Question:
What do you do when your local independent pet supply place transitions into something more questionable? Skeeter's Pet World has changed owners & I am now a bit leery of shopping there, although I still need to acsertain what in particular is the problem there.
So I am wondering what you would do if the only pet supply places in your area were unethical (beyond a doubt; let's say they have animals in unsuitable housing, sick animals, buy from bad breeders, etc)?
Would you continue to shop there for your products?
Go mail-order?
Travel to a store w/the same or better products w/o the ethical issues?
Or just keep shopping there?
BTW I am not pointing the finger @ anyone, just asking advice for my own situation & seeing what others do. The only things I get @ this store are toys, treats & cat food. I already get my hay & dust from a reputable place, & order my gp/chilla pellets by mail.


Answer:
I wouldn't shop there anymore.


Answer:
Where would you get your cat food in this instance. I think I am being placed in a position where I have to do mailorder cat food as well as chin/gp food.


Answer:
That makes things more difficult. It is a little bit harder to find the food that I feed but if I drive for 40 minutes (as opposed to 20), I would be able to get it at a different store. That wouldn't bother me one bit because I wouldn't be padding the pockets of the unethical retailers. Is there any way you can educate them?


Answer:
I know the old owners of the business were lovely people who really cared about pets, but now ratlady has raised my suspicions about Skeeter's Pet World's new owner. He certainly seems slick & unlikable.
I will find out from ratlady what's going on & talk to the owner if I see abuse or neglect going on, or if he compromises on the merchandise or makes prices go up.


Answer:
hmm,,,Neuro thats a toughie!!
thankfully here Vicki takes awesome care of her animals, but I know I dont like the pets unlimited in Moncton, I have had problems with a ferret we bought there and theres always someone having problems with them,,,,,I talked to managers,,,and owners,,,,,,it didnt make a difference but we no longer shop there which i also know doesnt make a difference


Answer:
Brandy, by not shopping there you are making a difference. The more people who refuse to support poor animal care in petstores by not shopping there equals less customers for that store.
I hope your investigation reveals more information on the new owners of the petstore, in your situation, I might order food online or perhaps travel further to buy from an ethical store but travelling is not easy without a car, trust me, I know. I guess it boils down to whether you are willing to travel the extra distance to another store.


Answer:
I may look into buying it for delivery. There is nowhere decent around here that seems to sell anything that Hank will eat anymore. (Unless Skeeter's is still viable, ratlady where are you?? )Bad Hank!!!


Answer:
im my opinion i try not to support any petstore that sells animals period.
for most petstores this supporting huge animal mills such as mirdo and hagen. that cute chin, hedgie, sugar glider, ferret more then likely came from these places. whether the owners are nice or not they are in that business to make money--bottom line. kim even admitted this to me because i was telling my beliefs to someone who them went to her and told her i was bad mouthing their petstore, duh i bad mouth most petstores!
but for supplies i dont know what to tell you, there is scotian gold, co-op country store, shurgain feeds n needs, bits n bridles(falmouth).
like i already said skeeters never ever did a great job with the rodents. i wish they would leave the breeding and selling of animals to the people who know what they are doing and give a damn


Answer:
I haven't ever bought an animal from a pet store,I go the rescue route, but I think I will check the Scotian Gold store for Nutro, I think I saw it there last year.