Anyone have any problems with PetSmart?

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lindseym

This is from my MySpac blog an I thought it was appropriat to post hr as wll. Plas lt m know what you think. I n som input hr. Shoul I b going lswhr? I rfus to buy animals from Pto bcaus I ra an articl about how thy mistrat animals.

BAD NEWS
ast night aroun 6:00 w cam hom from whrvr w wr an notic that Uon ha a spot on hr nos whr sh was missing hair. Both Bryan an I got rally scar an thought mayb sh just scratch hrslf up somhow. W ci to lav th pigs alon an just kp watch of th spot. W wnt to a movi an got hom a littl bfor 1 am, an notic it ha gottn biggr. Uon is pictur blow. W wr so scar.

This morning w got up an call PtSmart an thy tol us to com in an thy' s what was going on. So w pack up our piggis an ha out to th PtSmart on ay oa. nc w got thr th managr ha tol us that thy foun out that th mothr of th two w rciv ha a fungus that ma thm loos hair. Thr things bothr m about buying from PtSmart.
[colorr]1) Th hanlr PtSmart li an sai th ay oa location ha at last 4, an whn w wnt, th lay sai that I must hav "gottn my information a fw wks ago" bcaus thr wr only two lft.
[colorblu]2) I ha just ra that y crust coul b caus of somthing ba, lik fungus, an whn I ask th lay about it sh sai it was "normal"
[coloryllow]3)Toay, th lay (iffrnt on) sai that thy ha just foun out about our guina pig's mothr's conition a fw ays ago. Thy hav my phon numbr, why in't thy call us an notify us of a possibl brak out?

Bryan want to wait for th guina pigs an I wish I ha wait now. W ha to rturn our prcious Tmpura an Uon to th stor bcaus w on't hav nough mony to trat Uon for hr whol lif. An now, all w hav is th wor of iz from Ptsmart that sh'll call us on Tusay whn thir two nw guina pigs will b availabl to b sol. h, anothr thing that bothrs m.. [colorpurpl]I ask hr if w coul rturn our two for ths nw two, an thy can kp thm for th nxt two ays, (Apparntly thy hav to "quarrantin" thm bfor slling thm.) an th lay sai no! Sh sai somthing about wanting to think it ovr an mak sur that this is what I want to o. I want guina pigs. I want my first two, but that's proably not possibl anymor. Why woul I chang my min. I on't want to mull ovr th fact that I D want a coupl guina pigs as pts. I just hop that thy stan up to thir wor an call us on Tusay. I'll b so if thy put thm out, wait to call m an thn by th tim thy call, thy'r gon!

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I'm so sorry, pet stores are just awful like that, and I'm not sure there's much we can do, which bothers the crud out of me. I would think your best bet would be to get some guinea pigs in need from either ads or a rescue, as any guinea pig you get from a petstore could have a problem like that. Where do you live? If you're anywhere close to me (which nobody in this forum is ::)) maybe you could get two from me.

Kimmie
 
I'm in Phoenix Arizona. Close? I notice this is a UK forum. Too bad if you're across the pond!
 
Petsmart is up there in the cruelty leagues with Petco when it comes to stores in the USA. Read all about it here http://www.theguineapigrescue.com/cruelty_abuse.htm and http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/petsmart_jails_birds (video on the last link is quite upsetting). Sadly this is often what happens to animals that are returned. I really don't think that guinea pigs are "returnable" like faulty merchandise.

Please, if you can't afford vet treatment for your guinea pigs please reconsider whether or not you should be keeping any. Vet bills for my guinea pigs this year have been well over £100 ($200) and most of that is for only one that had surgery this year. Vet bills can easily run into the hundreds and it is your duty as an owner to pay them.
 
When Spike and Pig got sick last year we had to take them to the vet asap. It cost over £80 for 2 days of seeing the vet/antibiotics etc. They both passed away a few days later. But i dont regret having to pay out to give them a chance. Also last year we had to rush our bunny to the vet. Sunday, emergency vet. Cost about £150. Plus all the other times they've had to go. We must've spent near £300 on vet bills last year alone.

I agree, if you cant afford to treat them then you shouldn't be keeping them. Sorry, but thats how it is. Pets get sick, you as an owner have a responsibility to get them treatment and not allow them to suffer.
 
Vet bills are very expensive and often people don't take this into consideration when thinking of buying a pet. Unfortunately pets do get sick and its the owners responsibility to get them the treatment they need. The past six months have been difficult for me as I was made redundant and have only had temporary, poorly paid jobs since but at no time have I ever neglected getting the treatment I have needed for my animals. My animals mean the world to me and if it means going without things myself then thats how it is. I'm not even going to try and add up what I have spent this past year, three ops for Badger before we even look at anything else, but when I see his cheeky little face as he stands up at the bars of his cage I consider every penny well spent!
 
Please, if you can't afford vet treatment for your guinea pigs please reconsider whether or not you should be keeping any. Vet bills for my guinea pigs this year have been well over £100 ($200) and most of that is for only one that had surgery this year. Vet bills can easily run into the hundreds and it is your duty as an owner to pay them.

totally agree with this my bill last years was around £700 £200 was for Bear alone who lost his foot in march then still died, mayube you can save for a vet day or use a credit card which is what I do I have one that is used for the vets only, I do understand sometimes you find it hard totally unexpected becasue of a big bill etc but pigs come first
 
lindseym said:
Today, the lady (different one) said that they had just found out about our guinea pig's mother's condition a few days ago. They have my phone number, why didn't they call us and notify us of a possible break out?

Bryan wanted to wait for the guinea pigs and I wish I had waited now. We had to return our precious Tempura and Udon to the store because we don't have enough money to treat Udon for her whole life. And now, all we have is the word of Liz from Petsmart that she'll call us on Tuesday when their two new guinea pigs will be available to be sold. Oh, another thing that bothers me.. I asked her if we could return our two for these new two, and they can keep them for the next two days, (Apparently they have to "quarrantine" them before selling them.) and the lady said no! She said something about wanting to think it over and make sure that this is what I want to do. I want guinea pigs. I want my first two, but that's proably not possible anymore. Why would I change my mind. I don't want to mull over the fact that I DO want a couple guinea pigs as pets. I just hope that they stand up to their word and call us on Tuesday. I'll be so pissed if they put them out, wait to call me and then by the time they call, they're gone!
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Unfortunately I think you may have just discovered one of the many down sides of buying from a pet shop :( Once you walk out of a shop where you get no info or advice, no knowledge of where the animals come from, their interest in you ceases :( I'm sorry you are having these problems. Even if you were allowed to 'swap' these piggies, would you really want to trade with a shop that you are not happy with? Also please consider that these are living creatures, as someone already pointed out they are not faulty merchandise.

I hope you find some solutions.
Julie
 
I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, so I'm not across the pond but I'm not exactly close, either!

Kimmie
 
daftscotslass said:
Petsmart is up there in the cruelty leagues with Petco when it comes to stores in the USA. Read all about it here http://www.theguineapigrescue.com/cruelty_abuse.htm and http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/petsmart_jails_birds (video on the last link is quite upsetting). Sadly this is often what happens to animals that are returned. I really don't think that guinea pigs are "returnable" like faulty merchandise.

Please, if you can't afford vet treatment for your guinea pigs please reconsider whether or not you should be keeping any. Vet bills for my guinea pigs this year have been well over £100 ($200) and most of that is for only one that had surgery this year. Vet bills can easily run into the hundreds and it is your duty as an owner to pay them.
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We had only had them for a week, besides, they MADE us return them.
 
lindseym said:
We had only had them for a week, besides, they MADE us return them.
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Actually, nobody can MAKE you return them. You paid for them, they become your "property". It's as simple as that. They only want you to "return" them (as if they were a faulty product) because if you relinquish ownership then you have nothing to fall back on if their treatment/health goes horribly wrong. It doesn't matter how long you have them for, you made the decision to take them on and, as a result, they become your responsibility.

This is why I totally disagree with pet stores selling animals. They make it far too easy for people to buy, sell sick animals and then it's easy to return them as "faulty". I'm sorry if you think this is harsh but I've seen this happen time and time again.
 
I got my guinea pig from petsmart too. When I got her she had a URI, and I complained to the management. They also told me to return it, and that after they treat it, they will call me and I can have her back. However that was not an option for me. I was not going to leave my sick guinea pig there and not know what they are going to do with her. So after some arguement with the management, they let me take her to their vet (Banfield -which wasn't very knowledgeable about guinea pigs) and prescribed her some Bactrim. The good thing was I did't have to pay for the vet or the medication, and I got to take her home and treat her myself. Overall the management was very understanding, and even though it was against store policy for them to give me medication and take her home, they let me after I insisted.
 
Sorry lindseym, but i think that by returning your piggies you really let them. By purchasing a pet you are entering a contract to love and care for them no matter what ( in my opinion ) and by returning them like faulty goods is selfish - do you think the petshop will look after them ? no - they are probably stuck in a box out back awaiting ( please god by a proper vet!) euthanaisa or ( probably ) worse . :'(

Its rough you were sold poorly animals i agree ( thats why pet shops should NOT sell pets but pet accessories only and perhaps they should refund you some costs but you really should NOT consider buying ANY pets if you dont want or are unable to pay for their treatment if they get sick. If you dont have the finances - DONT BUY ANY ANIMALS....its that simple...its a big responsibility.

This is just my opinion...sorry if i offend you. I feel strongly that you dont turn your back on a helpless animal you have chosen to 'adopt' then return it when you find outs its sick on the basis you are unable to afford treatment...what happens if it had broken its leg by mistake or it was ill lets say in 6 months time - would you just have it put too sleep because you couldnt afford treatment ?

I have waited untill I am financially stable before i FINALLY 'went for ' my two boys - I'm financially able to support ANY disaster or mishap without it being a burden or inpossible. Before now i couldnt have afforded too and this is how it should be done.

PLEASE dont get any more pets till your financially prepared for any eventuality. Its better for them and you wont be upset by having this happen again.
 
Aiki said:
I got my guinea pig from petsmart too. When I got her she had a URI, and I complained to the management. They also told me to return it, and that after they treat it, they will call me and I can have her back. However that was not an option for me. I was not going to leave my sick guinea pig there and not know what they are going to do with her. So after some arguement with the management, they let me take her to their vet (Banfield -which wasn't very knowledgeable about guinea pigs) and prescribed her some Bactrim. The good thing was I did't have to pay for the vet or the medication, and I got to take her home and treat her myself. Overall the management was very understanding, and even though it was against store policy for them to give me medication and take her home, they let me after I insisted.
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I think that seems like a good solution. If it is an exisitng condition then I think it is fair for the rescue, pet shop or breeder to pay for any bills that arise.

There is no way i could return an animal however :o. As others have said, if you cant afford to pay for vet treatment, perhaps it is best that you dont have guinea pigs.
 
I agree... I am saving a minimum of $100 in my bank account so if anything ever happens i have that much there and can borrow what i need from mum lol! When i got cindy we bought a boy home first... we thought wilson was a girl so unfortunatly he had to go back but then we got cindy :) but then cheeky wilson turned out to be a boy! grr lol
 
daftscotslass said:
lindseym said:
We had only had them for a week, besides, they MADE us return them.
Click to expand...

Actually, nobody can MAKE you return them. You paid for them, they become your "property". It's as simple as that. They only want you to "return" them (as if they were a faulty product) because if you relinquish ownership then you have nothing to fall back on if their treatment/health goes horribly wrong. It doesn't matter how long you have them for, you made the decision to take them on and, as a result, they become your responsibility.

This is why I totally disagree with pet stores selling animals. They make it far too easy for people to buy, sell sick animals and then it's easy to return them as "faulty". I'm sorry if you think this is harsh but I've seen this happen time and time again.
Click to expand...

yes, they made us return them.
 
I was not turning my back on these animals. We took them in to let them see what they could do. In fact, they even told us over the phone that they would have the vet look at them, which they didn't even give us that option. I'm sorry, but it's their faults for not telling me that they have a disease that I could contract. And as for the money issue, well, you don't know what I've been through so I'd appreciate it if you didn't make this a federal case.
 
If you have been through a rough time PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont buy an animal to make you feel better when your unable to afford its treatment when its ill - buy a toy teddy bear.

BTW - have you actually asked what they plan on doing to the returned animal --- i expect not. Sorry but i have no sympathy for you - I'm all sympathy for the poor piggy who will probably be put to sleep.
 
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