>From: Elizabeth Heckert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>My mom has made that argument with me for a long time. But I don't see
>any reason why I should charge more for the gerbils. <
Because whether we want to admit it or not, people equaite monetary value
with "life value". If gerbils, rats, hamsters etc Cost more to buy, vets
wont laugh at us when we come in the door and say "Why do you want to waste
$ on a vet appointment when you cn buy another one for $3?". Plus, its a
way to sort of "interveiw" the buyer- if they cant afford $10 how will they
afford medicines, the best food, proper bedding, etc.?
"... I have no desire to >make any money off of them and I have enough money
of my own that I can
>offord to feed them and house them. So why charge more?..."
Its nto about making more $!!!! I spend about $200-$300 a MONTH on my
rodents (on material goods- liek bedding, food, vitamins, etc.).
Assume I place 2 rodents a week, thats 6 to 8 rodents a month. Assume they
cost between $10 and $20. Thats $60 to $160. Im STILL not makign any money
at it. *AND* when I estimate two to three hundred dollars, this does NOT
include unforseen vet bills Nor does it count the value of my time
interveiwing and discussing with potential buyers/adopters, OR my time in
caring for the animals which with as many as I have is truly a "full time
job".
Considering EVERYTHIGN i doubt Id make money without chargign at least $100
per a critter, whcih is gettign rather ridiculous!
"... It's not like a
>high price would serve as a deterrent for bad homes--look how many
>people buy $500 dogs and then dump them..."
Well when I used to give rodnets free to goo homes or charge only $3 for
them I had ALOT of peopel who woudl try to buy them for snake food. Theyd
even lie about it and send their kids in and say the kid is buying it with
their allowence money. yes peopel may buy and dump a $500 dog- but I think
the kind of peopel that dump animals are less liekly to spend the $ on a dog
to dump it. (And since I would never place an animal without a contract- You
cn BET i'd press charge against them for animal negligence and attempt to
get that animal back. If the animal cost only $3- no court is going to
listen or be instreaded (I think small claims court has to be a claim of at
least $25 in the first place). A rat I placed for $30 may still seem
trivial to the average person, But I have more grounds to make a case out of
it. Our laws/courts value animals by their MONETARY COST- NOT by their
value as a living, thinking, feeling, creature that means soemthign
important to a person. A free animal is essentially "worthless" in the eyes
of the court. Yes you coudl press charges for abuse or neglect- but dont
expect to recover anythign yourself (or for the person to be greatly
affected by the "slap ont he wrist" that many states give for animal
negligence.). if I place a rat at $50 its already got value tot he courts,
and then I can go on to proove its potential value if I had kept it- a
litter of 16 pups (assumign its a breedable animal) each for around $25 -
$50, plus the "value" I can proove on show awards, plus the value of stud
services. If someone did soemthign really henious to one of my rats, you
bet I would (and could) make it into a several hundred dollar case.
If the rat was free or $3- I cant do that.
Have I ever had to with a rodent- Nope! One reason beign that i take alot
of care to interveiw buyers/adopters first. Another reason I beleive is
that when you formalize things in a contract and theres substancial dollar
amounts labelled on things- then peopel think twice before getting involved-
and the public and courts and vets in turn see that you take this very
seriously and in turn- that DEMANDS their respect, and you can get it.
>Think of dog breeders. On AVERAGE, for just a pet quality puppy and not
>a show prospect, dog breeders usually charge you LESS than lower
>quality, quite possibly unhealthy puppies at pet stores.
Yes but petshops know they can "milk" customers for what they got for a cute
puppy. most rodents in petshops (yes even gerbils at least where I live)
are mass bred and sold cheep for snake food.
A better compairson for rodents is chickens. If I go to my local butcher I
can buy a fresh, locally and organically raised chicken fro around 70 soem
cents (If I remember my moms quote- she buys the meat, Im veggie). If I
went to a state fair and saw a "fancy chicken"- say one of those beautiful
rainbow coloured bantams that you canuse the feathers for decorative
purposes... Or maybe a star rooster who's a great stud for breeding good
hens who produce lots of nice big eggs... expect to pay **ALOT**. The
animal that is expected to live as a pet or to "work" (term for what the
males do that are used in breeding programs)- has "value" because of its
potential" and you PAY for it. The animal that is to be slaughtered for
food has one, breif lived potential- on yoru dinner plate. You arent payign
for all theother long term potentials- so its cheeper. Dittor for rodents.
Stores charge $5 for an adult rodent thats expected to end up in a snakes
tummy. I charge MORE for a rodent because I know its potential is many
years of an enjoyable bond with a person, guarenteed sound genetic health,
potential in a breeding program for *quality* animals, potential to be
ribboned at a show, etc etc.
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