Are the animals in petstores often mistreated?

Question

i was looking up some info. on the web and i stumbled upon many articles on animals being mistreated in some pet stores. is this (generally) true?

ps- im very concerned and would really appreciate a thourough answer. please and thank you!

pps- in many articals it said in bold print: PLEASE RESCUE/ADOPT PETS FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER OR HUMANE SOCIETY.

Answer 1

have you been to a petSmart before? have you seen the FISHTANKS??? it is DISGUSTING!!! i dont think they even tyr to clean them. in fact, i bet you dont even have to care about animals to get a job there!

UN-FRIGGIN-BELEIVABLE.

Answer 2

Not all pet stores are necassarily guilty of abuse. I myself worked at Petsmart. The staff in the aquatics section cared very much about the welfare of the animals. I'm not saying that every Petsmart is this way though. Petsmart also did not sell cats or dogs. The cats you see in the store are cats that are tried to be adopted through a local rescue group. I don't work there anymore, but I still think they are one of the better stores. There are sevreal other chain stores that sell cats and dogs that are much worse.
Your best bet when buying a pet is to go to a local animal shelter or go to an accredited breeder. The only reason I have gone to breeders several times is because I needed a dog for a specific purpose like protecting sheep.

Answer 3

Yes they are. The majority of puppies and other animals come from illegal breeders and puppie mills. It's a disturbing practice that leads to a lot of deaths. The male and females are kept in small cages only for the purpose of breeding and usually are only given the bare essentials to keep them alive.
When the babies are taken into a store they usually are not in good condition and are left in the hands of the store. Which is why a lot of them die shortly after being purchased.
It's very sad, and I can't go into any pet store that sells dogs or cats.
Rescuing an animal from a shelter is a great idea, that's what I did. But the ones in the store need resuing too.

Answer 4

OH my Yes most definatly.. pet stores are notorious for not taking care of the animals which they sell. Often times employees are young teens and early 20 somethings who are trying to make some money and work through college etc.. but are not trained in the proper care of the animals..(nor seem to care enough to research on their own) the stores do not have any offical training that is certified as proper animal care.

Go into any pet store and ask about the Hermit Crabs or small animals.. the empolyees have no clue... do not offer free care sheets or anything.
I was in a local pet store.. a woman bought ONE hermit crab for her 3 yr old grandson and then the employee said that any dish will suffice and here is some pellet food offer tap water and you will be fine.. but did add that they do not live long!

Well I interupted and then gave the lady a crash course in crab care that they live for 20 yrs plus in captivity IF you take care of them.. but they need a lot more then what he said plus the advice he gave her was deadly. 3 yr old being way too young, tap water is deadly and you must have more than one to name just a few bad things.

She endded up going with 2 hamsters instead and was offered a pretty nice starter set-up... but still again no instructions or credible help was offered.

All of the enclosures were poorly maintained many were without enough or any clean water or food.. they smelled etc. Plus every pet store that I have EVER gone into.. which includes the entire east and west coasts have the indentical problems... no real, up to date training by anyone who knows how to properly take care of any creature at all. (try to offer help and advice and they get mad and very defensive)

I absolutely despise pet stores.. go in for what I have to get and can not get anywhere else and leave. I will offer help when I see something bad and I often times write letters to managers and CEOs

Answer 5

i have seen nicely kept animals, as well as grossly mistreated ones (mainly reptiles and birds). when i say the owner, sometimes they say have not noticed yet (a gross dead crab) or that it is just temporary till the new tank is ready from the disinfection procedure (pretty full tank filled full of half **** half animals), or are really interested and want to know when i tell them what the animal actually needs and is not getting (like the dont want to lose the money, too) once in a while i have a nice showdown in such case. last time (three dying chameleons) i was told: it is none of my business, that they will destroy my camera if i take pictures and that the animals are heatlhy (if this was the case why wouldnt let me take photos, one must ask), of course the shop assistant will not tell her name, will also destroy my dictafone if i switch it on, etc etc. so the lady would rather do all this rather than getting them some care or putting them to sleep

Answer 6

Yes.......
They are all out for the money and not the welfare of the pet.
Have you ever been in a pet store where ther is no newspaper on the cage floor for them to walk on? i have been in petstores like this. I have been in petstores that there is no sign of food and water in the cages. I have been in petstores that the cages are disgusting. Alot of times the dogs in there are not purebred like stated, but since people will buy them they do not care. Don't buy from pet stores go to an animal shelter it is much better.

Answer 7

Pet stores generally regard their animals as a product sold to make a profit. With that in mind, stores will do whatever is necessary to cut costs: buy pups from mass puppy mills, feed them cheaper food, hire caretakers for the least amount of money, spend as little as possible on health care.

I've had puppies come into my clinic that were sick and recently purchased from a well-known pet store chain. They will usually refund the owner and then have the puppy euthanised. Their customer (who will spend money at the store on food, toys, etc.) gets a new puppy and they don't lose even more money on vet bills.

Sad but true.

Answer 8

Oh yes they are mistreated. Never patronize these places. Please go to your local rescue shelters instead and maybe we can put the puppy mills and pet stores out of business. They sell these puppies for outrageous prices and "registered" but this is a joke. (at pet stores) Good question. Glad you asked...

Answer 9

in case you have encountered everyone or anyplace that's have been given an animal in that condition, then you certainly've each good interior the international to touch regulation enforcement or the ASPCA or maybe the Humane Society on them!! it rather is maximum definitely forget. it rather isn't any diverse than somebody having a canines with mange and not suitable looking after that ailment. it rather is definitely pitiful and no animal must be ignored like that. relatively whilst it rather is something that's inflicting them very much of discomfort and making it stressful for them to stroll! touch your interior of reach companies that manage this variety of ingredient as we communicate!!!!

Answer 10

YES!There are many so called "puppy mills" where they mass produce puppies purely for profit.What they don't sell they give to the humane society,causing many stray dogs.A similiar thing happens to kitties.Some pet stores illegally receive and sell exotic animals.Please,buy from the humane society!

Answer 11

there's a pet store near where i live and how this man cared for those animals is sickening. i bought a hamster from him simply cuz i felt bad for the poor scrawny thing. he was skin and bones and i tried everything to fatten him up. he put on some weight but later he got sick and i did everything i could. he wouldn't eat or drink anymore. i eventually took him to the vet. poor doc had never even worked on a hamster b4. he died like 3 days later. poor Koda! (that was his name)