChin22]

Interesting that your store didn't carry chins in the summer - wonder if that's why the petsmart Ive been into around here hasnt had them lately...

 

[ticklechin]

Neither the Petsmart or the Petco have had chins in months here.

 

[Sandi]

The 4 or 5 Petsmart's by me have stopped selling chins for at least 2 years now.

 

[Annieo]

I have a Petco by me here in San Diego that almost always has one or two selling for $150 and $99 when on sale. The chins lives in a very large octagonal shaped aquarium with screened top. There is only two large plastic igloos in the cage and hay bedding, no toys or anything. I think I'll stop by this week and check up and maybe get them to spruce up his place.

 

[AZChins]

When the petstores don't have chins in at all I get these phone calls with people saying, "None of the petstores even have them!" So, am I supposed to feel honored that I am their second choice over the petstore? yays... I've actually said to several of them how they should have just started with me. I had one person hang up on me when I said that... I don't really care...probably wouldn't have been someone I would want one of the babies to live with in the first place.

I don't think anyone likes to be the second choice...

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I don't think people think of breeders as a second choice...When I first got samson I didn't even know people hobby bred chins - seeing him in petsmart was the first time I'd ever even seen a chin in person.

 

[QTKirls]

Same here. I didn't even know what a 'chinchilla' was. And of course, I bought him. I always had hamsters growing up, he was just a huge one...I thought. I only used what they told me about, which was mostly plastic things, and the food with all the stuff in it. The only thing I still have is the chin(suprisingly actually that he lived!) The cage, and the water bottle. The cage had the ladders in it and everything. I didn't know they liked to, and could jump. It's amazing all of the changes that have been made, and how much happier he is. And with friends!

A local store here has a sign up for summer saying they can't guanrentee animals that leave before 7. Seriously? Then why sell them if it is that dangerous for them?! That's the place that I got to put chinchiller stones in. They had 3 tiny babies there...one was very sluggish(it was very hot) and I stuck my hand in, he stepped on and looked at me with 'please save me' eyes...so I did. I tried to just let it go, telling myself I couldn't save them all, I even left the store, but it bothered me all day, and I went back, before 7, and got him. He was kinda sluggish for a few days, but perked right up. He's a sweet little boy who squeeks when I hold him. I dunno why, but it sounds loving.

I wish people would buy from breeders. 2 of my 4 are from a local breeder. If I would have origionally bought from a breeder I could have learned so much more so much faster, but luckily the worse things have been a little runny poo, and wasted money on plastic igloos and such.

 

[ahappycamper]

When I see a Petco or Petsmart that sells chinchillas or does not give them the optimal conditions to live in, then I boycott them, simple as that. If you buy the chinchilla, then you will only feed into their business and the vicious cycle of poor quality and care will continue. Even nowadays I try to stay AWAY from buying ANYTHING at a pet store, this includes toys. I won't do anything that will allow them to turn a profit.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

^^^ agree

 

[Chintastic!]

When I see a Petco or Petsmart that sells chinchillas or does not give them the optimal conditions to live in, then I boycott them, simple as that. If you buy the chinchilla, then you will only feed into their business and the vicious cycle of poor quality and care will continue. Even nowadays I try to stay AWAY from buying ANYTHING at a pet store, this includes toys. I won't do anything that will allow them to turn a profit.

Thats what I do too. Makes me so angery how the animals are treated- dang I must be a mean mom not to buy them anything at the pet store:neener:

 

[Annieo]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disagree here.

The Petco I referred to earlier about having chinchillas for sale, has a partnership with FOCAS (Friends of the County Animal Shelter, "a volunteer driven, nonprofit organization formed to help the lost and abandoned animals in the three San Diego Department of Animal Services' Shelters") and aids with programs through adoption events, pet fostering, and veterinary aid.

Perhaps this store was not knowledgeable about chinchilla care, but I stopped by this week and made a few suggestions of which they were more than accepting (trust me, I know nothing but what I've learned here on the forums.)

Sometimes information is all they need, not boycotting.

JMHO