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snakes for xmas... RANT

mele2511

mele2511

Was'nt me officer
This is really bugging the life out of me.... Ok I go looking on forums and all I see for the last few days is "I got a Boa for Xmas... How do I look after it"?

People really need to not get kids snakes for Xmas...... It is incredibly irresponsible. On one forum I seen a 16yr old kid saying his mum got him a Reticulated Python for Xmas and the guy wanted to know if it would be able to stay in a 10 gal for the rest of its life.

The mother who got that should have her kids took off her.

Please parents grow up.
 
I could not agree more. Sadly, people are just stupid about pets.

If you're going to get someone an animal (or any other commitment) as a present, there are much better ways to do it. Make sure they actually want the animal before hand, wrap up a picture of the animal and tell them they get to pick it up in a week... personally, I've done and like that one. They're so excited about getting the animal, they spend the next week OBSESSED with reading about it on the internet.
 
Another good question is who the heck sold that woman a retic anyway? God! Even pet stores usually have a wee sign that warns that retics get to be over 15 feet! For gosh sake people.
But yeah...it's the same problem with puppies and bettas and every other poor critter out there.
 
It is sad, but many people just think, "Oh my kid would like a pet" and go get one without doing ANY research. Then 2 months down the road the animal is at a rescue or dumped on someone else. The best time to look for a pup or rescue animal is a few weeks after Christmas. So sad.
 
Yeah that used to be the worst about working in the pet store, especially with the fish "hey we're having a party lets give the fish out as presents" I would refuse to sell them.

At least my boyfriend did it responsibly, he knew I wanted a new female betta, for christmas he went out a couple of weeks before hand, bought the female betta a 2.5 gallon tank, gravel and plants for her. Then whenever I wasn't home/at work he would take her out clean her water, feed her and take care of her till he gave her to me.
 
I understand the issue and the problem, but is it really any different than the first person who took the first wild animal and put it in a box?? Really? :shrugs: It's not going to get me worked up any more than to ask that question. :)

D80
 
Drizzt80 said:
I understand the issue and the problem, but is it really any different than the first person who took the first wild animal and put it in a box?? Really? :shrugs: It's not going to get me worked up any more than to ask that question. :)

D80
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Yeah, but it's something to talk about other than "the usual", at least here...more exotics at xmas, rabbit's after Easter, cats and dogs after birthdays...some people are just dumber than others :dunce:.......and we poke them, with big pointy sticks :rofl:
 
My cousin wanted a fox when she was younger..every christmas she begged for one and everything...sadly she never got her fox..Finally I just sat her down and explained to her that not all animals are meant to have as pets and that if she wanted a pet she should read up on it first..She did some reading up and for her birthday settled for a hamster..and it lived a pretty long and happy life..just a small example that if parents (or even another family member) takes the time to just sit with a child and explain that a pet is a responsibility that you are taking control of a living thing's life..It depends on you for everything and you need to be able to give it everything it needs..:):)
 
Who wants to bet that a BUNCH of kids asked for rats for Xmas after Ratatoullie came out?
 
I don't know, I think a corn snake at least could be a good christmas present, but only if the parent knew they would also have to buy the viv and everything else the snake would need, was willing to assume the responsibility if the kid doesn't take good care of it, and their kid really wanted a snake. If done right it could be a great gift.
 
shed'n my skin said:
I don't know, I think a corn snake at least could be a good christmas present, but only if the parent knew they would also have to buy the viv and everything else the snake would need, was willing to assume the responsibility if the kid doesn't take good care of it, and their kid really wanted a snake. If done right, it could be a great gift.
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No argument here. Unfortunately, the bolded statement is usually where the problem lies.
 
i totally couldn't agree more, mele2511! i work in a pet store, and we constantly get parents coming in, saying they want to get "insert animal here" as a gift. we have a couple strict policies at my store, we don't sell people animals on their first visit (aside from fish), and any kids that come in, must be with a parent to get parental permission. then we spend a lengthy amount of time giving the buyer an overview of the animal, their behavior, the care they require, lifespan, what they eat, the ideal captivity conditions, etc. we encourage them to buy books, and to do research before actually purchasing the animal. i also find it absolutely ridicules they people treat animals in such a way that they would just give them to someone, completely unknowing, and expect them to care for it and give it proper conditions.

i haven't worked at the pet store long, but i know i have learned a looooooooooooooot in the months that i have worked there. my bosses are great and i usually spend time with my boss + the customer, so i too can learn about the animals i'm selling. and if i can't answer a question, i don't just make things up, i go and get someone that actually knows, unlike SOME pets stores i have encountered (which will remain unnamed!)

i just got my corn, and i am still learning a lot. but i'm actually putting the time and effort into researching my pet, and setting up the ideal conditions for my pet. they deserve the best life possible, which is why i find it so awful that people just pass animals around and expect someone to accept the responsibility of them. it breaks my heart :(:(

anyways, didn't mean for this to be a novel!
 
katia said:
we have a couple strict policies at my store, we don't sell people animals on their first visit (aside from fish)
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How exactly do you enforce this? I mean, does a customer have to prove that they've just visited the store before, or do they have to have a receipt or something to show they've made a purchase? When a person claims they've visited the store before, and you don't recognize them, how do you verify their visit? Especially if the last time they were in the store, they didn't ask any questions or buy anything? :shrugs:

While it's a good policy, it seems to have quite a few holes. Personally, if I walked into a store and was told I couldn't make a purchase because no employee recognized me and I had no proof I'd been there before, I'd be very annoyed. ESPECIALLY if it was a cornsnake or other animal that I am very proficient at caring for.

I also have a bit of a problem with fish being exempt from all the rules. For instance, many stores do not give out a caresheet when they sell a fish, but will give them out for other animals. This is actually one of the areas where I'm a fan of my local petsmart - they do have brochures on the fish they sell. Another common one is that minors can purchase fish by themselves. To me, it just seems like many people who are against calling pets "just an animal", still say "well... it's just a fish." It seems a bit hypocritical.

By the way, Katia, this is in no way an attack on you. I realize that every system will have its flaws, as well as it's merits. Generally, I DO think it's a good policy to ensure that the animals are well cared for.
 
no no i don't take this as an attack. but i mean, we have a couple "crazies" that come in the store and they want to buy everything. one lady came in and we ended up selling a gerbil after spending weeks trying to convince her that her ENTIRELY PLASTIC habitrail cage would be chewed through in less than a week, and she would no longer have a gerbil. we eventually got her to buy a glass aquarium, and she went to the city and bought another gerbil and put it IN THE SAME CAGE, and guess what? the gerbils fought and they were both heavily wounded. i live in a very, VERY small town, so we kind of get to know which people who buy pets carelessly, and then neglect them. we don't keep a large stock of animals, and we don't sell them as soon as we get them. we like to keep them in the store for at least 1.5 - 2 months, to make sure they are healthy and eating well and all that. so generally when someone comes in and is interested in a pet we have, we take down their name and number, and we call them back once this time period is up and ask if they are still interested. if so, they can come down and ask all sorts of questions, and we usually encourage them to buy one of our books (usually we give em a discount) and tell them to come back when they've made their decision.

fish aren't quite "exempt" from this policy. and we don't allow minors to purchase fish unless they have parental consent. (parents must be in the store with them). we get to know a lot of our customers personally, and we pretty much know who has what size tank, etc. we're the only pet store in our town so when people come in a lot with problems (ich, velvet, etc) we try our best not to sell them fish, especially if we know they won't do well in their tank. usually we get them to go home, do a siphon/slight water change, and bring us in a water sample to test for the proper balance.

and as for the proof of being there, if you can prove to use that you're knowledgeable about an animal, and not just someone coming in on a whim that they want a new, cool, exciting pet to show off, then by all means we will sell you whatever you want. i guess basically what i meant to say was we have a strict policy on not selling animals to children/people that we know aren't suitable pet owners. we do our best to protect the animals that we sell.
 
That sounds like a good policy. In a small town, a system like that would definitely work, and is a good idea.

Thanks for explaining and not taking offense.
 
Jrgh17 said:
I also have a bit of a problem with fish being exempt from all the rules. For instance, many stores do not give out a caresheet when they sell a fish, but will give them out for other animals. This is actually one of the areas where I'm a fan of my local petsmart - they do have brochures on the fish they sell. Another common one is that minors can purchase fish by themselves. To me, it just seems like many people who are against calling pets "just an animal", still say "well... it's just a fish." It seems a bit hypocritical.
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Fish are the non-pets of the pet industry. Buy it, toss it in your tank, if it makes it, great, if it doesn't who cares? It's only a fish after all! :angry01:

I am a moderator on a large fish website. This time of year is always busy for us because of people who get aquarium sets for christmas, set them up the next day or so, and then go out and get fish the day after that. They then come to us trying to figure out why their 12 fish in a brand new 10 gallon are dying... we developed a smiley just for times like that... it's called the carpsmack smiley... looks just like it sounds... :rofl:

Some of them can be taught, others are unteachable. Those are the ones whose new tanks end up at yard sales by the time June rolls around. And hey, where would fish hobbyists be without people looking to unload tanks at yard sales??
 
I was never good with fish..they always died so quick with me and I would feel horrible for it..Even if I went out and bought these nice tanks and good food and water cleanser..they still died..My stepfather had been great with keeping fish when he was alive..He had a 50 gallon aquarium that he took VERY good care of..The fish in that tank lived for quite a few years..very healthy happy lives..He tried to teach me several times about the proper care of fish but I was just never interested when I was little..I was more into my cat and dogs..hehe...
 
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