72 replies to this topic

[Lucas]

This is my second attempt at posting this...my computer went ahead and decided to do a scheduled update and restart while I was at work. .../is really not impressed.

So prior to the awesomeness, I had compiled a list of questions, and things you should look out for when going into a petstore, hoping to take home an animal. Whether that be a hamster, reptile, bird, cat, or even a fish. You must be able to spot a reputable store from a non-reputable one! Of course, at Hamster Hideout, we ALWAYS recommend you heading to a local online classified for your area, or a shelter to find an animal who is looking for a second chance at a home. Of course, this isn't always possible for everyone. Wether that be, there being no adoptees, or be it you're looking for something in particular. Either way, we always recommend you check there first!
Your next option is to adopt from a pet store. Most of us know at least one store, where there's at least a few employees who work there that aren't just there because it's a slack job. Because as many should know, it's NOT.

I work for a mainly American-based pet company, Pet Depot. There's about...maybe 6 locations in Canada. Two of which are located in Regina, Saskatchewan. Both, belonging to the same people. I work in both, depending where my schedule takes me on a weekly basis. One, is wonderful. The other, is a complete dumpsite. How does this happen, you ask? Well I'll tell you. The people working ONLY in the one are wonderful, animal-loving compassionate and intelligent people looking to make a difference in animals' lives. The other, larger location? The exact opposite. Granted, the one location is getting better. Due to the fact head office came down and hounded them for what a disgrace it had turned into, but it needs a lot of work.

It's really good to see people coming into the store and asking me tons of questions. Some people think you may think it's annoying, however you shouldn't! When someone is dedicated to wanting to know everything possible about the pet they want to share their home with, it's a good indication of a wonderful owner. Someone who comes in pointing to the first hamster/pet they see is not a good indication of a good owner. So, if you're finding yourself at a loss and in this situation, here are some wonderful questions and tips you can use to find a store to which you're proud to support.

Please keep in mind that it's highly unlikely you'll find a pet store that completely agrees with all of the below listed list. These are just helpful hints on how you can distinguish a good one from a bad one!

Indications of a GOOD petstore:

Employees/basic store cleanliness: - Things to consider, although all DO NOT and WILL NOT apply to every store.
- Is there a foul smell instantly upon walking into the store? **Most pet stores will smell of animals, clearly, but some smell beyond what they should. As if they're never cleaned.
- Are you greeted by an employee who asks if you need a hand? Or are you ignored? IE: do they make no effort to give you a hand, etc.
- Do they ask you if you need help? Are they helpful, or useless? **This is where YOU need to be your own personal judge.
- When you ask them a question, do you feel they know what they're talking about?
- Do you find yourself doubting them?
- Do you have more questions after they've supposedly answered yours?
- Can they find product when you ask them for something? Or are they lost? **This should NOT apply to new employees!! Give them a break!
- Are they confident? Although not mandetory in a "good" employee, but it's appreciated and respected.
- Are they friendly? Or rude?
- Do they have pets of their own? **You won't believe how many people I've worked with who don't have ANY pets, or don't even like half the animals living in the store.
- Are the isles easily accessible?
- Is there lots of product on the shelves? Or does it appear they're out of everything?
- If there isn't something you're looking for, does the employee call another petstore to help you find what you're looking for? Do they have it special ordered for you?
- Are the prices clearly marked on the shelves/on the product?
- Are there quality products? By quality, I mean as natural and humane to animals and the environment as possible?
- Are prices rediculously high? Or adjustably comparable to other petstores?


Animals:

1. GENERAL: (Should be able to answer YES to at least some of these)
- Does the size of the animal allow for healthy living space in their enclosure?
- Do the animals have clean water? Is the food they're being offered appropriate to the species?
- Do they animals appear healthy? Are they active and friendly, or are they lathargic and sickly?
- Do they have clean cages? Proper bedding?
- Do they have toys?
- Is there sufficient space for multiple animals? (Only applies if there are more than one per cage)
- Are caresheets available? (Helpful, although not mandetory)
- Do the employees know the sex of the animals? (SHOULD only apply if there are multiple animals in a cage)

2. Reptiles/amphibians/insects/arachnids: (Should be able to answer YES to at least some of these)
- Do they have proper substrate? IE: For desert, aquatic, etc.
- Are they being fed proper food? If they're carnivors, insectivores, frugivores, etc.
- Are the enclosures escape proof?
- Is the heat-source the right watt?
- Are they being given treated water?
- Do they get misted twice daily?...IF necessary. Not all do.
- Is there sufficient hiding space?


3. Birds: (Should be able to answer YES to at least some of these)
- Are their nails clipped? Wings/feathers intact? Eyes open and clear? Beaks filed?
- Is there sandpaper on the perches?
- Are they preening themselves?
- Do they sing? Which indicates a happy, healthy bird.
- Is the water clear of droppings?
- Most species of finches shouldn't have their wings clipped...is this true? Are there more than ONE in a cage? Is the cage big enough?
- Birds thrive and require toys, are there enough? Are they dirty?


4. Fish: (Should be able to answer YES to at least some of these)
- Are the betta fish in sufficient containers?
- Are they active and showing their tails and fins? Or are they laying on the bottom on the cup.
- Is the water clean?
- Is the water clear of dead fish?
- Are proper labels of all fish in one tank clearly labled?
- Can you tell the agressive community over a social community? Or are the mixed (God forbid)?
- Does the tank environment appear to be well kept and looked after?
- Is the gravel clean?


5. Hamsters and small animals: (Should be able to answer YES to at least some of these)
- Are the hamsters and other animals labled according to species, not improper "stage" names?
- Proper sized wheels? **This is debateable.
- Is there enough space for multiple animals (IF this is applies)?
- Are syrians beyond age of 6 weeks separate?
- Do the animals get along if kept together?


Questions to ask an employee about hamsters:
- How long do they live?
- What species is it?
- What are their diet requirements?
- What's the best "substrate" to keep them on?
- What's the minimum size requirement for a cage?
- How many can I keep in one cage?
- What kinds of toys work?
- What size wheel should I have?

Also, don't be afraid to ask about bin cages and tanks. Not everyone knows about these options. And it's often highly frowned upon for an employee to recommend such things to a customer, due to the fact it's a cheaper alternative and can cost them someone not purchasing a 50-100$ INADEQUATE cage. Although you shouldn't set up your red flags if an employee doesn't mention this, as they're not supposed to....usually. If they're pushy and pressy about a small expensive cage, take your business elsewhere. This topic is also debateable and should be taken at your own discretion.

It's not hard to tell which stores are good, and which are bad. Of course, in a perfect world, pet stores would no longer sell animals. However, because this isn't really possible at this point in time, we learn to cope and know that there are good employees who are out there because they love animals. So take advantage of this, and don't be afraid to ask questions! It indicates responsibility!

Hopefully you find this helpful, and the next time you consider purchasing from a petstore you can find a good one.
If anyone has anything to add, please let me know!

Edited by Jordyn, 05 December 2011 - 05:12 AM.

[Plushie]

Excellent post Jordyn, this should be pinned so all future hamster and other animal owners will know what to look for in a pet store!

Do you think it would be okay for me to offer a small suggestion though--maybe we could keep the questions all parallel with each other, so it's obvious whether answering "yes" or "no" is indicative of a good store? Um, okay, that doesn't really make sense Like for example, "Are there too many animals in one cage? In one tank?" kind of seems out of place, because the answer should be "no" to mean the store is good--but the other questions in the general section should be answered "yes" for a good store.

Then again it may just be me :P

Edited by Plushie, 04 December 2011 - 04:41 PM.

[MilkyFactory]

Great post Jordyn, I wish the pet store where I work was so perfect.
The only things I spotted that didn't seem like they were an indication of a good store are this:

- Are you greeted at the door, OR greeted by the first employee you see? Or does the employees who work there completely ignore you?
In some pet stores the employees have the order salute the customer when he/she arrives, it doesn't mean that the pet store is good at all.

- Do they have pets of their own?
Alot of people absolutly adore animals and know a bunch about them, but don't have any at home because they can't. I don't see how this determines that the store is good either.

- Is there an abundance of algae growing on the sides?
Algae is not bad for the fish, it's actually good for them.
Most pet stores chose to scrape it off (and oh my god it's a pain in the bum) because it doesn't look apealling,
but if there happens to be algae on the side it isn't really a sign of bad care, just of lack of time to scrape it off maybe, or even the choice to let it grow on the sides.

I also wanted to add that for most things like giving toys to the animals, wire wheels, inaquequate bedding, the blame shouldn't be on the employees,
because it's not usually for them to decide, same goes for cage recommendations (in our store we are told the cages we have to advertise in priority because the makers pay extra money for it, and with the owner always around to watch, we have to).
In our store I've asked a couple of times for the animals to have wheels for example, and the answer is no because as a rule we have to desinfect everything every day, so the toys would take too long.
For the bedding though, be nice but don't be afraid to point it out if it's not a good one.
In our store customers were always pointing out that the animals were on pine, some people even refused to buy because of that, so the owner decided to have them on coconut coir bedding instead,
and it's alot more absorbent and less smelly now as well as being safe for the animals, so it's all win.

Edited by MilkyFactory, 04 December 2011 - 05:42 PM.

[Azayles]

I think the thing with the algae on the tanks is the presentation of the display, and if the shop staff have made the effort to clean the tanks nice and shiny so you can see the fish better, chances are good that the staff take pride in their work, and this will rub off on other areas too, such as the care of the animals themselves.
If I were to buy fish, I'd be far more included to do so from a place with nice clean tanks, rather than tanks with algae because I could see the fish better, and it'd show the shop cares to make a good first impression.

[Anastasia♥]

A thing to keep in mind for birds, which is the only other animal I buy from a store other than hamsters and fish:
The birds should be preening themselves, each other, singing, or playing with toys. If they're all sleeping you may have caught them at naptime. Though, if their feathers are dirty they may have just feasted on a banana or grapes or other fruit or veggie. If not, they're not healthy as no bird would let itself stay dirty..
For parrots larger than budgies:
The birds should be friendly in a barred cage, such as approach you and talk to you when you talk to it. It should show some sign of recognition that you are a human: not a predator!!
Thought I'd add to that as those are very important to buying birds!

And for the fishies...

Are they swimming in a straight, nice line? Are there dead fish floating in the tanks?
Do they have ich growing on them? (A sugar-like crystal bacteria growth that sticks to the fish's body and causes pain and discomfort; the fish may try to rub against decorations in effort to scrape it off) Also, male fish in the Spring (usually only goldfish) get ich-like white growths on their gills... if it is strictly on their gills and that area, it just means that they are male and in breeding condition! Not to be confused with ich.

Good job on this post! You're right about the questions to ask an employee about a hamster (also good for other animals!) Should be pinned...

[Lucas]

Thanks for the input guys. The list still needs work, so any suggestions will be added!

Excellent post Jordyn, this should be pinned so all future hamster and other animal owners will know what to look for in a pet store!

Do you think it would be okay for me to offer a small suggestion though--maybe we could keep the questions all parallel with each other, so it's obvious whether answering "yes" or "no" is indicative of a good store? Um, okay, that doesn't really make sense Like for example, "Are there too many animals in one cage? In one tank?" kind of seems out of place, because the answer should be "no" to mean the store is good--but the other questions in the general section should be answered "yes" for a good store.

Then again it may just be me :P

Okay, I think I see what you're saying
So you want them to be more specific like the tank idea to go with the reptiles? Or? Sorry, I am slow. LOL. And that too many animals in a cage is proper general cleanliness?
Sorry. I'm terrible!

Great post Jordyn, I wish the pet store where I work was so perfect.
The only things I spotted that didn't seem like they were an indication of a good store are this:

- Are you greeted at the door, OR greeted by the first employee you see? Or does the employees who work there completely ignore you?
In some pet stores the employees have the order salute the customer when he/she arrives, it doesn't mean that the pet store is good at all.

- Do they have pets of their own?
Alot of people absolutly adore animals and know a bunch about them, but don't have any at home because they can't. I don't see how this determines that the store is good either.

- Is there an abundance of algae growing on the sides?
Algae is not bad for the fish, it's actually good for them.
Most pet stores chose to scrape it off (and oh my god it's a pain in the bum) because it doesn't look apealling,
but if there happens to be algae on the side it isn't really a sign of bad care, just of lack of time to scrape it off maybe, or even the choice to let it grow on the sides.

I also wanted to add that for most things like giving toys to the animals, wire wheels, inaquequate bedding, the blame shouldn't be on the employees,
because it's not usually for them to decide, same goes for cage recommendations (in our store we are told the cages we have to advertise in priority because the makers pay extra money for it, and with the owner always around to watch, we have to).
In our store I've asked a couple of times for the animals to have wheels for example, and the answer is no because as a rule we have to desinfect everything every day, so the toys would take too long.
For the bedding though, be nice but don't be afraid to point it out if it's not a good one.
In our store customers were always pointing out that the animals were on pine, some people even refused to buy because of that, so the owner decided to have them on coconut coir bedding instead,
and it's alot more absorbent and less smelly now as well as being safe for the animals, so it's all win.

No Milky, I know exactly what you mean. The one I work at is awful, too. And I suppose it also depends on how much leverage an employee has on the decisions of animal care. I have some, but certainly not as much as I would like.

I will add to the post that it's cautioned you be your own judge. I think we all know there's no such thing as a "perfect" pet store, and for any one of them to qualify and pass off a "yes or no" on everything would be a miracle. I think I was a little too critical.

As for employees not owning pets, okay that is an exception. But there are some who are just there because it's a slack job. If they cannot own pets that's different, but some don't like animals or know proper knowledge about them. THat's what I was referring to, lol.

Algae like that? Really? Our always look so disgusting and horrible. It IS hard to get rid of, but it makes everything look gross. And the gravel is always coated in it. Like some of course, but I did'nt think it was okay to leave it like that!


As for the general cleanliness, as I said, it should be taken with a grain of salt. Be your own judge! You know what you expect in a good pet store and being critical is important! of course not all stores (or any for that matter) will fit that description! But if you can have very little to complain about it's agood sign!

[MilkyFactory]

Algae is just the result of too much light most of the time, although to this extent if the gravel is coated in it you probably have too much nitrates in the tank...
We always put plants, moss balls and a product to lower nitrates in our tanks so the only ones that get algae are the ones too close to the shop lights or the windows.
the algae itself's not bad for the fish, but if the cause is nitrates then the nitrates are bad.

Edited by MilkyFactory, 05 December 2011 - 02:34 AM.

[Lucas]

Oh okay. Yeah there are lamps over top of the tanks and quite close, and they're always on. Yeeep. D: I swear I scrub and I scrub BUT IT COMES BACK.
Nitrates are not the issues, or so I don't think. We also have plants and some tanks have moss balls, but the heat from the lights is quite intense. I can't even....like it's a mess. It's disgusting, it's quite embarassing actually.
Peeps need brains in thurr heads... like I don't know why we have 1000000 watt bulbs over the tanks. Just saying.

[Plushie]

I mean like, for example:

- Are their nails clipped? Wings/feathers intact? Eyes open and clear? Beaks filed? YES indicates a good store
- Is there sandpaper on the perches? NO indicates a good store, so instead try: Do they have proper perches instead of improper ones like sandpaper perches? so YES indicates a good store
- Are they preening themselves? YES indicates a good store, unless you mean overpreening
- Do they sing? Which indicates a happy, healthy bird. YES indicates a good store
- Is there an abundance of feces on EVERYTHING? NO indicates a good store, so instead try: Is their living space relatively clean and free of feces? where YES indicates a good store
- Is the water clear of droppings? YES indicates a good store
- Most species of finches shouldn't have their wings clipped...is this true? Are there more than ONE in a cage? Is the cage big enough? NO for question 1, and YES for the other questions, try: Most species of finches shouldn't have their wings clipped; are they intact? Are there more than ONE in a cage? Is the cage big enough?
- Birds thrive and require toys, are there enough? Are they dirty? YES for question 1, NO for question 2, but because this one is pretty self explanatory I don't think it's urgent to change it

I dunno...maybe it's just in my head...LOL. See how there's an uneven amount of green and red so for owners who don't know what the answers to the questions should be, it may be confusing.

Edited by Plushie, 05 December 2011 - 03:21 AM.

[princesshamster]

Good guide! I agree, it should be pinned!

[MilkyFactory]

well if light is a problem unfortunatly it will just keep coming back unless you keep those lights off.
I know, the people who build the stores just dont think of that, we have the same issues, all our discus and angel fish tanks are way too close to windows, and the cold water fish tanks too close to the shop neon lights, the algae is a pain to remove, but we don't get so much that it covers the gravel so I wont complain.

[Lucas]

I mean like, for example:



I dunno...maybe it's just in my head...LOL. See how there's an uneven amount of green and red so for owners who don't know what the answers to the questions should be, it may be confusing.

OHHHHHH. Okay now I totally see where you're coming from! I'll definitely change it up. Thanks!


@Milky: Yeah I know right? It's the same for our tanks where we keep small animals and reptiles. And our bird cages? I can't even.....

[Christmas_hamster]

Very nice! C: There are some questions that seem pretty obvious what the answer should be and others need more discretion I suppose. I know that I couldn't spot the better stores (or rather more the better employees) until I already had at least some idea about what I was talking about.

[MissAnna]

My petstore has big cages, the biggest i've ever seen in a petshop, it maybe... 600"sq? Its super nice to think about..

[Alright]

Great post. I am very lucky to have a good Petsmart near me. It is always very clean, and the tanks/cages that the animals are kept in are also always clean. I've never seen a sick, dead, or dying animal at this store, or heard of it happening at this store (that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, as I'm sure that animals have passed on whilst at the store for something). The employees are almost always willing to help and there is even one employee who walks around the store with his iguana(?...not sure if that's what kind of reptile it is or not) on his shoulder. Sweetest little guy, too! Also, there are none of those open cages where people can just grab an animal whenever they want. You always have to ask an employee before holding an animal, and they are always there to supervise you and the animal.

 

I know that a lot of Petsmarts are not at all like this, and I know that I am lucky (and proud) to have such a nice one near me. There is also a Petco near me, and I must say that I am not impressed with that particular one...Not as nice as our Petsmart, is all I can say.

 

***After saying all of this, I'm not for mills or ANYTHING like that, and I KNOW for a fact that chain pet stores INCLUDING Petsmart need some serious changes. However, out of all the chain (and family owned) pet stores near me that I've seen, this particular Petsmart is clearly the best.***