Pet Stores

When purchasing a pet it is important to make sure that the pet store you choose to use is one you feel confident and comfortable with.  Below are some pointers to help you make that choice.  The first step is to observe the pet store premises, when you walk into the store you need to take notice of the cleanliness of the store as well as the cages tanks etc. that the pets are being kept in. Is the bedding, water etc. clean and do they have fresh food. The store itself should be brightly lit and show the animals in the correct lighting environment.

Make sure that the aisles are wide and easy to use. Ask the owners how often they clean out the cages and aquariums and when the animals are fed.

Have a look at the types of animals in the store. Most Pet Stores will not carry a wide range of pets i.e. from puppies to reptiles and everything in between.  The reason for this is the expense in caring and feeding so many different types of animals. Should you be looking for a specialised pet then ask your Pet Store to guide you in choosing a specialised pet store.

One of the most important things to look at in a pet store is the animals.  The staff of a good pet shop will ensure that the animals are healthy well fed clean and alert with a positive disposition. If there are sick animals they are usually kept in the back of the pet shop where it is quiet and they can be looked after under a more controlled environment.  Remember animals sold from pet stores are more likely to become sick because of disease transmission from other animals in the store, the high volume of animals in a pet store can result in the increase of disease transmission.  If you should see a sick animal in the front of the shop then ask the staff about the animal, what is wrong and how are they treating the animal.  This will help you gauge the attitude of the staff as well as their work ethic.

Always ask as many questions as you need answers to when buying your pet.  The staff are there to help and their knowledge about the animals in the store is why you might choose to buy your pet from them.  Make sure that you ask the staff where they obtain their pets from, you need to make sure that they are not supporting puppy mills or the unethical practise of trapping animals in the wild.

Ask your vet or a friend who is a pet owner for recommendations on pet stores.

There are multiple pet store chains and smaller family type run stores, visit a few and then decide what store best suits you.