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[ahappycamper]

This topic has always been interesting to me. I know many people advise against buying chinchillas at pet stores because the chinchillas there are generally not tamed and you don't know much about the family history. Then there are people who don't want to buy chinchillas there because they don't like the way Petco treats their animals and how everything is ran by a business. For those people, do you still buy things at Petco, like animal toys and food? For example, I personally don't support any organizations or businesses that support fur trade or things I'm against. I imagine that the good business at Petco, the money they receive from people when they are buying lava stones, foods...EVERYTHING is all a *business* and as long as that *business* keeps going, they will continue to sell chinchillas in less than optimal settings. Would you rather pour your money at a feed store or something that cares more about the animals than the business?

[eddiing]

i do not support the sale of chins and/or any other animals (birds/turtles/fish) sold at petsmart/petco, but however, i do still go in the stores to see what they have from time to time just to see some of the products and look at their chinchillas (sometimes it makes me feel bad that i can't rescue them, but if i do get em' they would just get more chins to sell). However, after seeing a so called "animal specialist" looking utterly CLUELESS on how to deal with a sick chin (trouble breathing, looks like his last few breaths) and "SCARED" to pick up the chin, i have ZERO respect for petco and their employees. so much for calling their employees "animal (care) specialists" when they don't even know to deal with a sick animal.

I get free feed from my breeder because i am military and the rest of items i get for my chins are all via online shopping (chinchilla friendly sites).. its cheaper than stores and product quality is way beyond chain store quality.

[Jo Ann]

   I stay out of pet stores, if at all possible.  As long as they can turn a profit, they will stay in business.  I will go in on occasions if someone is asking about a product to use with/for a chinchilla that I am not familiar with it, but only if I have not been able to find it on line first.   

Most things needed for a chinchilla can be found on line, in a co-op, a feed store, a hardware store or stores like Walmart. 

Most accessories for cages can easily be made by hand.  It takes a little time and work on your part, but it is worth it when you see how much your little one enjoys what you have made him/her.  It is more economical to make it and most of the time, better than what you can buy that would cost allot more and not last as long.

   Jo Ann

[Debbie.nl.ca]

The only time or thing I go into a pet shop for is to look. I take Colby, my grandson in just to look.
Well last Thursday I took him in "to look" and he said he'd like to have a hamster.
After we got home and I made sure I had an appropriate cage,asked him if he was serious, and went back.
I had noticed this big hamster in a tiny cage and thought it would be a good choice for Colby's tiny hands and free this darling big fat hamster that they said was such a darling that they hated to sell him. 
They saw me coming I tell ya.
I knew I was buying a full grown hamster I never even asked, but this morning his Mom found him passed in his cage.
Wet tail I figures.
Well we now have a 5 week old hamster from a breeder up the road. I should have looked into that first. But I saw this little guy and had to save him.

GUILTY 

[Jo Ann]

   I hope the pet store will refund your money, but they can't refund a broken heart.

   It is very sad for Colby, he is so young to have to loose a pet so quickly. 

But, at least the little one was in a place filled with love during the last 3 days of his life.   

I'm glad you found him a new one! 

   Jo Ann

[Debbie.nl.ca]

Thanks Jo Ann, and I will avoid pet stores even more now.