Supporting Ethical Pet Stores: Where Should I Buy?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Small Paw! Your information hub for all things small animal. Today, I'll be discussing the very nuanced topic of pet stores: which ones to go to, which to avoid, and how to tell if the place you're shopping helps animals thrive. When discussing these pet stores, I would like to focus only on their treatment of small animals. Many pet stores offer much more enrichment, care, and attention to larger animals like dogs and cats, but smaller animals like hamsters, bunnies, and gerbils are often ignored. So, with that in mind, I would first like to answer the question:

What should I look for when choosing a "good" pet store?

When looking for pet stores to support, it is crucial to look for a few key things:

1) Healthy, energetic, well-fed animals

A tell-tale sign that a pet store is good to shop from is the well-being of the animals they sell. If the animals are underfed, housed in dirty cages, or showing signs of illness or stress, it indicates the pet store does not know how to care for its animals, and the buyer should take their money elsewhere.

2) Partnerships with animal welfare companies

Organizations like the ASPCA and PETA sometimes partner with, sponsor, or publicly endorse certain companies for their commitment to animal welfare.

3) Openness and transparency

Companies being open and transparent about their suppliers is essential for picking a pet store to buy from.

What are some unethical pet stores?

Many pet stores advertise with an emphasis on excellent pet care. And many do have wonderful care for dogs and cats. However, big-brand pet stores like PetSmart and Petco have a history of animal abuse that is often forgotten. A 2021 federal inspection report on the PetSmart and Petco supplier, Sun Pet Ltd., reported disturbing details of animal abuse and neglect. The long history of animal abuse and harm has led some of these stores to have protest campaigns against them. For example, PETA led the "Don't buy while animals die" campaign against PetSmart. Maybe a rule of thumb for most things: If it has a protest against it because they are potentially killing animals, maybe not the best place to shop. It is stores like these that are at the forefront of poor care for small animals, also promoting improper housing and enrichment. However, it is not just the large pet store chains like these that do more harm than good. It is key to check for the signs listed above when visiting any pet store, because you never know where you are buying from.

Conclusion:

In all, pet stores should be the place you go for pet supplies, not always the animal itself. Adopting is always the better option. However, when picking a store, look for the signs above. I know it can be hard, but in times when there is so much strife in the world, we can always make the conscious decision to do the right thing over the easy.

Have a wonderful spring and Happy Easter for those who celebrate!

Lots of Love, Elyse