Where do pet shops get their livestock? (possible warning) - Page 2

racinghamster · 05-06-2011, 11:03 AM

I agree with souffle about the UK regulations, at least for larger stores like Pets At Home, Acorn pets and similar outlets. Although you do get the smaller shops that stock rodents who may breed themselves (family run) or as someone else suggested, buy their rodents in from other breeders who may well be multiple breeders and have hundreds of animals in their care. Some can be back-street breeders but they mainly advertise on free-ad websites and will say things like, " hamsters, gerbils and mice available £3.00 each or five for £10"...that sort of thing.

I have always found my pets through forums like this, or inherited them from other people who can no longer keep them. I get great satisfaction from rehoming a small animal and have kept mice for ten years now and all (apart from three) were rescues. My current syrian hamster came to me this week from a family member (his son was allergic to him) and having not had a syrian since I was a young teenager (I`m now 46!) I am in love all over again.

There is nothing wrong with buying from a pet shop, but I would only do so if I could`nt source a hamster or mice or gerbils from rescue. When you consider all the little rodents out there all over the country just waiting for that adopter to call, it gives you a warm glow knowing that you have helped a needy animal, rather than paid money to a shop who may well be paying their stockist to continue their `trade`.

cheekycheeks · 05-06-2011, 11:46 AM

Yea I don't know anything on the UK so I can't comment, but Canada is a pretty developed country, as hopefully people know XD lol, so animals here as well in some pet store chains I'm sure have the same deal, the rodent mills are supposed to be well looked after, and Im sure most are, but then you do hear those stories of places which are not very nice, but its hard to tell when you read up on these bad mills, where they are from exactly, so they may not even be in my country. What Im going to school for, I have to know about animal ethics, and even I'm confused what goes on with this exactly. So i donno, its truly hard to tell as puppy/rodent mills are not really shown a lot, and the ones that are, are shown because they are bad. It's kinda really hard to find out the truth though either way, because some people tell you some things, but then some people show you or tell you other things, about where places get their animals. But it doesn't really matter to me, because I think I will be getting my next hamsters from my animal shelter, as I think thats a great choice.

I think to truly get the best answer you just have to find what research you can, facts, not stories, and decide for yourself.

**Silver** · 05-06-2011, 11:48 AM

What worries me about the rodent farms is the lack of handling they give there animals. I understand that they have to conform to rules & regulations on no over crowding, keeping them clean, that sort of thing.

But as with my Mandy before I knew anything about hammy's really although I did do a lot of reasearch on the net so knew the basics didn't come across rodent farms so didn't know then. But she was basically wild full stop. She has had no human contact apart from the cage clean out.

She was verry agressive towards anyone who put there hands any where near her. To me now after also having two pure WW's from a NHC breeder I know she was hurt in some way for her to have such a problem with human's her perticular problem is hands. It was all skin to begin with but now she will accept my arm as safe no need to attack, im not sure on my face as once she bit & held onto a mouthful of my chin which was verry painful, the only way to get her mouth to let go was unfortunatly to blow hard in her face, so I won't risk her being near my face again.

I had her when she was 6 weeks old. She is now 15 months old & through a LOT of hard work getting her out several times a day & not getting cross or upset with her she now jumps up the side of her rub to come out. She does the most beautiful thing. She comes out & sits on my lap, has a few bits to eat, has a scratch & a wash then she curls up & has a big yawn then closes her eyes & falls to sleep on my lap. Its the most beatiful thing I have ever had the pleasur to watch. When she gets too hot she climbs down my lap onto the sofa between my legs & sleeps again. Sometimes she dreams & her ears, nose, feet twitch just like a dog when they dream. She is really a little micro dog.

So far she is in good health, but have my fingers crossed she will remain well as do not know of her back ground am unsure of any problems that lay ahead. I know that there are people who buy dwarfs from pet shops that are tame, but I also have read about a lot of people who have had similar to me.

Because I love Mandy so much it does make me think about getting another one from the same pet shop, because through going through all of what I have with Mandy she is deep in my heart & thats only beause of what ive been threw with her.

Sorry I have rambled on but just wanted to make the point that I wish although the rodent farms comply to rules & regulations they don't handle them which is such a real shame.

lisab · 05-06-2011, 12:09 PM

I compleatly agree with you silver, If there were some rules and regulations they had to follow there would be less problems for the animals. I would love to go work there just so i could teach them a thing or two

cheekycheeks · 05-06-2011, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisab

I compleatly agree with you silver, If there were some rules and regulations they had to follow there would be less problems for the animals. I would love to go work there just so i could teach them a thing or two

or at least get in, just to see exactly whats going on and what it looks like, thats what I would like to know.

lisab · 05-06-2011, 01:16 PM

I know there is an undercover film from america at a rodent farm. I have seen it and its not good I wouldnt suggest anyone to watch it.

blossomgirl · 05-07-2011, 01:08 AM

I think it's very naive to assume that most well-known pet stores get their stock from 'good' rodent mills, no matter how 'advanced' the country you live in. Firstly, the laws about keeping animals relate to minimum space requirements, but not how many you actually put in that space. They talk about provinding food and water, but say nothing about the quality thereof, and how often water is refreshed. There are no regulations determining how many times a female can be bred, or how often the animals should be handled. And for the record - the photos linked to in my previous post are of a really 'good' rodent farm. He is happy to show people around, and pet shops will readily admit they get rodents from him because he has a good name. He even has a stand at expos and rat shows etc. He is one o the 'good' guys, and yet I think that those animals are being treated horribly. It's all about perspective. I won't support pet shops, until they stop selling animals. Fact is, there's no reason for them to sell animals. Animals are a 'loss leader'. You don't ever make a profit on them, but they pull people into the shop. If you just stopped selling animals, the people who needed to buy stuff for their animals would still come in and buy it, and you'd be helping prevent impulse pet buys, which are just awful (hamsters in tiny cages, ignored by the kids, and given the minimum of care by unwilling adults). There is a pet shop in the city I live in which stopped selling animals 5 years ago. His business is doing just fine, and I shop there with pleasure!

This is, of course, all just my humble opinion, but I do feel very strongly about avoiding pet shops.

lisab · 05-07-2011, 05:13 AM

I got told last year how much is payed per animal from the pet shop

hamsters are bought for £1 each
The mini lops and dwarf lops are bought for £15
The cross breeds are bought for £10
and the "house rabbits" are bought for £20 and sold on for £150!

**Silver** · 05-07-2011, 05:40 AM

If a hamster is brought for £1 what are mice brought for

At those prices you know why they are mass bred

SnickersTheFirst · 05-07-2011, 05:44 AM

£1! *shakes head* That's disgraceful.

Breeders usually sell hamsters for like £5 so stores could still make a profit but they would also be stocking healthy pets. Even giant rabbits are about £60 from a breeder.