Pet Store Story

[Pippin'sMom]

Well, today my mom and I went to the pet store to buy our gecko some crickets, and Mom went over to look at the hedgies (I've got her addicted, lol). I went too and saw that they had crappy food and RAISENS in their bowl. I asked Mom if we could complain, and after I told her that raisens can choke a hedgie, she got a lady over and told her we had a problem with their food. I then launched into a hedgie-food-is-crap rant. Then I told her that hedgies do best on cat food, and showed her CNS and she wrote a note saying to order some Light cat food (they were out) for the hedgies. And to never feed raisens. She really wants to help out with the animals...she was just hired a few weeks ago, and I can already see a huge change in animal care. There are less animals per cage, everything is cleaner, the animals are being fed better foods, and there are more toys in the cages.

After telling her about the hedgie food, I asked to hold the hedgies. The lady looked at me like I was nuts and told me they weren't very friendly. I told her I didn't care is they hissed or prickled up, I've held hedgies that do that before (including mine) and it doesn't bother me. So, she got one out and handed it to me. After a few seconds he unballed and was pretty friendly towards me. He was hissing a lot in the beginning, but calmed down a lot and let me look at his belly to check if he was really a guy. He was, so I checked the other one to see if it was a guy like the lady said, in which case I was going to complain to someone about males fighting when housed together, and it turns out HE was a SHE. Gr. So now, they've got a female in there that is more than likely pregnant. :|

I told the lady that if they keep putting multiple hedgies in a cage, they will either fight or breed. I also told her that if they start breeding hedgies, they will need a USDA breeder license since they would be making over $500 anually off of them. I didn't say that they probably wouldn't get it because unless they have some secret room hidden away for JUST hedgies, I don't think they can be certified. If the males fight and one gets hurt, I'm calling the SPCA. Either way, I'm doing SOMETHING about the hedgie situation if they don't start keeping them alone. She really does want to help, but being new there, can't do much. No one else wants to listen, so it's a tough situation for her and the hedgies. Poor things.

Anyway, the hedgies are going to be fed better food, get a better hidey house, get a blanket for their hidey house, and HOPEFULLY be separated. Sorry if this was too long, I just had to rant a bit.

[glamgal]

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Way to go Pippin's mom!! It's nice to hear some changes are being made, and we can only hope they'll house them separately too!

You approached it in the best way possible!

[HedgieSpirit]

Excellent! If only there were more petstore employees like that girl...

[Pippin'sMom]

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Way to go Pippin's mom!! It's nice to hear some changes are being made, and we can only hope they'll house them separately too!

You approached it in the best way possible!

Thank you. The lady working there was very nice about it all, she was surprised that I knew so much. lol. She asked how old I was, and when I said 13, she thought I was lying. I guess I do know a lot about hedgies now that I think about it. ;)

[kaiteedyd]

Good job! I admire your moxy :applause:

[TexasQuills]

That was good of you to mention that. At the pet store near me, they have the same problem but instead of a boy and gir its two boys and they dont look to healthy. Pet stores owning and heggies isnt good because they usualy dont know that much about them.

That was a great thing of you to do! :applause:

[teela1342]

Great job in speaking up. Age doesn't matter when you have all the correct information and are willing to share it. Way to go.

[Vampira_666]

Way to go! :) ..great job:applause:..I'm very glad you could help out those wonderful little critters..keep up the good work:)

[HedgePigLove]

That was good of you to mention that. At the pet store near me, they have the same problem but instead of a boy and gir its two boys and they dont look to healthy. Pet stores owning and heggies isnt good because they usualy dont know that much about them.

Hiya! Whereabouts in Texas do you live and where's the pet store located? Maybe we can rustle-up some more hedgie owners/lovers in the area and send y'all into the store en-masse. Sometimes it looks better to be a group - less likely to be seen as "kooky" and it reinforces the idea that a group of potential shoppers might not buy from the store if things don't change. Sad but true: most pet stores are concerned about the money and not the animals. Try to talk to the management, as they make the decisions - the store staff kind of have their hands tied about caretaking practices.

You could also try the "those hedgehogs are ill and injuring each other, which means no one will buy them or if they are purchased they will likely die and then you'll either have sick animals you can't move or really upset customers demanding refunds and raising a stink" argument.

And you can also go with the "these hedgehogs need to see a vet, now!" argument - followed by daily (or even several times a day - by yourself and friends) in-person visits to see if the hedgehogs have been/are being attended to. Don't be afraid to be a little bit, well, demanding and firm and a little bit loud when talking to the management and talk to them on the sales floor, where other customers can see and hear what's said. And be graphic about potential health problems - and let the other customers hear. Just toe that fine line between being really obnoxious and being so "in your face" that you're asked to leave the store.

You can also offer to have your vet come in and examine the animals - that can scare the management. Or offer to take the hedgehogs to a vet yourself.

Be persistent, concerned, and very helpful. And bring in friends (even if they know squat about hedgehogs).

Stand-up for the hedgehogs; they can't speak for themselves, so we need to do it for them. - Laura

[Ododad]

Hiya! Whereabouts in Texas do you live and where's the pet store located? Maybe we can rustle-up some more hedgie owners/lovers in the area and send y'all into the store en-masse. Sometimes it looks better to be a group - less likely to be seen as "kooky" and it reinforces the idea that a group of potential shoppers might not buy from the store if things don't change. Sad but true: most pet stores are concerned about the money and not the animals. Try to talk to the management, as they make the decisions - the store staff kind of have their hands tied about caretaking practices.

You could also try the "those hedgehogs are ill and injuring each other, which means no one will buy them or if they are purchased they will likely die and then you'll either have sick animals you can't move or really upset customers demanding refunds and raising a stink" argument.

And you can also go with the "these hedgehogs need to see a vet, now!" argument - followed by daily (or even several times a day - by yourself and friends) in-person visits to see if the hedgehogs have been/are being attended to. Don't be afraid to be a little bit, well, demanding and firm and a little bit loud when talking to the management and talk to them on the sales floor, where other customers can see and hear what's said. And be graphic about potential health problems - and let the other customers hear. Just toe that fine line between being really obnoxious and being so "in your face" that you're asked to leave the store.

You can also offer to have your vet come in and examine the animals - that can scare the management. Or offer to take the hedgehogs to a vet yourself.

Be persistent, concerned, and very helpful. And bring in friends (even if they know squat about hedgehogs).

Stand-up for the hedgehogs; they can't speak for themselves, so we need to do it for them. - Laura
I just can't say how much I agree with this. This post is most excellent. :applause: