Re: local pet shop gerbil abuse

[blackie]

I Walked into a pet shop today because I was going to look at some plastic tanks. I just passed the place were they keep their animals-. I was horrified from what I saw. Three or four little gerbil pups were sleeping in a corner of a small glass tank. From the size of them I would say they wer not a day older than four weeks,possibly younger. What is the point in taking tiny gerbil pups from their mother? I just don't get it. I'm thinking about contacting Animal Welfare Society. I'm so mad!!!!
This pet shop also kept rats in very small tanks.
I'm never going to purchase ANYTHING from this pet shop again.

[floppy]

You should contact the Animal Welfare Society. You should also go back to the pet shop and complain to the manager. It probably won't do much good but at least you'll feel like you've tried to do something...

[sweetie]

Blackie,
Live your life with no regrets. Do you feel you did everything you could? By not buying anything from them again, is that going to change what is happening now?

Please let us know which pet store it is so that we may also help.

Thanks for caring!!!! Good job.

[blackie]

Did I say I wasn't going to do anything about it?
I'm going to call "Dyrebeskyttelsen" today. Would you just go into a pet shop and tell off the manager? Don't worry ,they're not going to get away with this. I live in Norway, not in the UK or the US. This pet shop is in the center of one of the larger towns in Norway.

[queenofthenile]

I'm glad that you have the resources to stop this kind of abuse! Her in Canada and the states I find there isn't all that much you can do. Animal protection officers usually have so much to do that they don't have time for the little critters . I hope everything works out!

[sweetie]

Blackie,

Those questions where not meant to pass judgement or to tell you to do more. I was not saying you should do more or should do anything for that matter. I was encouraging you to do what is comfortable for you. To do what you feel is going to work for you. I did not say you need to do more. Please do not take offense. Everyone has their limitations and acts according to thier comfort level and that is what I tried to get across.

To answer your question, "Would you just go into a pet store and tell off the manager?" No, but I would bring the situation to his/her attention and let them know in firm language that this is substandard housing and that they should take care of the animals they sell appropriately. Feedback if given correctly does not haveto be a matter of "telling off" or of personal attack. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe that everyone should be offered the feedback they need to change thier behavior. Before I give feedback I put myself in thier shoes. I tried to do that with you! I tried not to be judgemental but instead encourage you to do what is best for you.

I apologize if you were upset by my post.

[blackie]

Okay no harm done . Sometimes we misunderstand each other on this forum. I'm not an expert on making myself clear either.
Problem is I don't like the people who work in this pet shop,one of the clerks is a bit rude, and I don't think they would listen to a young woman like me, but if the only option is talking to them in person maybe I will. The local animal welfare society seems to be pretty okay,they mostly work with homeless cats and stuff.

[floppy]

As sweetie was saying, only do what you feel comfortable with. I used to regularly complain to a pet shop in Dublin and every time they just brushed me off...one time I was so angry because there was a lone gerbil who was so obviously not well. He had a bloody nose and was very under weight. When I pointed it out to one of the assistants, I was told the gerbil was perfectly healthy. I told him that I breed gerbils and it was quite obvious that the poor thing was not ok. He kept insisting that the gerbil was fine and said that he had bred gerbils for 3 years and they were like that and were fine. I just got really annoyed and tried to point out what I thought was wrong with him (the gerbil!) and he walked away from me. At this point my boyfriend had joined me and when the guy went to deal with another customer, my boyfriend told her what the guy had been saying and advised her not to shop there anymore! I know they probably didn't do anything but it made me feel better to have complained anyway. The next week when I went in the gerbil had been sold, hopefully to a home where he would be well looked after.

[RyanF]

Maybe you could start something up with a few friends and come into that pet store with them. Then start a petition or something.

[sweetie]

Excellent ideas!!

The animal welfare society here are the ones who gave me opposite sex gerbils, Duh!! Blackie you are right, they do mostly deal with cats and dogs. They are pretty clueless when it comes to other animals. I explained to one of the head people at the shelter what happened when I bought my gerbils (wrong sex, no knowledge of care , bedding, food, cleanliness, housing etc.) I also let her know that by giving out opposite sex gerbils, it went against the mission of the shelter (to reduce the unwanted population). I offered her my knowledge and I also offered to sex the gerbils if and when they came in and to separate males from females so as to assist in the unwanted pregnancies. I also explained that I would like to offer training or information so that they are taken care of properly not like her staff explained to me. Perhaps the crew at the pet store are as clueless.

I think that the reason members are so against pet stores is becuase they are not knowledgeable about the care of gerbils and are negligent. Next time a breeder wants to sell them to a pet store, I think I'll ask them to read this post.

I am glad to hear that the poor little gerbil was sold. I am sorry to hear the clerck is rude. There is no excuse for that. Please don't underestimate yourself!! I am hopeful that you will be able to make them listen to you as long as the feedback is not percieved as a direct attack. You can't change the way people percieve what you say but as long as you stick to the facts.... well I've said it before don't make it personal and they "should not" take it personally.

Blackie, sometimes it only takes one voice to be heard!! If they choose not to listen well then take in a team like Ryan suggested!! That should help them listen. Good luck. Also if they have an email address, I would be more than happy to send my thoughts

[gerbilicious]

Take a stand, Blackie. It really works. When my mom and I were looking for gerbils in October, they had one poor gerbil on a really high shelf with tiny cages stacked up around him. My mom complained to the manager and they fixed the situation.