Why I am choosing petsmart?

[Moomoo]

Theres a whole list of reasons why i have started to consider saving the conure at my local petsmart, but i recently just noticed, while i was browsing their site, this:
Pet Birds for Sale: Finches, Parakeets, Conures & More | PetSmart
if it fails to work, just go to petsmart official site and click "live birds"
for those who dont want to, it simply says "spread your wings with an easy-to-care-for & social family pet!" and the picture right above it is none other than a beautiful little GCC, and i dont know if its just ignorance, or they are so money hungry they will just sell a bird to anyone because they can charge a pretty penny for it! but false advertisement is illegal! an easy to care for pet my bootay! thats not even an acceptable way to think of a finch or canary! let alone a parrot or even just a parakeet... sorry, for the mini rant, i just feel bad about supporting the big chain companies, but ive just heard so many heart breaking stories. especially from petsmart bought birds! people get them on impulse and end up returning them or straight neglecting them, atleast a breeder (one who really cares) wont just sell their babies to anybody! petsmart will, and i dont know how guilty ill feel if this little guy ends up in a nightmare situation. even though id never know. it might be wrong, but this isnt my only problem with his current situation. his cage lacks stimulation and enrichment, it has only one toy. and other problems, ill have to get pictures before i could complain.
i also wanted to know if other bird lovers think its wrong of me? i know it is wrong to support the big chains, but it feels more wrong going in there once or twice a month and walking away without him(i go to purchase things for my hamster) hes always so friendly to greet us and nibble us, and then "follows" us from in his cage struggling to bob and flap and look appealing as we walk away. im so conflicted, and confused. in my situation, if you had the money and/or space would you save him? or would you make the difficult decision of saying no to supporting the pet store chain? opinions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

[Britbryan87]

I got Caesar from a petco. I saw him and was just instantly drawn to him. Never have I owned a bird in my life. So I ordered a cage and did some research and 3 weeks later went and purchased him. When I was looking through his paperwork I noticed that his ID bracelet didn't match the number on the paperwork so I took the paperwork back up there and asked them for the correct paperwork. Turns out someone had already purchased him on an impulse and brought him back the next day. I felt awful for him and what he must have gone through. So in a way I feel I saved him. He now has 2 other feathered friends. My life changed the day I brought him home for the better for both of us. And it all happened because I decided to go into a petco.


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[Quakerella]

I am a registered breeder, and also own an online bird toy store. I personally like to hear of birds being rescued before being purchased from a breeder or a store.

In your case I feel you are rescuing him from loneliness as well as a poor situation. Some pet stores (not all) have the attitude "He's easy to take care of, put him in a cage, give him food and water, and clean the cage once a week". It is a horrible way to think of any living being. As everyone here knows birds require interaction and regular stimulation to be happy and healthy.

In my opinion you are not supporting a big chain store, but you are rescuing a lonely bird to give it a full and happy life.

 

[Kiwibird]

Every bird deserves a loving home. No bird has a choice in which route it takes to find that home (be it from a top notch breeder, pet store or rescue), nor do they have a choice if they are taken home by someone unwilling or incapable of caring for them. I do wish big box chain pet stores would stop selling live animals because they do draw a lot of unwilling/incapable prospective pet owners and don't screen them, but the animals there for sale still deserve good homes. Pet store animals are too often are overlooked by potential families trying to do the right thing by not supporting the practice of those stores selling them. I think there are better ways to protest the practice than passing on a perfectly deserving, innocent bird who didn't ask to be another piece of merchandise for sale in a chain store. You aren't doing anything wrong by buying a bird from a chain pet store, especially if you feel a connection to the individual and the individual feels a connection to you. If anything, you will have given that individual a chance at being in a home where he/she will be loved, cared for and hopefully will be the only home the bird ever knows.

 

[Loko]

The sad thing about it is, no matter what stance you take - saving the bird, or supporting the chain - there will always be another bird in line to takes its place. Theres many ways to look at it, and from one point, Im sure they do have some importance in the pet trade due to their sheer size and ability to bring "big guns" to court to prevent over legislation on animal laws. Though in a perfect world, you can only obtain birds from a breeder who cares about where they place the bird.

 

[Scott]

Wow, what great sentiments! No need to feel guilty. The bird that chooses you had no say in the venue of sale!

 

[Moomoo]

Thank you, BritBryan87, Quakerella, Kiwiwbird, Loko and Scott! I had a similar feeling about the situation, the life is already there, and me not buying this one bird wont stop the whole chain from discontinuing their bad pet practices. If i could do something as little as purchasing this little guy before someone else decides they "need" or "want" it, without the proper knowledge to provide it a happy but also healthy life. if i could save this one bird from the horrors of impulse buyers with not a clue in the world on how to properly feed them, i feel that in itself would be attempting to make a difference? atleast prevent the ignorant buyers from getting him and the him becoming a return, which i would never do to a sweet little guy, and my boyfriend would kill me if we got a bird and he had to take it back.

 

[snowflake311]

I got Sprinkles from PetCo. I love him just make sure you have extra money for the vet bill. Make sure you take your new bird for a new bird check up too. It is so important.

Buying for the chain stores will cost you more.

 

[sonja]

I've had a similar conflict recently - normally I don't even look at the birds when I go to buy dog food, but about 10 days ago a beautiful little parakeet just drew my attention. And I haven't been able to forget him. And I come at this dilemma from a 20 year background in shelters and rescues, so the thought of buying a bird from PS is painful to me. But, I appreciate people's points that the bird didn't ask for this.
I've even tried to rationalize it to myself by saying that if I buy him I'd adopt a couple cage mates for him from shelters.
Definitely will think more about it. And, who knows if he'll still be there when I go back.

Oh, and a personal pet peeve: someone saying they "rescued" an animal from a store or breeder. No, they bought him. To me it is important to own your choices, even when they aren't ideal. But, that's just my take on it.

 

[XDSonia]

I bought my Green Cheek (Kiwi) from a PetSmart in Canada; my mother used to work as a dog groomer for the same store a few years back and I was aware of the conditions and treatment some of the animals go through. With that said, if I had the ability to buy all of their animals I would. We walked in not expecting to make any purchases, we just enjoy petting their shelter cats if they are in the mood. My boyfriend proceeded to head over to the birds although I did not exactly want him to (I had just lost my two lovely budgies). Needless to say, we fell in love with the little Green Cheek immediately and he refused to let us leave the store (quite literally, he did not want to leave my shoulder).
We have had Kiwi since August now and he has drastically changed our lives. He has brought so much love and happiness into our home we not cannot imagine not having him.
As much as I did not want to support PetSmart and although we overpaid for him quite a bit, I tell myself I saved him from who knows what fate. I know he is happy with us and we are happy having him be a part of our little family. Kiwi has been with us for a short period of time but he has a long and happy life ahead of him, he is worth every penny!

 

[snowflake311]

I've had a similar conflict recently - normally I don't even look at the birds when I go to buy dog food, but about 10 days ago a beautiful little parakeet just drew my attention. And I haven't been able to forget him. And I come at this dilemma from a 20 year background in shelters and rescues, so the thought of buying a bird from PS is painful to me. But, I appreciate people's points that the bird didn't ask for this.
I've even tried to rationalize it to myself by saying that if I buy him I'd adopt a couple cage mates for him from shelters.
Definitely will think more about it. And, who knows if he'll still be there when I go back.

Oh, and a personal pet peeve: someone saying they "rescued" an animal from a store or breeder. No, they bought him. To me it is important to own your choices, even when they aren't ideal. But, that's just my take on it.

I hear you. I worked at the SPCA, I was a foster parent for a few kittens. All my dogs are rescues from shelters or rescue organization. It is hard to think, how could I buy a bird when I only rescue my dogs. WELL dogs are nothing like birds. SO that alone helped me. The little bird I bought from petco had a bad rep. Not many people there liked him. That little bird picked me. I could not say no. He flipped around rolled over did all the tricks for me. So after 3 days of visiting and thinking the 3rd day I bought him. There are a lot of large parrots that need homes. They rarely get put down due to over crowding. Dogs and cats are way over bred. There are way too many of them. Birds are a bit different. Yes it is always better to rescue but it does not always work out that way with birds.

Now I do want my next parrot to be a parrot that needs a new home or an unwanted bird. I will look for a re-home. My parakeets are re-homed I got them for free from a guy who was bored of them. He said they were messy and loud. SO ..... adopt one to buy another. That might be a way to look at it.

I know how you feel fully but when a little bird picks you how do you say no?

 

[losninos]

I regret not buying a conure at our Petsmart about a year ago. It put on quite a show when anyone was watching, trying to get attention. Of course, it was way overpriced; and I didn't get it. It was gone not long thereafter, hopefully to a good home. The good news is the manager told me later they have decided not to carry any more conures.