Alicia - I agree with you wholeheartedly!  There's no doubt in my mind that
impulse buying is an actual phenomenon and no amount of arguing semantics or
talking around it can convince me otherwise.  People who really want an
animal will do the research and find a responsible breeder or rescue.
Before the flames start I'm not saying that all people who buy from pet
stores are irresponsible but what percentage keep them for life and what
percentage dont?  I don't think it takes a rocket scientist or a demand for
statistics (standard defensive tactic) to figure out that the chances are if
you've taken the time to search out a breeder/rescue you're more likely to
be committed.  It pains my heart daily to imagine the sheer numbers, in my
small town with two pet stores selling ferrets, of ferrets that will
probably end up languishing in a cage alone in a basement after a couple of
years for the rest of their lives as those kids grow up and get busy, their
owners move etc.  etc.  The lucky ones (maybe?) are sold in the newspaper to
whoever comes along or end up in rescue (several of which have come out of
basements, except for the one which was almost dead and had to be put down).
It seems that when supply is high the value goes down, unfortnately when
animals are in this situation it's not necessarily monetary but means poor
quality of life and often euthanasia.  Do we want ferrets to end up being
killed by the hundreds in Humane Societies around the country?  Both dog and
cat people have fought hard to educate people to stop buying from pet stores
for very good reasons and have made headway.  For most responsible dog and
cat owners buying from pet stores has become anathema and the height of
ignorance and irresponsibility.  I personally try not to buy anything from
pet stores that sell animals.  There are enough small pet stores, catalogs
and feed stores that it's not even an inconvenience.
 
I cant run a shelter and there is no shelter anywhere even close.  I do my
best to match up people trying to place a ferret and those looking for a
ferret.  Our list of people looking to get rid of them always exceeds those
trying to find one and the pet stores don't want to put up my ad for rescue.
In my experience with dogs, cats and ferrets it seems that breeders and
rescue "types" rarely see eye to eye and there must be some different
underlying philosophy on how we look at animals.
 
Mary, Boris and Giesela
[Posted in FML issue 2005]