Pet shop suppliers

[Peachesmum]

As someone on here mentioned they know people who work in Pets at Home, I just wondered what kind of 'suppliers' they use for their live animals?
Are the breeders good, conscientious and caring about welfare?

[StarlightSerenity]

Honestly? I highly doubt they are. Most pet shops aren't as I expect it would drive the costs of breeding up.

[Peachesmum]

Just wondered if anyone actually knows what breeders they use?

[lisab]

it will be rodent mills and not proper breeders

[Mona's Humans]

My OH turned down a job there because one of the other staff confirmed their supplier was a rodent mill - but this was a couple of years ago, and i believe from what he was told that each areas shops gets their stock semi locally, so it may differ from county to county even. I was home in Bucks last month, and i went in a P@H there as everywhere else was closed, and i was amazed to see all animals in good looking health with everything they needed, and cages labelled as starter cages, staff were giving good advice as well (i pretended i wanted to buy just one guinea, and the staff told me why i shouldn't the benefits of pairs etc).

So i hate to admit it, but it seems that not all P@H's are truly evil after all

[Peachesmum]

Originally Posted by Mona's Humans

My OH turned down a job there because one of the other staff confirmed their supplier was a rodent mill - but this was a couple of years ago, and i believe from what he was told that each areas shops gets their stock semi locally, so it may differ from county to county even. I was home in Bucks last month, and i went in a P@H there as everywhere else was closed, and i was amazed to see all animals in good looking health with everything they needed, and cages labelled as starter cages, staff were giving good advice as well (i pretended i wanted to buy just one guinea, and the staff told me why i shouldn't the benefits of pairs etc).

So i hate to admit it, but it seems that not all P@H's are truly evil after all

Thanks so much Charli, that's what I was hoping to hear!!
Peaches came from the P@H in West Drayton, Middx on a Saturday evening in early September, and I really feel I have been very fortunate with her! The staff made sure I knew how big they grew. I already had a cage (Mini Duna, even though I soon had to replace it)!
I found it sooo hard to choose between the baby hams as they were all such pretty colours and so active! There was a brown and white one sitting in the food bowl eating, a dark one with tortie markings which I nearly went for but changed my mind as she was asleep, another one Peaches' colour but with more white, and a cream... then there was my little madam, who made me laugh by standing up and opening her mouth (which I now know to be crackling!) So I went for her

I would definitely use that branch again

[Mona's Humans]

I'm gonna be honest - as a chain i disapprove of them, but i do think that it depends on the staff of each store, and the management of each store, as obviously some do ensure good standards!

Peaches is lovely anyway's so it can't all be bad hehe

[CoolcatNatNat44]

I have to say in the Preston store its pretty well run! They do sell small cages but all pet shops do. The animals all look healthy to me anyway, they seperate when they start fighting. I think the toys etc in there are good but a little pricey. I think PAH get the animals from mills and i dont agree with this. But on the other hand you are saving a little hamham. 3 of my hamsters are from them and they are all fine i dont have any breeders near me anyway so it has to be rescues or pet shops :/

[Peachesmum]

Yeah, the prices are annoyingly steep for many items!!

I guess any big business chain is likely to be concerned with making money, but hopefully most of the people employed there are those who genuinely care about keeping animals happy. I guess if someone had never seen an adult Syrian hamster, they wouldn't realise just how much they'd outgrow those tiny cages!!! (Or how fast...) Staff training really needs to get big on this!

[Demecat]

For P@H is is rodent mills.

For the small, local run pet shop, they often use a 'local' breeder. Most often these breeders have nothing to do with the National Hamster Council and are 'hobby breeder' like because they are not breeding to better the breed.

Some pet shops breed their own and in my experience, these can be some of the better shops because they take pride in breeding healthy, friendly hamsters. My first hamster was from such a shop. He grew to be the size of a breeder hamster and was so tame and chilled that little children could hold/stroke him.