6 April 2009

Passover Pets - a call for regulation of pet sales

| weeziepops
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I was disappointed to see a pet shop in the Hyperdome selling baby chickens, presumably in an attempt to cash in on the traditional links between Easter and hen’s eggs. Baby chickens are very cute. So are baby rabbits. But they don’t stay babies forever.

I wonder how many people who buy a baby chicken plan ahead for the chicken run they will need to erect in their garden to accommodate the adult bird? If the bird turns out to be a rooster, have they pondered how they will manage that situation given regulations around keeping these in urban and suburban settings? Check out www.rspca-act.org.au and you will see a number of rabbits already awaiting new homes – how many of these, I wonder, were impulse buys which were later regretted and have now been farmed off to the RSPCA to deal with?

Ban the sale of live animals in pet shops in Canberra!

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I bought three baby chickens from the pet shop 4 months ago.They were cute at the time and now are beautiful girl hens who will soon be laying eggs for the family. I’m glad the pet shop was selling the chicks, they are a great addition to our family and are very well looked after!!

ebony57 said :

Sadly, when the lawful conditions for keeping breeding animals such as dogs turn them into nothing more than battery hens, there seems to be little that any animal welfare organisation can do to stop these monsters.

Except campaign for better conditions for battery hens, and all intensively farmed animals.

The SMH has a story on this topic:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/04/06/1238869906396.html
People being “forced” to surrendur their pets. Yep, forced. yet I bet they still find the money for takeaway… when will they be forced to “surrendur” their kids, or their elderly parents?

People can be absolute rubbish.

Holden Caulfield10:55 pm 06 Apr 09

Beautiful plumage, the Norwegian blue.

We’ve had a few rescue dogs, and they’ve all been lovely but they’ve all been products of their environment. One of our current dogs was from a puppy mill, had three litters before she was two years old – she’s a mixed breed, so no doubt her puppies were sold at close to a grand each. The other one seems to have escaped from a similar situation – he has separation anxiety, had never been for a walk, is obsessive compulsive (he spends hours watching ants and bugs) and has been difficult to toilet train as he would only ‘go’ when he was under cover.

Buying puppies from petshops puts money in the pockets of the breeders. Why not put the money in the pocket of the rescuers and carers who are left to pick up the pieces after these impulse buys are discarded or mistreated?

Indeed, CK, Norwegian blue.

That Hall Market puppy mill even has radio ads. I haven’t been to Hall markets in some time, but I remember some exhausted puppies, trying to sleep in the heat and noise and stupid ignorant bogans waking them up so they could “perform” for their kids, like they’re machines or something. It makes my blood boil. It’s still boiling.

I’d definately take the RSPCA over the puppy mill, oh sorry, “breeder”, that peddles their wares at the Hall markets. Their website is a veritable menu of possible “designer puppies”, yet I can’t go past thinking that these are just mutts that the gullibly cashed-up are buying because they are cute and fluffy as babies. That the pound websites are full of these animals once they pass the cure stage is just plain tragic.

Sadly, when the lawful conditions for keeping breeding animals such as dogs turn them into nothing more than battery hens, there seems to be little that any animal welfare organisation can do to stop these monsters.

Clown Killer9:36 pm 06 Apr 09

Was it an ex-parrot?

C’mon guys, pleeeease! I’ts screaming out.

I bought a parrot from a pet shop………

peterh said :

Makes me wonder what they did to my pet shop bought cat when he was a kitten, before he came to live with us??

Maybe the young’un came from a similar house to that of one of my workmates – she keeps a pair of un-neutered dogs, so twice a year there are puppies. She’s aware that the pups very soon turn from trusting to growling at and trying to run away from her husband after he’s been left alone with them for a period of time. She knows her husband is doing something to the pups, but doesn’t care, who knows how they turn out?

My wife is a registered cat breeder. We currently have kittens which we are looking for homes for. As part of the process we are trying to have the kittens desexed (they are 12 weeks of age). It is very hard to find a a vet to do it at that age. The concern we have is if we sell them entire they will be used to help stock the pet shops!

Clown Killer5:44 pm 06 Apr 09

…and they like each other very much

You’ve never heard cats fcuking then …

I’d encourage everyone to avoid shops of Bates Pets Paradise calibre completely – they can’t even treat fish humanely

Granny said :

That little dog could have had a good life in a happy home. This does make me angry. A bad call that cost a little animal its life. Really upsetting.

I agree wholeheartedly, Granny. There was a home that wanted him, and now he’s dead and they got no dog. You wonder what people who do this kind of thing are thinking, sometimes. That said, my main charity remains the RSPCA. I just hope I don’t hear more stories like this one.

Holden Caulfield4:18 pm 06 Apr 09

weeziepops said :

Regarding my specifically referring to live animals, it was to reflect the fact that some people keep reptiles which are fed, in many cases, dead rodents. Some pet shops sell these. Hence the deliberate choice of wording.

Fair enough.

weeziepops said :

I am yet to hear a good news story arising from a pet shop pet purchase.

I just gave you one. 🙂

Regarding my specifically referring to live animals, it was to reflect the fact that some people keep reptiles which are fed, in many cases, dead rodents. Some pet shops sell these. Hence the deliberate choice of wording.

I am yet to hear a good news story arising from a pet shop pet purchase. Most kittens and puppies have been weaned too soon and have health problems while others suffer the behavioural problems mentioned by peterh. One of my dogs was used as “a breeder” and I would love to meet the person who put her thought that – another save by RSPCA ACT, by the way!

Holden Caulfield4:11 pm 06 Apr 09

peterh said :

we bought one cat from bates pet paradise, and one from the RSPCA. the pet store one is psychotic, and we have to ensure he isn’t left near the kids. the rescued cat is gentle and affectionate. makes me wonder what they did to my pet shop bought cat when he was a kitten, before he came to live with us??

In contrast, we “rescued” a kitten from the RSPCA once. It died two weeks later with cat flu.

The replacement came from Bates almost 15 years ago. She is a great pet, with a wonderful temperament and is great with kids. We’ve had a good run with her health, the only issues have been a small period where we lived next to a tomcat that would fight with her quite a bit. She is now starting to get a bit cranky in her elder years, but still well behaved, considering, and she is still patient with young ones. Most people are surprised to learn she is over 14 years old as she looks well.

Our other cat is a rescued stray who was about one year old when he adopted us almost five years ago. Despite being freaked out by some weird things, he has a very placid and patient nature as well. He’s just a bloody guts at food time.

I’d say it’s hit and miss with moggies and, generally speaking, their point of sale (or not) has little to do with their personality.

Clown Killer4:07 pm 06 Apr 09

Where do these shops get the beasties from exactly? I have been told that all the dog and cat breeder organisations are opposed to the sale of animals through pet shops. This would suggest that they’re being supplied by backyard operations dealing in mutts, mongrels and bitza’s – and if that’s what you’re after, surely the RSPCA or similar organisations are a better bet than paying a couple of hundred dollars at the pet shop.

Holden Caulfield3:53 pm 06 Apr 09

Ban the sale of live animals in pet shops in Canberra!

I agree, I think they should introduce the sale of dead animals in pet shops!

we bought one cat from bates pet paradise, and one from the RSPCA. the pet store one is psychotic, and we have to ensure he isn’t left near the kids. the rescued cat is gentle and affectionate. makes me wonder what they did to my pet shop bought cat when he was a kitten, before he came to live with us??

Yes, I think a good organisation does learn from their mistakes and refine and improve their processes and operations, and the 93% placement is wonderful.

I think it’s nice too, though, if an organisation acknowledges its mistakes to those affected. From businesses to non-profits, people forgive a lot if they just hear the words, ‘That was wrong, and we’re really sorry’.

Granny said :

Yes, it’s terribly sad that the common sense approach wasn’t used in dvaey’s case. Such a senseless and counterproductive decision! That little dog could have had a good life in a happy home. This does make me angry. A bad call that cost a little animal its life. Really upsetting.

I think things have changed a lot since Dvaeys bad experience though – thank goodness.

good upon you, pinklink – i hope dvaey can try again and get back to rescuing animals. respect.

Yes, it’s terribly sad that the common sense approach wasn’t used in dvaey’s case. Such a senseless and counterproductive decision! That little dog could have had a good life in a happy home. This does make me angry. A bad call that cost a little animal its life. Really upsetting.

I heartily support the stringent interview RSPCA process pinklink and I think the ‘wait until the next day’ policy is excellent, as it prevents impulse buys, and ensures that the potential purchase is discussed by all members of the family before the pet is brought home. Our last dog came from ACT RSPCA and we thought the whole process was very assuring. Keep up the fantastic work.

Hi, Michael Linke here, CEO of RSPCA ACT.

I’d encourage anyone who has a bad experience in the past to try again. Over the past four years we have overhauled a lot of how we do things.

Yes, we still undertake interviews and want to know about how a dog will live, but we don’t have black lists and use a common sense approach. This process allows us to home 93% of all dogs with a 1% return rate – we lead the country in our progressive homing strategies. ARF and the pound also do a great job; the goal here is to reduce unnecessary breeding and impulse buys, especially at this time of year when shops use the occasion to sell animals.

My Mum worked for the RSPCA for 9 years and my friend currently works as an animal attendant for them in Sydney. Please don’t bag them out, they do an amazing and necessary job in our society.

There’s lots of animal rescue mobs online, if you go to someone like Arf, they have links to other rescue sites. Also the dog pound in ACT and NSW does quite a bit of re-homing. You can even put your name down for a type of dog.

I heard a while back that selling animals (cats and dogs) in pet shops is banned in some European countries?

Anyway, I think the stores advertise available animals from registered breeders, photos, info and contact details. The deal then is if an animal is purchased (after the breeder determines suitability) the buyer picks up the animal from the pet store and buys all the pet requirements in a pack (apparently this is where the real money is made) from the pet store.

This sounds like a good plan for Canberra stores I reckon.

Yeah I’ve gone right off the RSPCA over the last few years.

dvaey, if you haven’t heard of them, check out http://www.fosterdogs.org/ ACT Rescue & Foster.

Great little organisation. I can’t have a dog at the moment but I plan to join their organisation and help with transport.

Several years ago after our dog passed away, we decided to goto the RSPCA and get another dog, as for over 20 years theres always been a dog in our family, always a rescue from the RSPCA. We went to weston, found a doc that we connected with and figured we’d just be able to bring him home… not so fast.. the RSPCA required us to sit down for a 30-minute interview, after which they came out to our house to do an inspection. After looking around they found a loose fence pailing and decided our 4′ high fence wasnt tall enough to keep a puppy in, despite the fact it was good enough to keep our last 3 dogs over the last 2 decades. They wouldnt allow us to fix these issues and re-inspect, they simply blacklisted us. (I should point out we have had 3 dogs from RSPCA, which have all been desexed, microchipped, and regularly taken to the vets in the past).

While I understand the requirement for these checks, it seems stupid to discount responsible pet owners, simply beacuse they only 99.9% meet the ‘best pet owner’ criteria.

Sadly, that dog was not given to us, and was destroyed, so our last 2 dogs have been non-RSPCA dogs. While I feel saddened that we cannot ‘rescue’ a dog due to strict policies, I can understand why someone would have to turn to a petshop to buy a pet.

Clown Killer11:31 am 06 Apr 09

Stupid people can impulse-buy

Judging by the prices of some of the dogs in that pet shop it would be more accurate to say “Rich stupid people can impulse buy”. I’ve seen crposs-breeds in there for $800!

Our dogs are rescues, but our hermet crabs/stick insects/giant cockroaches came from Exotic Pets In Kambah (now called Reptiles Inc) where all of the animals are treated absolutely beautifully.

I would never buy a pet from a conventional pet store, but I have, on occasion, bought fish food, leads etc… from that place in Tuggers. No more though.

Hells_Bells7411:16 am 06 Apr 09

I’ve always got my pet mice and fish from pet shops when I want them and my mice always seem relaxed and well cared for. I would never buy much else from there though and find their puppy/kitten boxes heartbreaking although very cute, I always want to take them all home. Control is the key you must remember with pets is that the animal is not always better off with you. Go home and think about it first, not how to get the money!

OHHH! never believe your kids when they say they will take responsibility for the pets.. feeding, washing, walking, training, barking, vet trips and keeping it from escaping will all come down to you for a very long time to come.

I can’t stand pet shops.. they treat the animals like s*** and charge a stupid amout of money.

It’s been sad to see the proliferation of shops selling live animals over the years. Stupid people can impulse-buy. Having them available from breeders means the person has to go to some effort to find the animal, and by the time they’re in a position to buy, they’ve considered the whole issue.

Ban the sale of live animals in pet shops in Canberra!

Wouldn’t that make them Butchers?

V twin venom10:45 am 06 Apr 09

I absolutely agree!

Chickens and other foul are available from quality breeders across the ACT and region. We have 3 different breeds as bumnut providers and pets. All came from reputable places without a hint of cruelty. Again, our dogs and cats came from either breeders or the RSPCA.

There should be better regulation of the animals bought into pet shop or better still a total ban. Puppy farms are an abomination.

Ban the sale of live animals in pet shops in Canberra!

Yeah, dead animals only!

Ban the sale of live animals in pet shops in Canberra!

Yeah, I’m finding that I have to agree with this.

+ 1

There are no rules for keeping roosters in the ACT. There are some vague rules issued by ACT Health about coops and their proximity to houses and neighbours but that’s it.

You are free to keep as many chooks as you want – as long as you aren’t breaking any welfare laws (which are up to the mood of the RSPCA inspector or ACT Ranger).

The issue of buying chicks to turn into layers soon becomes a lesson for the kids on properly killing an animal and eating it for dinner. That’s what we did when we took on the two 3 week old ones from the pre school hatching kit. We knew there was every possibility that they could end up as roosters – and when they started crowing at 5 in the morning and began to “wrestle” our hens it was time for the chop!

I agree with you weeziepops; although the puppy and kitten farms bother me a lot more than the chickens. That said, I too was absolutely appalled to see those poor chicks in that pet shop and I will no longer be making any purchases from that store (or any other in the franchise).

Clown Killer10:19 am 06 Apr 09

I wouldn’t support a ban of rabbit sales in pet shops – they’re presently the only convenient place to get really fresh rabbits!

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