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Originally Posted by concretegurl  I used to raise exotic rodents, Russian dwarf hamsters and Chinchillas to be exact...the majority of the animals these big box pet stores get their chinchillas from are farms that raise them in conditions similar to pup mills so that's my bias. I don't really love reptiles, but I care about their conditions and I've seen them dehydrated to the point of being literally dead in the stores displays...it would be one thing, but to have personally seen it so many times turned me off big time!
I just think people should also be aware of that, I'm sure small pet stores are often the same, but in smaller retailers they don't have the profit margins to justify the loss percentages in the least...sorry I came off so crudely, it just really has turned my stomach to be aware of these things on such a personal level.
Next time you go in note the conditions of the chinchillas and hamsters, many are suffering neurological issues and behavioral problems. Specifically chinchillas are nocturnal and don't like a lot of light, they need ample room to move and jump the cages or display cases in these stores are cruel confinement for them...it's similar to knowing USDA regulations say a dog only need 6" more room than its nose to the cage wall to be considered ample...we all know that's ugh how do I say it...a bunch of nonsense. I don't know much about reptiles but seeing them dead enough times speaks volumes to me. |
Callie loves to look at the hamsters, rats, guinea pigs ect (I had a hamster when she was a puppy and she loved to watch it) I honestly havent seen any dead animals when I was looking but I do not look at the reptiles they kinda ick me out. What bothers me is nobody is ever looking over the animals when there are people over there and people thump on the glass and that is loud to them them.