Sometimes pet shops concern me and I was reminded of why recently.
Two cats were brought in to us from a pet shop. They were roughly four months of age; a brother and sister. Now the cats were micro-chipped, which pet shops legally must do, but they hadn’t been de-sexed. The thing that stood out for me was that the pet shop was actually bringing them to us because they were no longer cute and couldn’t find them homes. So, once again this is a situation that puts pressure on shelters. Additionally, these animals weren’t de-sexed and with brother and sister living in the same cage … a litter of kittens could’ve eventuated quite easily.
This type of behaviour concerns me. What do you think?
I think it’s quite clear that the pet shops are in it to make a buck, and the shelters are here for the animals. Had the pet shop been doing the responsible thing having taken those animals on, they would’ve de-sexed them and they would have kept them until they found a home for them.
So the difference between the shelters and pet shops is that in a pet shop they do the absolute minimum that is required legally. That is a vaccinating and a microchip. From shelters they come de-sexed, they get de-flea’d and de-wormed, there’s health cover, which is actually a longer health cover than a pet shop, they get a free carry box. We also people a very extensive talk about responsible cat ownership, and of course, we do screen the people that are buying because what we want is the cat to go into a home for life, not just sell a product.
8 Comments
Angelika Rimac said
HI,
I agree with you, pet shops should be banned there is no need for them considering there are so many shelters over flowing with unwanted animals!
Anne said
Hello,
It’s heart rending to think what might happen to the kittens - and puppies, g.pigs or rabbits too - via the pet shops. It seems to me that selling animals for profit via pet shops is very disturbing, on many levels. Eg. As you have commented, there are more than enough dear cats of all ages already ending up in the shelter system, without adding to it gratuitously via pet shop ‘rejects’. Further, there is the inherent potential problem in the ‘impulse buying’ that pet shops foster.
Sometimes an ‘impulse buy’ of a small cute kitten or puppy leads to sadness later on, when the owner is not able or willing to follow through with responsible care as the animal matures, and/or is harder to ‘manage’ or gets sick, etc. So often into the shelter they go.
Also, even for the more committed owners, the animal sourced from a pet shop must surely be from ‘farm’ of some kind; the offspring of exhausted, often sick and neglected mothers bred to death by people who only view the animal as a money making proposition. And animals from such a background, even if supposedly ‘purebred’, are likely to be themselves sick, inbred, have genetic issues that may come to light down the track, etc. Again when sickness etc comes up, they end up in shelter often, and may not even make it to the adoption area. Or else, for the owners that stick with their baby, there can be lifelong health/behaviour issues, skeletal malformations, etc.
No reputable breeder would I hope ever sell their animals through a pet shop. If a person does only want a ‘purebreed’, then I feel they should be willing to either adopt one from the shelter, or make the considerable financial commitment to purchase through a registered, reputable, small scale breeder, who loves that breed, and can also advise wisely and thoroughly on care of the kitten/puppy.. I have also seen some sick, worm ridden, sneezing animals come to vets who are from a pet shop and furthermore can easily be recognised by those who know, as NOT being the breed that they have been sold as at all!
I am learning more all the time about such things, than I ever knew is earlier years- and we all are.
I wish that pet shop sales could be actually banned! It hurts me to see the little creatures in places like Pets Paradise chain.
The only time I think pet shop sales might be morally justifiable could be with the newer trend I’ve heard of for sone pet shops to link up withShelter staff and animals, and ONLY offer these shelter animals for sale; and for there to be appropriate advice and follow up given to potential buyers on site, plus pre-desexing, health care and follow ups, etc etc.
So I appreciate the bloggers concern, and their experience re. pet shop ‘rejects’, and agree with their viewpoint.
warmly,
Anne.
Hannah Jewell said
I have seen pet shops with older kittens in glass boxes and I’ve been able to see that there are both males and females living together. Now I know that female cats can mate as young as 4 months and I’m pretty sure those kittens were getting very close to puberty.
It’s a disgrace that a pet shop should dump their rejects on a shelter! If the pet shop has taken them on in the first place, they should be responsible for finding them a home, no matter how long it takes.
I would really like to see the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops banned EXCEPT where the pet shop is rehoming animals for a rescue group or shelter under the same rehoming rules as the shelter or rescue group.
Melina said
I totally agree… I can’t believe pet shops are allowed to sell cats and dogs especially when we have shelters with so many animals that need homes it shouldn’t be allowed…. it breaks my heart when i see so many cats in pet shop windows and i know all os them won’t find a home.
tracey said
My last 2 cats found me, one as a stray and one as a rehomer from someone who had to go to a nursing home. Unfortunaely they both died 1 month apart. Apart from being heartbroken I needed to get another cat.
I had been out of the cat market for a while and couldn’t believe the amount of homeless cats there are! Shelters bulging. Go to the website Gumtree and it is cavalcade of unwanted animals. I am convinced that kittens given away for free via this site end up in pet shops. This encourages people not to desex as they have a ready market for the poor unwanted little kittens.
I never intended getting an animal from a shelter, but was in a situation where I was desperate for feline company. I ended up being adopted by the first cat that saw me at CPS and he is a star and I adore him!
My cat cost $65. He was neutered, vaccinated health checked and chipped PLUS as a Banyule resident got 1 uesrs registration.
Why pay $140 for a kitten at a pet shop? You have no idea what you are buying. Then all the expenses of nuetering etc on top of that.
The sooner the goverment introduces legislation that all cats sold must be nuetered, unless being sold to a registered, breeder, the better! I would be so glad if pet shops are banned from selling animals unless it is in conjunction with a shelter.
The worst part of this business are overseas students who get a cat treat it like royalty for the 2-3 years they are here and then need to urgently rehome them.
Gayle Yates said
I agree with all the comments above.
The sooner the goverment introduces legislation that all cats and dogs sold must be nuetered and microchipped, unless being sold to a registered breeder, the better it will be for our feline and canine angels! I would be over the moon if pet shops are banned from selling animals unless it is in conjunction with an animal welfare shelter.
All our little angels over the years have come from shelters except for two young brothers who were rejected by a nursing home after a visit by a well known vet who said they should have a particular pure breed kitten instead of the two homeless moggies they had been given for free for the residents to enjoy.
All I can say is those elderly residents have missed out because these two little boys have given us so much joy, love and affection. We are so blessed.
Sadly Felix died last year aged 4years due to pancreatic cancer. Both Harley (his brother) and our family missed him so much that we recently adopted Mr Darcy.
Mr Darcy has finally settled in and has us all rapt around his paw.
I just hope and pray that the other little faces we had to leave behind in the loving care of the wonderful hands of all the carers involved with the cat protection society find loving and caring homes that they deserve.
Keep up the good work.
Anthony said
not all pet stores have to be tarnished with the same brush though , ive known more than several stores that will take in badly treated kittens , feed them , make them better and find them good homes at a minimal fee , hell ive seen kittens in pet stores in the ACT where i used to live being cared for with more compassion than the local RSPCA , yes they are in the animal industry to make money , but that’s what they do , its a business , it doesnt mean that they dont care though…
Anthony owner of 5 cats , well im a slave to 5 anyways
Sharon Geeves said
I am in total agreement with your statement regarding pet shops. The things that annoy me apart from the animals being sold by people that have no idea about what they are selling and really don’t care so long those dollars move from the cage out the door is yes they are also not desexed, thus creating an issue when either people feel the need to display their manhood through their pet and leave them undesexed or alternatively are just lazy. The second thing that annoys me is that alot of these animals that end up in pet shops are from either puppy or kitten farms where these animals are stacked in cages upon each other, leaving wee and feces to drop to the below cage and animal in it. Animals are injured in the cages from other animals being aggressive and none of these animals receive any decent veterinary care. The is not a need in the world for us to allow the continuation of animals in pet shops by doing so we are buying into this black market which has been cleansed by the creators by selling through pet retailers. If only they were as regulated as breeders where, unfortunately they avoid this by registering themselves as retail business. It is time for us to take a stance. My congratulations to the editor.