Think Before You Purchase: Pets you should avoid buying at a pet store

Recently I learned that my youngest sister-in-law purchased a Chameleon for her dorm room. Now, I have no problem with having (approved) pets at school. They can be calming and soothing to people who need that feeling of companionship with someone other than their roommate. Plus, it's always a cool conversation starter when you're trying to make new friends. The issue I had with my sis's purchase is the fact that Chameleons are known to be one of the most DIFFICULT reptiles to keep in captivity. I don't mean that they escape easily, I mean they die easily.

Chameleons are amazing reptiles. Not only do they look AWESOME, but they can change color and their tongues are like sticky rubberbands that stretch super far to catch prey. I don't blame anyone who wants to keep one as a pet - they look like little aliens! The problem is, people forget to do the research (there's my favorite word) before bringing the Chameleon home. This is a reptile that needs an extremely specific environment to survive. Humidity, heat, water, food - all very specific. I have seen numerous websites and read numerous books that state emphatically that Chameleons are not suitable for beginners.

So why did Petco sell a baby Chameleon to someone who had no reptile experience? Because that's what pet stores do. Unless you go somewhere like the East Bay Vivarium (http://www.eastbayvivarium.com/), where reptile husbandry is the only business they do, then you're not going to get all of the information you need before bringing your little bundle of scales home. People that work in big chain pet stores know a limited amount about each animal they are selling you (trust me on this, I used to be one of them). They go through a few days of training, then get tossed out on the sales floor to help people with something that really takes years of practice and learning to master.

Before buying ANY pet, you should always give yourself a day or two to research and be sure it's going to fit in with your lifestyle. For example, if you are a busy mom who barely has time for herself, you should not bring home a pet that needs lots of TLC. Animals in this category include, but aren't limited to, dogs, any small animal (cage cleaning and daily handling are necessities with these pets), certain reptiles, amphibians, birds (especially parrots, parakeets and cockatiels - all of these birds need handling daily in order to bond with their owner), and any fish that needs a tank with filter to survive (the only fish not in this category is the Betta). This limits your options, but also means you will not have to explain to your kids why their pet died or had to be given away.

In general, there are certain animals that just shouldn't be sold in pet stores. The number one animal on that list (in my opinion) is the dog. Whenever I see a sign in a pet store window advertising puppies, I know that I won't ever be going into that store. If, on the other hand, there is an adoption day at a pet store, I will be more likely to give my business. Puppies should not live in cages (don't confuse this with crating, there is a huge difference). They need to have freedom to roam in a safe environment in order to develop properly, physically and mentally. Unfortunately, the puppies you see in pet stores are usually crawling with parasites and have congenital defects due to inbreeding at puppy mills. Plus, their feet don't do well on the wire flooring, which can cause problems with legs, paws and spines. Another thing to keep in mind is that pet stores jack up the price of a "purebred" puppy in order to profit substantially. Half the time you're getting a sick, inbred mutt (don't trust the word purebred, it is not always accurate) that will cost more in vet bills than you can afford. I know some people think they are "saving" the puppy from a wire-bottomed hell surrounded by plexi-glass, but really you are just keeping the business alive. As hard as it may be to hear, it is better to not buy that puppy than to take it home out of pity.

Other animals that pet stores should stop selling to the uneducated consumer include reptiles, fish and amphibians with very specific needs, rabbits, chinchillas and many types of birds (mainly parrots). I've never seen cats for sale at a pet store (I did work at a store that was a satellite for the county shelter and had cats for adoption, which is different), but I think it's safe to say kittens would have the same issues as puppies do, so put them on the "do not sell" list as well.

It is always a better idea to give a pet purchase some thought before jumping in. Most pet store employees are not as educated as they could be. Even the few that are would need more time than is given to lay out the real impact a pet can have on someone's life.

Surf the web, read books, talk to breeders and enthusiasts of the pet you're looking into. Don't trust the 20-year-old pet store employee who gives you a checklist of supplies, but neglects to inform you of issues you'll run into with the animal you are bringing home.

My sister-in-law's Chameleon did not survive, I am sad to say. Due to improper care (at the pet store), the poor thing was already suffering from calcium deficiency, a condition that affects MANY pet store reptiles, before it was purchased. If I'd had the chance to give her some advice before she bought that cute little Chameleon I would have suggested a better beginner reptile such as a Bearded Dragon or a Leopard Gecko. Both are much easier to care for and make much better pets (Chameleons don't like being handled, it stresses them out).

I hope people will read this and heed my advice. I don't blog to be critical, just to give you all better insight into the world of owning a pet.

My favorite word: RESEARCH

Many people have a favorite word. It may be a word that sounds neat, like "scrumptious", or a word that has great meaning, like "grandiose". It may even be something that makes no sense, like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Well, I have a favorite word and it is simple: research.

This word pertains to the pet world in a HUGE way, because it's what pet ownership is all about. Before, during and after your time with a pet, this is all you'll be doing! When contemplating a new pet you should always head to the library or log on to the internet before making that final decision. While I'm of the mind that pet knowledge is all subjective, there are so many concrete needs that each different pet has, that it's just plain dumb NOT to research!

Imagine yourself in a pet store. You are walking around, checking out all the different animals when all of a sudden you see the PERFECT little pet! It's a dwarf hamster and it's cleaning its little whiskers just waiting for you to take it home. You look around for an employee and see no one. Figuring you'll find someone to help get the hamster out of its cage later, you wander off to search for supplies. Do you know what you'd need to start a dwarf hamster off right in your home? I'll give you some time to think about it...

...Okay, time's up! So, what did you decide on? A cage? What kind of cage? Are the bars small enough so that this little Houdini could never fit through them? Bedding? If you thought of bedding with a scent, you should just turn around and walk out of the store now. Any of those scented beddings are dangerous to small animals. The cedar chips may smell good to you, but your hamster is bound to end up with a respiratory issue, as their systems are more sensitive than ours. Go for something like Carefresh bedding. It's made from recycled newspaper and has no scent. Be aware that you will be changing this cage often. At LEAST once a week. Want some more ideas of what you should have purchased in order to start this pet off right?

1. Proper food - be sure it's a hamster mix. There are all different kinds of small animal food, so be sure to choose one that suits your small animal. Also, be aware that it will have to be changed daily. Hamsters tend to walk on their own waste, then dig through their food. They are also going to leave seed husks behind, so the bowl will look more full than it is.

2. A water bottle that fits in the cage and has a spout small enough for a tiny mouth - don't get something big just because it means less work for you. It should be changed at least every other day. The water gets stale and yucky. Would you want to drink that?

3. A chew block - Small animal teeth never stop growing, so they need something hard to wear their teeth down on. If you don't give them something like this the teeth will grow too long and the hamster can starve to death. Always keep an eye on their teeth.

4. An exercise wheel - Hamsters have a ton of energy. They sleep all day and party all night. The exercise wheel is crucial in giving them somewhere to expend that energy. I recommend a plastic wheel because tiny hamster paws can get stuck in the mesh of a metal wheel. PLUS, plastic wheels tend to make less noise. Just make sure the wheel is sturdy.

5. A covered hamster house - As I said, hamsters are nocturnal. They need a dark place to sleep during the day. A house will become the hamster's hiding place, storage area and bed. On a side note: Do not lift the house and grab the hamster while it's sleeping. This is how people get hurt. The first thing a hamster does when threatened like this is to bite. Always give the hamster time to wake up before putting your hands in its face.

6. TONS of bedding - The animal is small, yes, but it is also very messy. Food, water, urine, and poop will litter the bottom of a hamster cage within hours of it being cleaned. Be ready to clean that sucker almost daily.
NOTES:
*You can make cage cleaning day easier by getting a hamster potty, which sits in a corner of the cage and is exactly what it sounds like. Many small animals do their "business" in only one corner of the cage. This works to our advantage as it means we don't have to search as hard to find problem areas.
*Spot cleaning is another good way to keep your hamster happy. Go through daily and remove anything icky with a scooper. Replace any of the bedding you took out with new bedding and your hamster will be happier! This doesn't mean you won't have to clean the cage on that designated day, it just makes life better for your furry friend.
*The smell of ammonia (the chemical in urine that smells so bad) is what turns MANY people off of owning a caged mammal. They do make ammonia absorbing litter to go under the bedding. I highly recommend this stuff as it cuts down the smell a lot.

I could go on and on with this list, putting in everything that a hamster can have, but I'll stick to the essentials. Usually once I get this list started for the parent who's been thinking about getting a hamster for his or her child, the parent is ready to head to the fish department and look for something a little easier (not that fish are any less work - an aquarium is even harder to care for than a small animal).

So, after hearing about all of this stuff are you still interested in that cute little hamster? If so, good! Hamsters have their moods, but tend to be friendly pets(when properly cared for and handled the right way). Remember, the dwarf hamster was just an example. EVERY pet you may be thinking of getting requires just as much, if not more, research and education.

NEVER walk into a pet store with no knowledge of what you're looking for. If you've just gone in to look, leave empty handed, but with an idea of what pet you're interested in researching. The animal will thank you, and you'll thank yourself in the long run.

I will warn you that every pet store is different. There are differing ideas on everything from bedding to animal behavior. If you have knowledge, you'll be able to take what they're telling you and make an informed decision as to what will work for you. Don't just take their word for it.

Remember this statement: research saves lives. Before I was a knowledgeable animal lover, I was ignorant to many of the needs different animals have. I put goldfish in small bowls, instead of the aquariums they need to survive. I let my mice go for weeks without cleaning their cages, subjecting them to a disgusting life I wouldn't wish on anyone or anything. I brought home lizards thinking they'd be fine in a plastic traveling tank with some dirt sprinkled on the bottom. Many animals lost their lives on my watch, and I'd like to see less of this happening in our world today. I hope my blog can help even one goldfish, mouse or lizard to live a happy healthy life by spreading the word about RESEARCH.

Please don't let your kids learn the hard way. Teach them how to teach themselves. Education is a tool to be used by everyone.