----- Original Message -----
From: "Michelle Haines"
>
> > I'm guilty of buying my animals from pet stores.
Yes, same here. I mean I'd rather take in any animal (be it a gerbil, cat,
or rabbit) from a shelter, vs. a pet store. But many of us don't see rodents
in shelters in our areas.
>
> So what? I have bought animals from pet stores, I will probably continue
> to do so (birds and/or fish) and I used to work in a pet store. I buy
> healthy, well-kept animals and never buy from places when it looks to me
> as if the care is sub-standard. I also have a shelter cat, a shelter dog,
> a purebred Bengal cat from a breeder, and a 3/4 Aussie Shep 1/4 ACD dog
> bred from two working parents.
Like you Michelle, we have a mix here of pet shop, breeder and shelter
animals, and a few just plain rescues. And like I said earlier if I could
walk into a shelter and see more gerbils, I'd rather go that route, but the
reality is, you just don't see it that often, and so petshops our our next
chance. (a breeder in the area would also be wonderful, but alas, I don't
know of any others in the area)
I'm picky of what and from which shops I buy from. If one gerbil looks ill,
the whole tank/store is avoided. If things are dirty or the animals look
unhealthy, I'll pass. Although I know most people don't like the bigger
chains of pet shops, I think they do well in caring for their animals. The
cages are always clean, the animals healthy, and the price raised enough IMO
to detour impulise, as compared to many locally owned petshops. Gerbils for
example are 7.99$ at Petco and 3$ at one of my local shops. (plus you have
to go through the signing of your name, addy, etc EACH time :P)
The other thing about locally owned pet shops, is I know a majority of their
animals come from the community, often taking it what people don't want.
(your gerbils, bunnies, ferrets, and 2 of our new additons 2 tortises) I
perfer this, plus they are always careful of screening new owners.
Just my views
Sarah
SAG's Gerbils in Tacoma, WA
.
