Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! Tomorrow is 2013. Crazy, right?
So, pet stores. That is, pretty much, the entire reason I started Tiny Cages. I'll admit, at times, I just think, "Hey! This pet store's pretty good!" I just e-mailed PetCo and alerted them to their less-then-good treatment of their small animals (and the attitude of their employees).
They e-mailed back with a polite "our pet treatment is very good. The animals are happy. We've told your PetCo about your complaints". It was the average reply. It was very nice and polite, and they actually almost fooled me into believing "hey! Why not shop here? They're nice!"
And then I'm reminded of why I started Tiny Cages - because of tiny cages! Regardless of how well they treat their animals, the cage size is unacceptable. In fact, pretty much just selling the animal is unacceptable. They rarely, if ever, come from happy places. Hosting an adoption event every once in a while would be fantastic! That is how, I believe, they should do it. That would be humane and a good idea.
There are so many animals in shelters that are good pets, are wonderful, loyal, and fun pets. Someone, I can't remember who, I apologize, said that shelter animals are viewed as "damaged goods" - when it's not like that at all! They are wonderful, but sometimes get the short end of the stick.
A while ago, there was an ad that played on TV. It showed a man driving up in a truck, throwing a bone out the window. Then the dog ran after it, and the man drove away. The dog said something like "I'm not a bad dog. He's just a jerk!" Then they added some humor to it, having the dog pick up something and say, "I have his wallet!" And I think that's exactly right. They're not bad dogs, they had bad owners.
I am a bit ignorant, I must say, on this subject, as I am too sensitive to look it up, but I am quite sure most pet stores dogs come from puppy mills. And, if you don't know, puppy mills are extremely cruel places where dogs are forced to mate and make babies. The babies are sold in pet stores. They're kept in small and filthy cages and often undernourished and unhealthy. Puppy mills are the ultimate "tiny cages".
However, in the USA, they are still legal. Why? I have no idea. If everyone pools together, I'm sure that one day, puppy mills will become illegal. And, of course, that won't stop some of them - but if we all manage to shut down one, just one, it will have made a big impact on dog's lives - and our lives. Humans and other animals should be able to live in harmony together, but we can't if we keep ignoring them, ignoring the fact that they can feel pain, happiness, and lots of other things some people view as "human emotions". And we can stop it. If humans can put it together, humans can stop it, too.
It is my opinion that pet stores shouldn't sell animals. If they truly loved them like they say they do, they would not sell them. My favorite pet store, PetClub, actually says they don't sell animals because they love them. I very strongly recommend trying to find a pet store like that.
It may seem to you like a waste of time - after all, what's one person not buying anything from a huge chain of stores? But one person CAN make a difference. Think about it. All those times you go there, you're giving them money. Sure, PetCo and Petsmart (is it Pet-Smart or Pets-Mart? Will we ever know?) are huge and one person doesn't affect them, but one person affects another. Then another. And maybe you will prove to a lot of people that they can do better in terms of giving their money to good organizations.
One last thing, (and I hope this doesn't come across as offensive to anyone; please alert me if it did) it may seem to you that your pet store is very good - the employees are friendly, their pets are healthy, and their prices are good. But please think about where their pets are coming from. Puppy mills, unhappy places? Is your money contributing to that? And how about their cage size? Is it large enough?
Thank you all, and have a wonderful new year! Oh, and a P.S., check out the Humane Society's attempt to stop puppy mills. Everyone can help and make a difference - it's true!
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