what the pet store said

[Mom 2em All]

i went into the pet store yesterday where I bought my two ducklings at Easter. I picked up some minnow-type fish to put in their water and crickets for my spoiled chicken. I told the guy behind the counter that the ducklings they sold me were NOT Pekin like they said, but were Runner ducks. The guy said, "Psssshh we sell them once a year at Easter for the novelty. Nobody keeps them long enough to see what kind of ducks they are." I said, "No, they abandon them on the side of the road, in public ponds, or kill them with neglect. Good thing not everyone feels that way once the novelty wears off" and he laughed!!

I know that some pet stores' view on animals is usually nonchalant and they think of them as retail not little lives, however it shocked me to hear him talk that way and not even fake concern or caring. I think I should take him some pictures of the rescued Easter duck pictures that I have seen here with the injuries and a print-out of their sad stories.

 

[backdoorchicken]

i encountered the same thing from a pet store when i was looking for something to feed my chickens. the guy was like "you really have a pet chicken?" i said yeah, 5 of them. he was shocked by it and could not believe chickens could be pets. like a bird that cost less than $200 could not be worth it as a pet. to be honest he was a bit of a douchebag.

oops, can i say that?

 

[duckyfromoz]

Unfortunately people like that wouldnt even care if you showed them 1000 sad stories of what happens to all the Easter ducklings and chickens sold each year.

Yesterday I had a fellow contact me about buying one duckling...WHY ONE?? As a rule I never sell a single duckling unless under exceptional circumstances- well it turned out that he purchased two last weekend from a fellow who is well know to not be particularly concerned for the welfare of the ducklings- rather the $$ he gets for them is important. One died and he needed a mate for the remaining duckling. I have heard that story time and time again- of ducklings bought that died- and the main reason is that the retailer doesnt care about providing something as simple as a care sheet of information for raising ducklings. Many pet shops here in Australia now sell Fish, and caged birds - thats it! no Puppies, no Kittens - and the reason being that people buy them on an impulse because they are cute. I only go to pet shops who adopt this more responsible practice.

 

[Bink]

I have run into the same attitude in Bee keeping. There is a back to natural beekeeping movement its not about collecting honey its about the bees and there survival. I don’t begrudge anyone from making money but some of these people are hypocrites one guy had the audacity to tell me that bees are worth more than honey they sell for $30.00 a pound. But his website Motto is the bees come first no the money comes first