Pets at Home - A Positive Visit

Skullblits said:
We where 1st gunna get a rabbit at are local store. And we got talking to one person about them.

She talked us out of it and into the piggys instead. After doing research on rabbits we are both glad she did lol.

Then we over heard them talk to couple who where thinking of getting a piggy for there daughter for Xmas.

And she done everything to put them off.

I know I shouldnt judge. But they kinda looked like they would sell it for a tin of beer
Click to expand...


It’s not normal for a pet store to put someone off buying something!

Why we’re you put off rabbits? I keep rabbits and guinea pigs and I can honestly say that I find the rabbits a lot easier to look after than the guinea pigs!
 
Piggies&buns said:
It’s not normal for a pet store to put someone off buying something!

Why we’re you put off rabbits? I keep rabbits and guinea pigs and I can honestly say that I find the rabbits a lot easier to look after than the guinea pigs!
Click to expand...


She said they can be a alot more work.

Are more sensitive to diet changes and bloat ect.

And chew everything and can be nosiey at nigh times. Can easily get Cage guard

And she said. Her rabbits had medical problems and died.
 
Skullblits said:
She said they can be a alot more work.

Are more sensitive to diet changes and bloat ect.

And chew everything and can be nosiey at nigh times. Can easily get Cage guard

And she said. Her rabbits had medical problems and died.
Click to expand...

That’s very interesting! As I said, I find my rabbits a lot easier. I have kept rabbits for 30 years. They’ve never chewed hutches etc. Whereas my piggies have wrecked their hutch within two hours of getting them in it! The only time I have had to take a rabbit to a vet for something other than their annual vaccinations was when my current rabbit patch sprained his ankle a few weeks ago. I have not lost a rabbit to anything other than old age (or age related issues) and never had problems with their diets. I can literally feed my rabbits anything but I spend ages ages each making sure the guinea pigs don’t get too much calcium etc. Patch, my rabbit, is also fully litter trained so cleaning takes two minutes every day. Guinea pigs, I can spend 40 minutes a day cleaning!
 
G1992M said:
All pets at home animals come with a free health check at any vets4pets or companion care (animal registered and booked in by new owner), but the staff are required to complete a "head to toe" health check at point of sale too
Click to expand...

My guinea pigs from PaH have never had a vet check, only a staff one. When the shop first opened they didn't seem to know very much but now most of the staff at the shop near us are very knowledgeable about guinea pigs, they are very caring and several of them have their own herds. Of course they are restricted by company policy on a lot of what they say and sell.

I recently saw a newspaper article that said that vets4pets is a franchise, lots of them are going to be closed next year but the more profitable ones are to be brought in house.
 
Might end up getting a couple of rabbits after Xmas. Probably get drawf ones though
 
Skullblits said:
Might end up getting a couple of rabbits after Xmas. Probably get drawf ones though
Click to expand...

Getting dwarf rabbits doesn’t change the amount of space they need etc - they just don’t grow as big. Definitely look to rescue if you can - theyd both already be neutered so makes things a lot easier.
If you do get rabbits, a male/ female pair is the easiest and most stable pairing. Two females is possible. (I’ve had female pairs). Never two males - it usually ends in trouble. (I suppose like lots of things there are success stories, but I myself have never had successful buck pairings and I have just had to help a friend with a buck pair in trouble). Both sexes need neutering (even if you get two females, they both still neutering, 80% of uterine cancer in unspayed females ).
 
G1992M said:
All pets at home animals come with a free health check at any vets4pets or companion care (animal registered and booked in by new owner), but the staff are required to complete a "head to toe" health check at point of sale too
Click to expand...
That’s what I was told too.
It sounds as if it’s a newish policy - perhaps in response to the costs of selling sick or pregnant piggies
 
Piggies&buns said:
Getting dwarf rabbits doesn’t change the amount of space they need etc - they just don’t grow as big. Definitely look to rescue if you can - theyd both already be neutered so makes things a lot easier.
If you do get rabbits, a male/ female pair is the easiest and most stable pairing. Two females is possible. (I’ve had female pairs). Never two males - it usually ends in trouble. (I suppose like lots of things there are success stories, but I myself have never had successful buck pairings and I have just had to help a friend with a buck pair in trouble). Both sexes need neutering (even if you get two females, they both still neutering, 80% of uterine cancer in unspayed females ).
Click to expand...

Yes I'm aware
 
I didn't know that they could have a vet check. When I got my two they only gave them a staff check but then again there isn't a vet 4 pets or anything like that at my local P@H
 
I don’t think every store has a vets- there are 2 branches in Swindon and only the larger store has a Vets 4 Pets.
It’s possibly something that is gradually being introduced around the country
 
Possibly as we never had an adoption centre before but now we do.
 
Was just on there website and came across this "All our small animals are bred by reputable specialists" it there about section gets me thinking:hmm:
 
Our Vets4Pets are very good and although they are a franchise from P@H they are very clear (though carefully worded of course!) about not endorsing all P@H products. I overheard a lady asking the vet's receptionist whether she could just buy flea treatment for her cat from P@H rather than see the vet... the answer was a definite but carefully worded no! Our local P@H only has rehoming pets anyway and they only rehome piggies as bonded pairs...
 
I was in pets at home. And they offer the vet thing for rabbits only.

Also I was asking about them and they said they do best in pairs of females
 
Skullblits said:
I was in pets at home. And they offer the vet thing for rabbits only.

Also I was asking about them and they said they do best in pairs of females
Click to expand...

Male/female pairs are the most stable. I have kept female pairs. They were fine together (were biologically sisters) but as I say Male/female are the most stable. Again, as with pigs, it comes down to compatibility.
 
Here in Australia we don’t have PAH. But my favourite (very small) chain pet store here is “my pet super store”. I am an extremely regular viator and I have seen them make many changes over the years and for the better. They have a sign with the betta fish saying that the myth (the extremely popular one) about them living in small spaces is incorrect, and they need at least 5 gallons. They changed their mice putting signs up saying that females must stay in groups and males must live singularly. And on my most recent visit, I went in to check on the puppies and kittens (who are in large air conditioned rooms), to find they put the guinea pigs into the ac pens too (they would never survive in the summer heat here)! With a sign sharing that they are social animals and thrive in pairs. Very happy with my chain store! haha
 
MinnieZvonar said:
Here in Australia we don’t have PAH. But my favourite (very small) chain pet store here is “my pet super store”. I am an extremely regular viator and I have seen them make many changes over the years and for the better. They have a sign with the betta fish saying that the myth (the extremely popular one) about them living in small spaces is incorrect, and they need at least 5 gallons. They changed their mice putting signs up saying that females must stay in groups and males must live singularly. And on my most recent visit, I went in to check on the puppies and kittens (who are in large air conditioned rooms), to find they put the guinea pigs into the ac pens too (they would never survive in the summer heat here)! With a sign sharing that they are social animals and thrive in pairs. Very happy with my chain store! haha
Click to expand...

That’s good. The misinformation about fish drives me insane! Luckily my local shop (non chain) has a dedicated fish section with very experienced staff.
 
Piggies&buns said:
That’s good. The misinformation about fish drives me insane! Luckily my local shop (non chain) has a dedicated fish section with very experienced staff.
Click to expand...
Yes same here. Last time I went to get feeders for my turtles and the young bloke started asking me all sorts of questions like “are they in the same tank?” “what’s the tanks size?” “what are your PH, Amonia, Nirite and Nitrate levels?” “do they have a substrate?”.
 
Merab's Slave said:
That’s what I was told too.
It sounds as if it’s a newish policy - perhaps in response to the costs of selling sick or pregnant piggies
Click to expand...

It's not a new policy at all, it's been around for years. It's down to the staff to tell the customers about this when they are selling the animal and down to the new owner to register and book themselves in at the vets. Its for all pets purchased from hamsters to geckos
 
G1992M said:
It's not a new policy at all, it's been around for years. It's down to the staff to tell the customers about this when they are selling the animal and down to the new owner to register and book themselves in at the vets. Its for all pets purchased from hamsters to geckos
Click to expand...

Then why is it only listed for rabbits?

Also I've bought 3 hamsters 2 gerbils and 3 piggys and it isn't mentioned at all about free health checks. Even on the information cards it isn't listed.

Just on the rabbits
 
I have just looked in pets at home and on the guinea pig enclosure it only sais guinea pigs are social animals. Not enough info I'm afraid! Why cant they just put must be sold in pairs? IS IT THAT HARD?

But the good part is is that the notice does say must be fed hay and vit c.

But on the rabbit sign it does say must be sold in pairs.

?!?!?!?!?!?! surely they have a head office and have meetings about improving their shop? It winds me up to know that i most probably know more than all the staff put together about small animals and rodents yet if i tried to get a job i probably couldnt because i have no experience in stacking a shelf or dealing with customers. My sister in law and brother in law worked there years ago and they dont even like pets
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top