So where did they go?

[pinky]

I went to PetSmart tonight to get some CareFresh. I immediately noticed that they rearranged the place. Small animal stuff was closer to the door, as were the small animals themselves. I went to look at the hamsters, etc. as I always do, and I noticed something weird: there were nothing but Syrians and GPs. No dwarfs. No Chinese hamsters. No mice or rats. (They usually don't carry gerbils.) Is this a holiday thing--stocking up on what sells fastest? (GPs sell fast?)

Weird. . . . I didn't have time to ask someone, but I will next time I'm there if the situation continues.

[hamwolf89]

I just think they didn't have them at the time. Dwarf go by fast, and the rsts and mice will probably come in a week or so.

When I go inside petsmart, they always have different things. Todays its only syrians, todat they only have dwarfs and rats. etc.

[pinky]

This one is pretty consistent, usually, carrying a variety of animals, and when a cage is empty, it seems to get filled again with the same kind of animal. They've had Chinese and dwarfs for as long as I've been going there (2+ years).

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!

[Die Fledermaus]

No point in my speculating.

Today I did drop by a local pet store and as I always do reminded them I am available to take injured critters. I walked out with two Syrian hamsters who were getting beat up by others and stressed, one losing fur (I hope NOT from Cushings Disease, which I described on RR many times). They are here now.

[Hamsters82]

Our Petsmart has dwarfs in it, but they're always hiding in their igloos and you can't see them.

[Die Fledermaus]

I am glad they have igloos and are not left out all the time to get stressed.

[Hamsters82]

So far I haven't seen a Petsmart that isn't good with their animals. Is that the same for you guys?

[pinky]

They're better than Petco, that's for sure.

[Die Fledermaus]

I've never even seen a Petsmart.

[pinky]

So tell us about the store you go to (since it's not a big box store type of retailer). What animals do they carry? Do they generally take good care of them? Do they do well because the nearest PetSmart or Petco is far away? (Add whatever else that you can think of that's interesting about it.)

[Die Fledermaus]

I am well known at the local Petland Discounts (a chain) - and they know I mean business. I once argued with the district manager (see "What To Do If You See a Bad Pet Store" sticky thread) about overcrowding and too much breeding due to failure to gender separate - which also meant hardly anyone wanted to buy female hamsters. I finally got him to do it, for humane reasons and business reasons. But the current manager said over a year ago she would not gender separate the gerbils - so I reported her. All the gerbils got pulled from that store and they have not had any since. But we get along. She also got along with Susan whom she met.

The local AWOP (A World of Pets) is where my friend Susan worked as a supervisor for years. A store with only one other branch. I mentioned elsewhere I make sure they know I will rescue and accept any animals that are getting beat up and such; I picked up two hamsters Saturday, and they are OK for now. More on them later.

Current conditions are good in both, except for times such as Easter when there are too many bunnies. I think I helped a little with AWOP after Susan left (she kept them good, also), and I know I helped a lot at the PD store.

Again, see the Sticky thread I mentioned which in part is based on my experiences.

The Petcos I have seen in Manhattan (only when I go there to get certain hard-to-find wheels) look OK. But that is only what I can see.

The only other pet store in my area, Vinny's, stopped carrying birds. their only live animals. I got Heather the cockatiel there for only $40. They were OK, too.