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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 3, 2008 20:15:48 GMT -4
I am in the pet store today getting some medication for an ill rat. So, they, as usual, offer me some critters that were having a hard time - a spiny mouse and a Syrian hamster, both in the same big carrier. They were getting along with each other, but I separated them anyway. Photos later. The rat has been isolated from the rest. Slight bite, maybe an RI, plus a little wet butt. Tetracycline now; Wet Tail medication tomorrow.
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Post by pinky on Feb 4, 2008 23:23:22 GMT -4
What do you mean by "having a hard time"?
I have NEVER seen a spiny mouse in a pet store. But you, DF, have never seen a Chinese hamster!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 4, 2008 23:31:58 GMT -4
We ought to change locations for a day and stock up! Too bad you can take a few dozen of my spiny mice. - - - - - - - - Sadly, the rat I mentioned above didn't make it: classic symptoms of a Respiratory Infection right down to the 'clicking' sounds. More on that later.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 5, 2008 22:03:29 GMT -4
Here is the thumbnail of them. Click on it for a bigger image. They still need names! Ideas?
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Post by pinky on Feb 6, 2008 23:08:57 GMT -4
What are their sexes?
Hollie! We need your naming prowess!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 6, 2008 23:53:21 GMT -4
I haven't checked yet! Glad you asked. ;D The ham is rather feisty having been attacked a lot at the store. He is sleeping peacefully now in a big bin with some of Kate's old tubes (which she sent to me) and a big wheel, and hide box. The wooden box I got seemed too small - the ham did not use it, so the mice got it and the ham got a cardboard box. Back later about this. . .
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Post by Andrea on Feb 12, 2008 20:38:28 GMT -4
I am in the pet store today getting some medication for an ill rat. So, they, as usual, offer me some critters that were having a hard time - a spiny mouse and a Syrian hamster, both in the same big carrier. What got me was in the same carrier.... <shakes head> This store shouldn't even be allowed to sell animals if they have no clue how to care for them. Sounds like they feel they don't need to because they have you to come take them away. Sorry to hear about the ratty passing
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 12, 2008 20:50:03 GMT -4
Thanks. With the Dog Show and other things I have had no chance to even sex them. The hamster sleeps and sleeps, but seems OK. The spiny is alone but seems happy in a ten gallon tank. You will remember Malu and Cocoa. You can do a Search on this site for them if you want. These were two Syrians jammed into a little cage that is suitable for one mouse - and they were on cedar! The photos are still up. I rescued them and separated them although they were getting along. More on the deceased rat later. keep an eye on the Memorial forum.
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Post by pinky on Feb 14, 2008 20:20:42 GMT -4
Sounds like they feel they don't need to because they have you to come take them away. My thought too. Sorry to hear that you lost another furry.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 14, 2008 21:20:57 GMT -4
So you want me to stop?? I take one or two every several months, That is all. I lost yesterday another - Galadriel, a syrian. Just found her dead with "blood" round the mouith. Sudden. her sister, Arwen is fine. More on that too, later.
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Post by pinky on Feb 15, 2008 15:24:35 GMT -4
Oh, no--that wasn't the point of the comment. Don't stop. We were simply criticizing what seems to be the lazy, uncaring attitude of the shop proprietor/employees--that they don't value the animals enough to be sure they are comfortable at all points in their lives.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 15, 2008 21:58:35 GMT -4
They are not too bad. Conditions generally seem OK; I would have the ASPCA there if they were not. I was at both local stores that sell live animals today, chatting about the Dog Show and buying Zupreme Finch pellets. No one offered me an injured animal; they also have no e-addy. One sells dog puppies: no Finnish Spitz, but prices ranged up to $600 for a Yorkie. Prices varied more than I expected (by up to three hundred). No, I am not getting a dog, but it is fun to wonder: www.akc.org/breeds/finnish_spitz/puppy.cfmBTW, ZERO breeders were found within 200 miles of me!
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Post by ladyjosephine on Feb 16, 2008 11:26:05 GMT -4
It's very interesting to me to hear about dogs and cats being sold in a Petstore, In the Netherlands that almost never happens. I only know about 2 petstores selling dogs and cats, and I saw one in Almere(where I lived) Why are they doing that!? I would rather get a dog or cat at a good breeder and pay more for it, but I would know who where it's parents and things like that.
Over here the puppies in a petstore are usually eastern-europe dogs. They are to young when they're separated from the mother, almost always unhealthy & die young. There is alot of comotion about this.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 16, 2008 20:22:39 GMT -4
Such practices should be illegal. I think they are here. A too early separation from the mother can also result in emotional problems in the dog. Last time I walked through that store I saw (this time) no cats for sale. I wonder about selling dogs (pure breeds) in stores, but they can be hard to find. I went to the AKC site and looked up breeders of Finnish Spitz dogs (my favorite) - and there was not a one within 200 miles of me, maybe more as their site only went up to 200 miles. Perhaps such a store could get them shipped in. But stores that sell dogs from notorious puppy mills are no good. This place I went to seems OK.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Feb 17, 2008 18:23:33 GMT -4
Sorry about your rat and that's good the hamster/mice have a good home now.
Finnish Spitz are quite rare outside of the WDS, you almost never see one. Also breeders charge quite a bit for their dogs, I can beat your price I saw a breeder of a Cockapoo charge almost $1,000 for a puppy. Insane!!
ladyJ--it sounds like your dogs stores is what we call puppy mills over here.
Besides the emotional separation for a puppy and mother, the puppy needs its nutrition from its mother's milk and trying to supplement it in other ways is hard.
Purebreeds in pet stores are certainly not hard to find. Well maybe in your area they are, but in our pet stores 95% of the dogs there are purebreds.
All breeders are different, some don't mind traveling half way to meet you for the dog others don't like doing that, nor putting the dog on a plane and shipping them over. Like any breeder you would have to ask them. Also, and I know you said you're not getting a dog now, one should always do their research before getting a dog. Just because you like the Finnish Spitz doesn't mean it's perfect for your life style.
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