I purchased my very 1st piggie, Lana, through Petco or Petsmart(I cannot see a difference in them). My other 3 came from rescues. I could always tell that poor Lana had seen some things the other piggies hadn't. While she's been thriving with me for years now, she is still the most timid of the bunch, and the most susceptible to illness. I still remember the day I got her, and how uneducated the petstore was about guinea pig care. That's how I found Scotty's channel! I've been a regular viewer ever since.
I am a momma to 3 beautiful rescue rabbits and it drives me absolutely crazy that Petco SELLS animals as opposed to partnering with rescues to educate people on proper care and work to rehome animals. This shows that their marketing is just that, marketing. I am so disgusted!!!
I hate the hypocrisy of them selling these poor fish, rodents, birds, and reptiles, supporting mills, but also advocating for cat and dog rescues. No one animal species is more deserving of proper care and love from another.
sadly, the closest Guinea pig adoption from Arkansas is over 300 miles. So we had to get our girls from Petco. Regardless we are giving them their best life.
I bought my skinny pig at Petco and the woman there was very caring and went through pretty good care instructions. I learned most care from you guys. The woman also told me the breeder has retired and there will not be anymore skinny pigs. My daughter fell in love with our skinny pig and it broke my heart to see her in there everyday in a small enclosure. I impulsed bought her because the Petco employee told me the breeder retired and they came from Canada. I took her home bought an expensive cage from Petco, which was not what I needed for her at all. Also a week later there was another female at Petco and I didn't want Pretzel to be alone. The other female I bought was not doing well in the store and when I brought her home I kept them close but separated to slowly introduced. My little Perogi was not doing well. She was so tiny like a baby still. I had a guinea pig as a child so I thought I had this. Well I do now because of you guys. I would have adopted I didn't know and I impulse bought them. I care for them deeply and take good care of them, but it is not easy and it's not what Petco says it is. I wouldn't change my babies. They have bonded and once Perogi was introduced to Pretzel she became a whole new guinea pig. She was probably taken to early and maybe she was mistreated. The employees really were trying but it's not enough!! I also have bought hermit crabs from them and 6 years later and hours of research and over a thousand dollars later, I am so greatful they are flourishing. Also when you buy a hermit crab from a pet store it sentences another one to death. I didn't know that either. I have also tried to educate the employees and even donated shells and they never used them and these animals are still in horrible conditions. Oh also sorry one more thing. About 2 weeks after buying my skinny pig, which I was told was the last one, there was a male skinny pig!! Really Petco. Why??? He was in there over 2 months alone in an improper cage before someone did take him. The employees are very sweet and they mean well, but they are still not educated enough to house or care for these beautiful animals.
Omg my eyes are wet... poor babies that need a home , please don't shop , adopt ❤️🙏🏻.. thank you for always spreading awarness Scotty, it's so important ! ❤❤
I’m so disgusted by the animal care at Petco, Petsmart and Pets Supplies Plus stores. Shopping at one big pet store is more convenient than splitting up my pet supply orders between Chewy, Chuck & Dons, my local reptile store and stores like Target/Walmart, but I don’t want to support stores that sell animals that they’re keeping inappropriately and failing to properly educate new pet owners. Animals that will ultimately end up in rescues and shelters. It’s not on the staff (at least generally speaking), it comes from corporate, and they aren’t going to change unless people stop buying animals from them.
I’m 28, as a child I wanted to own a pet store and as I grew older I decided I wanted a pet store that only has adoptable rescue pets and only sells adequate supplies and enclosures. I wanted to sell fish tanks without the gimmicky boxes showing 100 guppies in a 10 gallon tank. I wanted to have pamphlets all over and free educational classes on occasion. I was discouraged by a lot of people telling me I could never compare with the “real” pet stores meaning shops like Petco. I never did make any attempt to own a pet store, but I also decided by 16 years old I could never work in any of the pet stores near me as I wouldn’t be able to decline animal sales if the home didn’t seem educated.
Screw pet stores that sell live animals. If people knew how many die behind the scenes before even getting onto the shelves, they'd be absolutely horrified.
Scotty once again your love and passion for the little piggies and other small animals is so amazing! I am always inspired by your devotion and dedication!
I do not shop at Petco, and I have to be absolutely desperate for supplies to go to Petsmart. I'm not sure how else we can get them to stop selling animals and supporting awful breeders and mills, then to hit them in the wallet. What else can we do to get this to stop?
I was out when I saw the notification for this vid and my immediate reaction was 'What is Scotty mad at them for now?' I figured it had to do with food for BB but I didn't think about your fish. I am stuck going to PetSmart right now because Nini has become addicted to the crunchy shapes in the Oxbow Forage Wise pellets and my independent store does not carry them-but I can get everything else Oxbow there so I do (with the other exception of Critical Care). When they used to press me for donations I just sweetly said I'm a Small Animal Volunteer at Angell's shelter. I do my part that way.
Yes, i declined donating to petco today and informed the clerk that i have 4 rescues at home. Those abandoned guinea pigs are my contribution, as well as caring for my granny's pet since she passed away over 2 years ago.
Also disgusted that the company thinks that by donating they are being ethical, but the reality is that they are not! Thank you Scott for speaking our about this and for continuing to spread the message of ADOPT DON'T SHOP! Sending support and strength from one Animal rights activist to another.
Perhaps Petco could become a shelter so to speak and take in animals to be adopted, which they and PetSmart do do and stop selling them outright, but only take in animals to be rehomed or adopted and then sell supplies for those animals, but high quality supplies and educate their sales force and customers on best care practices. Petco and all pet supply stores could do this and have their mission be about pet care and not money, but let the monetary success flow from a better mission and practices rather than just turning a profit.
The UK version of Petco has a supplier and people talk online about the supplier. I phoned the supplier and he spoke as if he also sells to the public and will "ship rodents to anywhere in the UK".I asked Pets at Home why they don't have bowls of food in the cages any more. They used to. "The SSPCA told us just to sprinkle some on to encourage foraging". It's cost cutting. They only put a tiny bit of hay and no shavings in the cardboard carrying box that they put them in. Their piggies feel bony.
GOD Bless You Brother you made a lot of excellent points. I agree with you on all of them. Evil is real and those people will suffer the consequence one day. It is sure sad for the innocent amazing little animals. Keep doing what you are doing brother you are making a bigger difference than you know. Thank You
I got most of my guinea pigs through my local online classifieds from people that were in desperate need to re-home them. One of mine was born at my house cause it's parents were supposed to be a bonded pair but when i got them a couple weeks later my rancho was born. As i figured out obviously they weren't fixed like i thought so i just separated the male and when his son was big enough i bonded those two to each other and the mom bonded with my other females
You are so cute, dude. Still making videos and fighting for better conditions for pets and also informing holders about alternatives. Great! I totally respect and appreciate what you are doing. Cool guy! 😉
Thank God for Amazon and pet food supply companies. I haven't set foot in a pet shop since the 30th December 2023 when I came home with two tiny guinea pigs. One of them with breathing problems, the little one I told you. about, so I stay away because I have to walk past the guinea pig enclosure to get to the guinea pig food 🙈. Kylie and Kirsty are doing very well. Never grew quite as big as my other girls - inbred maybe. Otherwise healthy and always bossing me around. They all get their carrots before I get my breakfast 🐹
@ghostdoodles 😂😂😂 they're such lovely little characters and highly intelligent if the speed of how quickly they learn that the sound of a plastic bag being opened means goodies !! 🤣 Same with the sound of the fridge door opening, despite them being in another room 😂😂
You’re such a fantastic ambassador - and educator - for animals, Scotty. I’ve learned so much from your channel; I’m so glad I came across it. Thank you for everything you do for animals. Hugs, from Vancouver BC, Canada.
Oh my gosh, Scotty, I got my beloved Harriet from Petco and honestly the whole corporation is set up to manipulate the customers. When I was getting Harriet, it was through their educational classroom program and getting a grant. Of course, I didn't take the grant, when I did more research and was overwhelmed and realized the classroom wasn't the right and then found you for care. Finding then where Harriet came from, gave me nightmares, still get them and I have written to Petco about this same thing. You can't do both. We as a community need to be a stronger voice for our beloved guinea pigs and make them valid in everyone else's eyes. It's not enough to post just in our groups, but also, on our personal pages too, just like others do with their dogs .cats. If we want our guinea pigs to be valid in others eyes, we need to be their voice and I don't think there is many who do that. I let people know about Harriet, I let people know about pet stores, especially Petco and I don't buy anything from them. I know emergencies arise, but yeah, i also write to the companies too. There is no excuse, there are as many animals lost to abuse as their is trying to save, so yeah, that is hypocrisy!
It just makes me incrediably sad. Animals are so trusting and it just kills me to think that the trust they have is thrown out the window because of corporate greed! Please keep putting out these videos for people that do not know. You are a hero Scotty! 💕
Pet stores should only be allowed to sell maybe some fish - and that shouldn't include bettas unless they can house them and care for them properly. Putting them in those tiny dirty little cups breaks my heart. I absolutely despised when Walmart sold them too. Every single time I went there were multiple that were dead and the rest looked close to it. It's straight up abuse. And the small pets get the same treatment. I made the mistake a couple of times of adopting piggies from the pet stores - mostly because I felt so darn sorry for them. I know that just perpetuates the issue, but when I see what's obviously the runt getting picked on and looking poorly I can't help it. I think if nothing else, Petco/Petsmart should only adopt out pets who were surrendered. I got one of my piggies from a Petsmart as an adoption because his owners had surrendered him there. The hamster that I have now was a surrender to Petco. That's the only way I will adopt from those stores. Otherwise it's rescues or shelters all the way.
@@MdnightWnd when the numbers of piggies in Pets at Home get down to just a few, they get a new "shipment' and the new piggies just get put into the enclosure with the existing ones. The shop in my town opened in 2010 and I've often seen bigger ones in the same enclosure as new arrivals. The irony is, they have veterinary surgeons upstairs.
I adopted 2 of my pigs through the animal shelter but I felt so bad for my 3rd little baby pig that I saw in a glass tank at pet supplies plus so I bought him.
the terrible part is people go to pet shops expecting to get a "new and healthy" pet as if buying a new product vs used. But that's where the many of the sick pets are coming from
From all of the videos and posts on how bad Petco treats the animals they sell, and also dump, I don't think that the company and some staff, actually have an idea on what it means to care. So the fact that the company wants support for their charity sounds ridiculous. It is dispicable! This company needs to step up and really make sure that the animals in their care are actually taken care of, and it makes me wonder what the actual charity care is like. It's actually sad that real animal lovers work at Petco, probably realising that the company is crap. The workers that care are the only thing that gives Petco any credit, and that is only because of those wonderful workers. Petco deserves no credit for the care that the staff actually put in. And yes, Petco is a big part of why there are so many homeless pets, and so many in por condition. I often wonder why petshops don't advocate for shelters, rescues and sanctuaries. The idea of adopting and how important animal care really is can be the idea brought about by petshops. It must be so frustrating and make you angry, especially with everything else you're all facing there right now. It's horrible to profit from animals, you're absolutely right, especially because places like Petco can really make a difference if they actually tried! Thankyou for bringing this up, if petshops weren't so wrapped up in making money, you could all go so far to make a much more meaningful difference ❤❤❤❤.
In our country they does. You can buy food for animals that came in a Box for rescues and shelters for donation. Our selbst animals too but not so often anymore. Bc of animal Controller. The stores have to sell a lot when they found bad situations
I'm so glad that 90% of our pet stores here have stopped selling animals, even if their knowledge about what guinea pigs and rabbits need are limited. Our biggest pet store group do donation drives a few times a year for one of the many animal shelter
It was about 6 years ago that I adopted Peach and Daisy who were surrendered to P co. At that time they asked to round up your change for homeless pets. I did because I have always been compassionate to animals so makes you feel like doing something good for an animal. I understand your point, although as long as pet stores sell live animals no matter what species, there is a supply and they are money makers for the stores. They are counting on the impulse buy or the kids begging for a pet that eventually the newness gets old and those end up in the shelters or worse. The pet merchandise is very overpriced. They also have veterinarians and grooming in those stores. Which if have medical care, that is more important than to be selling sickly animals I think. Where are these animals coming from? Because Teddy was from P mart and he had extra toes. So these breeders are cross breeding with relative piggy of the mother. The employees need their job and they would not work there if they were not animal friendly people. It's the people in the higher offices that create the programs or policies. I will give credit to P co for handing out health brochures related to human health contact in caring for each pet. And I don't know if they still do, like P mart, and P S Plus hold adoptions of dogs and cats. My late sister adopted a dog from P co. He was a rescue dog that came from a bad situation. I think that side of offering their store space for adoptions is a good thing. If they are going to have animals for sale then they need to be in bigger enclosers not glass. The need veggies and hay. I am guilty of buying guinea pigs from these stores although. Neither had veggies just pellets. When I bought Billy and Benji. Their food bowl was about 4 inches round. The hay barely covered the bowl. Teddy who passed away a year ago and Billy and Benji didn't know what veggies were. There is no reason why as much as they charge, that they can not supply the needs of they animals they sell. Ironic, they are usually next to a grocery store.... Angie
I shop at Petco maybe every other month for 1-2 cat items. I always check on the small animals to make sure they have food, hay, water, etc. I did donate thru their cash register, except last week I didn't. I didn't read it though. Good information, Scotty.
This is all about the money apparently, like so many things are, sadly. I wouldn’t donate to Marshall’s Ferrets if my life depended on it. It’s basically a ferret breeding mill. I used to own ferrets years ago and most of the ferrets from pet stores originated from there. I’ve heard absolutely disgusting things about them. 😢 I don’t get a chance to go to Petco cause Petsmart are our local pet stores originated, but this makes me want to look into Petsmarts charities too, to see what they’re up to. I LOVE Petfinder! I’ve found a few of my pets on there, including Bella! ❤
The place where I use to get my guinea pigs knew about them and took good care of them so I always got healthy guinea pigs when I went there to get them.
I just tell them that I donate directly to the rescue. I asked Petco, Petsmart and Feeder supply to coms8der working with a rescues instead of sell8ng them. Feeder Supply does ha e several cats that they had for adoption. If their insurance sucks as bad as their care of their animals then no thank you.
I’ve unfortunately had a lot of pet store pets and the majority of them ended up having issues or the pet store lied about the breed. The newest addition to my herd is 1 I adopted recently tho
I've come to this conclusion myself. I try to never go into a PetSmart, but if I need to in a pinch, I don't donate to this "charity." It's such hypocrisy. 🙄
I get my guinea pigs supplies from Chewy for my Rosita and Fred Mertz. The Petco here in Napa I think asks the same thing to donate to their pet charity. The Petco here in Napa sells fish and birds. But no guinea pigs. Good video scotty
I go there now.i used to go to PetSmart.are they any better!in the past, Scott,I've seen lizards rotting in the cages years ago,at PetSmart yet!!!I did call them out in 2007!oh yeah!surcharges for sure.why?no pet dies on my watch,man!I'm fed up too.come on!
The amount of time that I have went into Petco ants petsmart where the Guinea pigs have no hay. And I have asked them if I could bring a big box of small pet Select hay that I have to give that to them is crazy. And they tell me that they can't. They say they only give them just a little bit because they pull it out and they pee and poop on it. I have had the cops called on me because I loose my patience. Id love to take all the animals but I know they would just buy more from their horrible breeders.
Instead of selling animals they could have designated animal days where the public can learn true petcare by local rescues building more long lasting relationships with our pets and less pets being abandoned due to poor understanding.
PetCo is awful. That store is the reason I had three litters of babies. I loved those babies SO MUCH, but PetCo was wrong about the sex of three of my Guinea Pigs. I commented about our Guinea Pig babies and what happened on another one of your recent videos. I still have two of my momma Guinea Pigs and they are the sweetest piggies, I love them so much. However, they were wrong about the cages they needed. Luckily, I already knew. My two girls live in a 24 square foot cage with toys and ramps and plenty of food and hay and water. They used to live with a super sweet neutered male who fathered their babies before we knew, but we got him at a much better place, and he was even friendlier.
I'm vary guilty of this i bought 9 guinea pigs from my local petco and petsmart because my local shelter only has females but I only keep males and Craigslist and pet founder they have nothing near me
Petco behind the scenes is terrible there is so much bad that goes on. It’s all about profit and not the animals. I hate that petco has the dog food I need. But yes, petco is terrible all pet corporations are evil.
I know PETA gets a bad rep when it comes to animals but what I have seen from them while filming at Petco/Petsmart makes me never want to work there and I will never send them another application as long as I live
People fall for smear campaigns against PETA that are generally paid for by the powers that don't want to be held accountable for treating animals badly. They do a lot of good work and a lot of difficult work that needs to be done that no one wants to do or talk about.
Yet most rescues are equally bad. I work in vet med, the vast, vast majority of “rescues” are just hoarding animals and their adoption requirements are ridiculous. It’s all bad these days.
I couldn't disagree more, rescues are on the front lines of helping animals that are put through the most horrific conditions and situations imaginable. Many people spend all their time and money making a difference in individual lives. But I would love to see some of your reasons. There are many people that consider themselves rescues that indeed do not do right by animals, but the rescues with good reputations who are run by capable people are often the only thing standing in the way of a horrific fate for many animals
Adoption requirements that are generally accepted by most rescues all across the world involve minimum cage size requirements dietary requirements and a certain level of interaction to discover common illnesses. Those who are unwilling to abide by these requirements are likely not good candidates. People who feel intruded upon by rescues who spend often times hundreds or thousands of dollars healing sick animals only to give them to people who are not willing to disclose the care that they are willing to give have understandable apprehension
@@ScottysAnimals the open intakes are doing the best they can, despite the abuse they get for having to do euthanasia. Those are who I help with as a vet tech. The closed intakes - heck, I’ve been declined for having an intact male betta for a neutered dog. I see them import on clearly false documents. The vast majority are who we see hoarding animals with crazy requirements for adoption - like in dogs, no crates EVER (including car travel), never alone longer than an hour. Or rats - 2 rats need a double Critter Nation as minimal, with 12 hours out of the cage.
@@ScottysAnimals so instead of- I got two rats from the open intake, when one girl died young, I got a trio of girls from an ethical rat breeder. Because there wasn’t girl rats in the open intake and I wasn’t figuring out what asinine requirements the closed wanted for 4 girls to live together. They have a DCN and that’s more than enough space. It could easily hold another 4.
@@ScottysAnimals add in we’ve been repeating adopt don’t shop since the 80s. It’s only gotten worse - the US imports a million dogs into rescue each year. We need to change. We need to adopt or shop RESPONSIBLY. That means yes, not buying from Petco or the various poodle mutt breeders or Frenchie mix breeders. But it also means not working with the rescues who import, who hoard/warehouse animals, who don’t believe in behavioral euthanasia (particularly in dogs/cats), who transport on false medical documentation, who are as unethical as the mills. And it means buying an animal from a breeder who will never contribute to the shelter population is potentially a valid option. Having now had rats from such a case, I won’t have mill or mill adjacent (aka rescue) rats again. I’m used to sickly rats as the norm until I get healthy, well bred rats who aren’t prone to all the problems. My little guy - if I can’t care for him, his breeder will be here to pick him up, no questions asked. And I have a safe, sane dog who can thrive in any environment.
It's actually easier to buy a pet than go through the red tape of adoption from a rescue .That is in UK but maybe not the same problem in your country .
Is petco intentionally bad. Let's see if petco is in dueren . No I think there isn't any petco. I think that makes das futterhaus disgusting in comparison but what are the s Reasons you hate petco #catelalbastrujocvideo
Familiarizing yourself with common illnesses and being able to eliminate possible symptoms is a great way to figure out what's going on. Not eating and drinking can be a sign of various illnesses or pain. Please message me directly to the contact page of my website
Ensure that animals never GO EXTINCT BY PRIVATE BREEDING!!!!!!! Encourage children to bred animals so they learn about proper genetics and the importance of species survival!!!!! We owe it to our animal brethren to make sure they never go extinct! Keep fish, birds, small animal and reptiles to have a strong captive population!
This is the absolute opposite of the mission of my channel. Guinea pigs will never go extinct because there are selfish ignorant people who continue to breed despite the fact that every shelter all across the world is full of unwanted animals.
@@ScottysAnimalswe as humans must make sure animals NEVER go extinct!!! Animals and humans use each other to better both our our lives. Animals do not have to worry about predators, struggle over environmental challenges, bulling by other animals or struggle for food!!! Your mind set is ignorant. Your philosophy about no pets will ensure that these animals will eventually go extinct due to a lack of captive populations. In nature environmental changes, pollution, disease can wipe out a whole species and then they would be gone for good. Your ignorant on your mind set!!! We need to breed to keep populations alive. People like you are dangerous and should be locked up for animal abuse!!!! If it’s up to you no one can have a relationship with an animal and your no pets mind set will for sure lead to the loss of so many species!!! Just evil! Your ignorant to the good captive breeding has done. Look at the American Bison. Captive populations on ranches saved the species in the late 1800’s. All the poison arrow frogs and freshwater tropical fish breeding has made sure dozens of EXTINCT in the wild species can be eventually reintroduced. Your ignorant of the way humans and animals should exist together. Stop your pet hate. You should encourage schools to teach children proper animal husbandry. Look around behind you and I guess it’s ok for you to have animals but no one else. Your selfish and dangerous. Stop being a speciesist!!!! A cricket or mosquito is not less important than a quinea pig. Stop making some animals are more important than others!!! These are animals not humans and stop acting like they are and reflecting your feelings onto them!
I purchased my very 1st piggie, Lana, through Petco or Petsmart(I cannot see a difference in them). My other 3 came from rescues. I could always tell that poor Lana had seen some things the other piggies hadn't. While she's been thriving with me for years now, she is still the most timid of the bunch, and the most susceptible to illness. I still remember the day I got her, and how uneducated the petstore was about guinea pig care. That's how I found Scotty's channel! I've been a regular viewer ever since.
How cute. My skinny girl, her name is Lana as well.
I am a momma to 3 beautiful rescue rabbits and it drives me absolutely crazy that Petco SELLS animals as opposed to partnering with rescues to educate people on proper care and work to rehome animals. This shows that their marketing is just that, marketing. I am so disgusted!!!
Yes this is my thought, too! How far we could come and help animals, if petshops would advocate for shelters, rescues and sanctuaries!!
All about the money!
I hate the hypocrisy of them selling these poor fish, rodents, birds, and reptiles, supporting mills, but also advocating for cat and dog rescues. No one animal species is more deserving of proper care and love from another.
sadly, the closest Guinea pig adoption from Arkansas is over 300 miles. So we had to get our girls from Petco. Regardless we are giving them their best life.
You really are, actually, because you've kept them from becoming breeder pigs 😊❤
I bought my skinny pig at Petco and the woman there was very caring and went through pretty good care instructions. I learned most care from you guys. The woman also told me the breeder has retired and there will not be anymore skinny pigs. My daughter fell in love with our skinny pig and it broke my heart to see her in there everyday in a small enclosure. I impulsed bought her because the Petco employee told me the breeder retired and they came from Canada. I took her home bought an expensive cage from Petco, which was not what I needed for her at all. Also a week later there was another female at Petco and I didn't want Pretzel to be alone. The other female I bought was not doing well in the store and when I brought her home I kept them close but separated to slowly introduced. My little Perogi was not doing well. She was so tiny like a baby still. I had a guinea pig as a child so I thought I had this. Well I do now because of you guys. I would have adopted I didn't know and I impulse bought them. I care for them deeply and take good care of them, but it is not easy and it's not what Petco says it is. I wouldn't change my babies. They have bonded and once Perogi was introduced to Pretzel she became a whole new guinea pig. She was probably taken to early and maybe she was mistreated. The employees really were trying but it's not enough!! I also have bought hermit crabs from them and 6 years later and hours of research and over a thousand dollars later, I am so greatful they are flourishing. Also when you buy a hermit crab from a pet store it sentences another one to death. I didn't know that either. I have also tried to educate the employees and even donated shells and they never used them and these animals are still in horrible conditions. Oh also sorry one more thing. About 2 weeks after buying my skinny pig, which I was told was the last one, there was a male skinny pig!! Really Petco. Why??? He was in there over 2 months alone in an improper cage before someone did take him. The employees are very sweet and they mean well, but they are still not educated enough to house or care for these beautiful animals.
Omg my eyes are wet... poor babies that need a home , please don't shop , adopt ❤️🙏🏻.. thank you for always spreading awarness Scotty, it's so important ! ❤❤
I’m so disgusted by the animal care at Petco, Petsmart and Pets Supplies Plus stores. Shopping at one big pet store is more convenient than splitting up my pet supply orders between Chewy, Chuck & Dons, my local reptile store and stores like Target/Walmart, but I don’t want to support stores that sell animals that they’re keeping inappropriately and failing to properly educate new pet owners. Animals that will ultimately end up in rescues and shelters. It’s not on the staff (at least generally speaking), it comes from corporate, and they aren’t going to change unless people stop buying animals from them.
I’m 28, as a child I wanted to own a pet store and as I grew older I decided I wanted a pet store that only has adoptable rescue pets and only sells adequate supplies and enclosures. I wanted to sell fish tanks without the gimmicky boxes showing 100 guppies in a 10 gallon tank. I wanted to have pamphlets all over and free educational classes on occasion. I was discouraged by a lot of people telling me I could never compare with the “real” pet stores meaning shops like Petco. I never did make any attempt to own a pet store, but I also decided by 16 years old I could never work in any of the pet stores near me as I wouldn’t be able to decline animal sales if the home didn’t seem educated.
This is amazing, thank you so much for sharing this
Screw pet stores that sell live animals. If people knew how many die behind the scenes before even getting onto the shelves, they'd be absolutely horrified.
Scotty once again your love and passion for the little piggies and other small animals is so amazing! I am always inspired by your devotion and dedication!
I do not shop at Petco, and I have to be absolutely desperate for supplies to go to Petsmart. I'm not sure how else we can get them to stop selling animals and supporting awful breeders and mills, then to hit them in the wallet. What else can we do to get this to stop?
I was out when I saw the notification for this vid and my immediate reaction was 'What is Scotty mad at them for now?' I figured it had to do with food for BB but I didn't think about your fish. I am stuck going to PetSmart right now because Nini has become addicted to the crunchy shapes in the Oxbow Forage Wise pellets and my independent store does not carry them-but I can get everything else Oxbow there so I do (with the other exception of Critical Care). When they used to press me for donations I just sweetly said I'm a Small Animal Volunteer at Angell's shelter. I do my part that way.
Yes, i declined donating to petco today and informed the clerk that i have 4 rescues at home. Those abandoned guinea pigs are my contribution, as well as caring for my granny's pet since she passed away over 2 years ago.
Also disgusted that the company thinks that by donating they are being ethical, but the reality is that they are not! Thank you Scott for speaking our about this and for continuing to spread the message of ADOPT DON'T SHOP! Sending support and strength from one Animal rights activist to another.
This situation breaks my heart.
Why are animals still sold in shops????
It's the same in the UK. It should be illegal worldwide. 😢
Perhaps Petco could become a shelter so to speak and take in animals to be adopted, which they and PetSmart do do and stop selling them outright, but only take in animals to be rehomed or adopted and then sell supplies for those animals, but high quality supplies and educate their sales force and customers on best care practices. Petco and all pet supply stores could do this and have their mission be about pet care and not money, but let the monetary success flow from a better mission and practices rather than just turning a profit.
I wish!!
They don't save lives like YOU do 😢❤
I'm doing my best and can always do better. The rescues are the heroes
@ScottysAnimals You're a great team 👍❤️
@@ScottysAnimalsabsolutly ❤
The UK version of Petco has a supplier and people talk online about the supplier. I phoned the supplier and he spoke as if he also sells to the public and will "ship rodents to anywhere in the UK".I asked Pets at Home why they don't have bowls of food in the cages any more. They used to. "The SSPCA told us just to sprinkle some on to encourage foraging". It's cost cutting. They only put a tiny bit of hay and no shavings in the cardboard carrying box that they put them in. Their piggies feel bony.
GOD Bless You Brother you made a lot of excellent points. I agree with you on all of them. Evil is real and those people will suffer the consequence one day. It is sure sad for the innocent amazing little animals. Keep doing what you are doing brother you are making a bigger difference than you know. Thank You
I got most of my guinea pigs through my local online classifieds from people that were in desperate need to re-home them. One of mine was born at my house cause it's parents were supposed to be a bonded pair but when i got them a couple weeks later my rancho was born. As i figured out obviously they weren't fixed like i thought so i just separated the male and when his son was big enough i bonded those two to each other and the mom bonded with my other females
You are so cute, dude. Still making videos and fighting for better conditions for pets and also informing holders about alternatives. Great! I totally respect and appreciate what you are doing. Cool guy! 😉
Thank God for Amazon and pet food supply companies. I haven't set foot in a pet shop since the 30th December 2023 when I came home with two tiny guinea pigs. One of them with breathing problems, the little one I told you. about, so I stay away because I have to walk past the guinea pig enclosure to get to the guinea pig food 🙈. Kylie and Kirsty are doing very well. Never grew quite as big as my other girls - inbred maybe. Otherwise healthy and always bossing me around. They all get their carrots before I get my breakfast 🐹
Lol, me too, my piggies get their lettuce first thing and there is some loud whining if I'm too slow like not getting it to them instantaneously.☺
@ghostdoodles 😂😂😂 they're such lovely little characters and highly intelligent if the speed of how quickly they learn that the sound of a plastic bag being opened means goodies !! 🤣 Same with the sound of the fridge door opening, despite them being in another room 😂😂
@@ghostdoodlesThe minute Nini knows I am awake she wants out of her cage and breakfast.
@@AlysonMcNultyawww such great little companions.
All these big box pet stores should stop selling animals who are bred in mills. And stop selling any animals and have adoption programs.
You’re such a fantastic ambassador - and educator - for animals, Scotty. I’ve learned so much from your channel; I’m so glad I came across it. Thank you for everything you do for animals. Hugs, from Vancouver BC, Canada.
I only donate to the rescue where I've adopted my last three guinea pigs (I live in Norway).
Oh my gosh, Scotty, I got my beloved Harriet from Petco and honestly the whole corporation is set up to manipulate the customers. When I was getting Harriet, it was through their educational classroom program and getting a grant. Of course, I didn't take the grant, when I did more research and was overwhelmed and realized the classroom wasn't the right and then found you for care. Finding then where Harriet came from, gave me nightmares, still get them and I have written to Petco about this same thing. You can't do both. We as a community need to be a stronger voice for our beloved guinea pigs and make them valid in everyone else's eyes. It's not enough to post just in our groups, but also, on our personal pages too, just like others do with their dogs .cats. If we want our guinea pigs to be valid in others eyes, we need to be their voice and I don't think there is many who do that. I let people know about Harriet, I let people know about pet stores, especially Petco and I don't buy anything from them. I know emergencies arise, but yeah, i also write to the companies too. There is no excuse, there are as many animals lost to abuse as their is trying to save, so yeah, that is hypocrisy!
It just makes me incrediably sad. Animals are so trusting and it just kills me to think that the trust they have is thrown out the window because of corporate greed! Please keep putting out these videos for people that do not know. You are a hero Scotty! 💕
😢
Pet stores should only be allowed to sell maybe some fish - and that shouldn't include bettas unless they can house them and care for them properly. Putting them in those tiny dirty little cups breaks my heart. I absolutely despised when Walmart sold them too. Every single time I went there were multiple that were dead and the rest looked close to it. It's straight up abuse. And the small pets get the same treatment.
I made the mistake a couple of times of adopting piggies from the pet stores - mostly because I felt so darn sorry for them. I know that just perpetuates the issue, but when I see what's obviously the runt getting picked on and looking poorly I can't help it.
I think if nothing else, Petco/Petsmart should only adopt out pets who were surrendered. I got one of my piggies from a Petsmart as an adoption because his owners had surrendered him there. The hamster that I have now was a surrender to Petco. That's the only way I will adopt from those stores. Otherwise it's rescues or shelters all the way.
@@MdnightWnd when the numbers of piggies in Pets at Home get down to just a few, they get a new "shipment' and the new piggies just get put into the enclosure with the existing ones. The shop in my town opened in 2010 and I've often seen bigger ones in the same enclosure as new arrivals. The irony is, they have veterinary surgeons upstairs.
You are a hypocrite. Fish deserve the same treatment as mammals.
@@HareyMon Take your insults and your ignorance elsewhere, because I never said fish don't deserve humane treatment.
Have you seen the betas? It's awful. There's a video of them throwing away an entire storage bin of beta fish. LIVING BETA FISH.
This is why I can't go into any pet store. I try to buy everything through Amazon.
I never donate at Petco or PetSmart
I’m do donate at Pet Food Express since they ask for donations for specific rescues
Sounds oddly similar to the meat dairy and egg industry in a few ways.... 😬
That's why I do not participate in that horrific industry as well
I adopted 2 of my pigs through the animal shelter but I felt so bad for my 3rd little baby pig that I saw in a glass tank at pet supplies plus so I bought him.
Love your passion about this. ❤
the terrible part is people go to pet shops expecting to get a "new and healthy" pet as if buying a new product vs used. But that's where the many of the sick pets are coming from
Theres videos on youtube of LIVE parakeets being found in the TRASH. LIVE fish, LIVE crickets, and a LIVE mouse! They have awful practices at petco 💔
From all of the videos and posts on how bad Petco treats the animals they sell, and also dump, I don't think that the company and some staff, actually have an idea on what it means to care. So the fact that the company wants support for their charity sounds ridiculous. It is dispicable! This company needs to step up and really make sure that the animals in their care are actually taken care of, and it makes me wonder what the actual charity care is like. It's actually sad that real animal lovers work at Petco, probably realising that the company is crap. The workers that care are the only thing that gives Petco any credit, and that is only because of those wonderful workers. Petco deserves no credit for the care that the staff actually put in. And yes, Petco is a big part of why there are so many homeless pets, and so many in por condition. I often wonder why petshops don't advocate for shelters, rescues and sanctuaries. The idea of adopting and how important animal care really is can be the idea brought about by petshops. It must be so frustrating and make you angry, especially with everything else you're all facing there right now. It's horrible to profit from animals, you're absolutely right, especially because places like Petco can really make a difference if they actually tried! Thankyou for bringing this up, if petshops weren't so wrapped up in making money, you could all go so far to make a much more meaningful difference ❤❤❤❤.
In our country they does. You can buy food for animals that came in a Box for rescues and shelters for donation. Our selbst animals too but not so often anymore. Bc of animal Controller. The stores have to sell a lot when they found bad situations
I'm so glad that 90% of our pet stores here have stopped selling animals, even if their knowledge about what guinea pigs and rabbits need are limited. Our biggest pet store group do donation drives a few times a year for one of the many animal shelter
It was about 6 years ago that I adopted Peach and Daisy who were surrendered to P co. At that time they asked to round up your change for homeless pets. I did because I have always been compassionate to animals so makes you feel like doing something good for an animal.
I understand your point, although as long as pet stores sell live animals no matter what species, there is a supply and they are money makers for the stores. They are counting on the impulse buy or the kids begging for a pet that eventually the newness gets old and those end up in the shelters or worse.
The pet merchandise is very overpriced.
They also have veterinarians and grooming in those stores.
Which if have medical care, that is more important than to be selling sickly animals I think.
Where are these animals coming from?
Because Teddy was from P mart and he had extra toes. So these breeders are cross breeding with relative piggy of the mother.
The employees need their job and they would not work there if they were not animal friendly people.
It's the people in the higher offices that create the programs or policies.
I will give credit to P co for handing out health brochures related to human health contact in caring for each pet.
And I don't know if they still do, like P mart, and P S Plus hold adoptions of dogs and cats.
My late sister adopted a dog from P co. He was a rescue dog that came from a bad situation.
I think that side of offering their store space for adoptions is a good thing.
If they are going to have animals for sale then they need to be in bigger enclosers not glass. The need veggies and hay.
I am guilty of buying guinea pigs from these stores although. Neither had veggies just pellets.
When I bought Billy and Benji. Their food bowl was about 4 inches round. The hay barely covered the bowl.
Teddy who passed away a year ago and Billy and Benji didn't know what veggies were.
There is no reason why as much as they charge, that they can not supply the needs of they animals they sell. Ironic, they are usually next to a grocery store....
Angie
I shop at Petco maybe every other month for 1-2 cat items. I always check on the small animals to make sure they have food, hay, water, etc. I did donate thru their cash register, except last week I didn't. I didn't read it though. Good information, Scotty.
This is all about the money apparently, like so many things are, sadly. I wouldn’t donate to Marshall’s Ferrets if my life depended on it. It’s basically a ferret breeding mill. I used to own ferrets years ago and most of the ferrets from pet stores originated from there. I’ve heard absolutely disgusting things about them. 😢 I don’t get a chance to go to Petco cause Petsmart are our local pet stores originated, but this makes me want to look into Petsmarts charities too, to see what they’re up to. I LOVE Petfinder! I’ve found a few of my pets on there, including Bella! ❤
The place where I use to get my guinea pigs knew about them and took good care of them so I always got healthy guinea pigs when I went there to get them.
I just tell them that I donate directly to the rescue. I asked Petco, Petsmart and Feeder supply to coms8der working with a rescues instead of sell8ng them. Feeder Supply does ha e several cats that they had for adoption. If their insurance sucks as bad as their care of their animals then no thank you.
People have found live animals reptiles mainly in their dumpsters
I’ve unfortunately had a lot of pet store pets and the majority of them ended up having issues or the pet store lied about the breed. The newest addition to my herd is 1 I adopted recently tho
I've come to this conclusion myself. I try to never go into a PetSmart, but if I need to in a pinch, I don't donate to this "charity." It's such hypocrisy. 🙄
I get my guinea pigs supplies from Chewy for my Rosita and Fred Mertz. The Petco here in Napa I think asks the same thing to donate to their pet charity. The Petco here in Napa sells fish and birds. But no guinea pigs. Good video scotty
Until 2020, Chewy was owned by PetSmart.
Muy intetesante ...@@myoldvhstapes
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I go there now.i used to go to PetSmart.are they any better!in the past, Scott,I've seen lizards rotting in the cages years ago,at PetSmart yet!!!I did call them out in 2007!oh yeah!surcharges for sure.why?no pet dies on my watch,man!I'm fed up too.come on!
The amount of time that I have went into Petco ants petsmart where the Guinea pigs have no hay. And I have asked them if I could bring a big box of small pet Select hay that I have to give that to them is crazy. And they tell me that they can't. They say they only give them just a little bit because they pull it out and they pee and poop on it. I have had the cops called on me because I loose my patience. Id love to take all the animals but I know they would just buy more from their horrible breeders.
@@jackiejoplin2556 yep, the pet shop has plenty of hay but they're cost cutting. In my local pet shop they cost cut with the pellets too.
Instead of selling animals they could have designated animal days where the public can learn true petcare by local rescues building more long lasting relationships with our pets and less pets being abandoned due to poor understanding.
It will never change
PetCo is awful. That store is the reason I had three litters of babies. I loved those babies SO MUCH, but PetCo was wrong about the sex of three of my Guinea Pigs. I commented about our Guinea Pig babies and what happened on another one of your recent videos. I still have two of my momma Guinea Pigs and they are the sweetest piggies, I love them so much. However, they were wrong about the cages they needed. Luckily, I already knew. My two girls live in a 24 square foot cage with toys and ramps and plenty of food and hay and water. They used to live with a super sweet neutered male who fathered their babies before we knew, but we got him at a much better place, and he was even friendlier.
I'm vary guilty of this i bought 9 guinea pigs from my local petco and petsmart because my local shelter only has females but I only keep males and Craigslist and pet founder they have nothing near me
only thing i get at petco is crickets or fish when i had fish all my supplies are from walmart or online
I refuse to go into petco any more. They're way expensive and I've just read and heard horror stories
Petco behind the scenes is terrible there is so much bad that goes on. It’s all about profit and not the animals. I hate that petco has the dog food I need. But yes, petco is terrible all pet corporations are evil.
This doesn't cover the fish and animals recovered still alive from their dumpsters either.
omg scotty im so conflicted about my guinea pig im gonna send you an email later tonight about her i really need your input about this
Yes please send it, I may be on the road later but I'll do my best to reply within the next 24 hours
I tried with rescue me, no piggies were available at some point
I know PETA gets a bad rep when it comes to animals but what I have seen from them while filming at Petco/Petsmart makes me never want to work there and I will never send them another application as long as I live
People fall for smear campaigns against PETA that are generally paid for by the powers that don't want to be held accountable for treating animals badly. They do a lot of good work and a lot of difficult work that needs to be done that no one wants to do or talk about.
Adopt, don't shop
Petco / pet smart are awful no one should be selling animals. It’s awful what they do
Yet most rescues are equally bad. I work in vet med, the vast, vast majority of “rescues” are just hoarding animals and their adoption requirements are ridiculous. It’s all bad these days.
I couldn't disagree more, rescues are on the front lines of helping animals that are put through the most horrific conditions and situations imaginable. Many people spend all their time and money making a difference in individual lives. But I would love to see some of your reasons. There are many people that consider themselves rescues that indeed do not do right by animals, but the rescues with good reputations who are run by capable people are often the only thing standing in the way of a horrific fate for many animals
Adoption requirements that are generally accepted by most rescues all across the world involve minimum cage size requirements dietary requirements and a certain level of interaction to discover common illnesses. Those who are unwilling to abide by these requirements are likely not good candidates. People who feel intruded upon by rescues who spend often times hundreds or thousands of dollars healing sick animals only to give them to people who are not willing to disclose the care that they are willing to give have understandable apprehension
@@ScottysAnimals the open intakes are doing the best they can, despite the abuse they get for having to do euthanasia. Those are who I help with as a vet tech. The closed intakes - heck, I’ve been declined for having an intact male betta for a neutered dog. I see them import on clearly false documents. The vast majority are who we see hoarding animals with crazy requirements for adoption - like in dogs, no crates EVER (including car travel), never alone longer than an hour. Or rats - 2 rats need a double Critter Nation as minimal, with 12 hours out of the cage.
@@ScottysAnimals so instead of- I got two rats from the open intake, when one girl died young, I got a trio of girls from an ethical rat breeder. Because there wasn’t girl rats in the open intake and I wasn’t figuring out what asinine requirements the closed wanted for 4 girls to live together. They have a DCN and that’s more than enough space. It could easily hold another 4.
@@ScottysAnimals add in we’ve been repeating adopt don’t shop since the 80s. It’s only gotten worse - the US imports a million dogs into rescue each year. We need to change. We need to adopt or shop RESPONSIBLY. That means yes, not buying from Petco or the various poodle mutt breeders or Frenchie mix breeders. But it also means not working with the rescues who import, who hoard/warehouse animals, who don’t believe in behavioral euthanasia (particularly in dogs/cats), who transport on false medical documentation, who are as unethical as the mills. And it means buying an animal from a breeder who will never contribute to the shelter population is potentially a valid option. Having now had rats from such a case, I won’t have mill or mill adjacent (aka rescue) rats again. I’m used to sickly rats as the norm until I get healthy, well bred rats who aren’t prone to all the problems. My little guy - if I can’t care for him, his breeder will be here to pick him up, no questions asked. And I have a safe, sane dog who can thrive in any environment.
Pet corporation done for $ not the love is animal cruelty
It's actually easier to buy a pet than go through the red tape of adoption from a rescue .That is in UK but maybe not the same problem in your country .
No, it's true here too. All the animal rescues in my area are defunct out only interested in cats and dogs. A bit sad really.
Is petco intentionally bad. Let's see if petco is in dueren . No I think there isn't any petco. I think that makes das futterhaus disgusting in comparison but what are the s
Reasons you hate petco
#catelalbastrujocvideo
Scotty I need advice please! My 4 year old guinea pig stop eating and drinking water. She used to eat like a pig and finish her bottle in a day.
Familiarizing yourself with common illnesses and being able to eliminate possible symptoms is a great way to figure out what's going on. Not eating and drinking can be a sign of various illnesses or pain. Please message me directly to the contact page of my website
I just sent an email thank you
Ensure that animals never GO EXTINCT BY PRIVATE BREEDING!!!!!!! Encourage children to bred animals so they learn about proper genetics and the importance of species survival!!!!! We owe it to our animal brethren to make sure they never go extinct! Keep fish, birds, small animal and reptiles to have a strong captive population!
This is the absolute opposite of the mission of my channel. Guinea pigs will never go extinct because there are selfish ignorant people who continue to breed despite the fact that every shelter all across the world is full of unwanted animals.
@@ScottysAnimalswe as humans must make sure animals NEVER go extinct!!! Animals and humans use each other to better both our our lives. Animals do not have to worry about predators, struggle over environmental challenges, bulling by other animals or struggle for food!!!
Your mind set is ignorant.
Your philosophy about no pets will ensure that these animals will eventually go extinct due to a lack of captive populations. In nature environmental changes, pollution, disease can wipe out a whole species and then they would be gone for good. Your ignorant on your mind set!!! We need to breed to keep populations alive.
People like you are dangerous and should be locked up for animal abuse!!!!
If it’s up to you no one can have a relationship with an animal and your no pets mind set will for sure lead to the loss of so many species!!! Just evil!
Your ignorant to the good captive breeding has done. Look at the American Bison. Captive populations on ranches saved the species in the late 1800’s. All the poison arrow frogs and freshwater tropical fish breeding has made sure dozens of EXTINCT in the wild species can be eventually reintroduced.
Your ignorant of the way humans and animals should exist together.
Stop your pet hate. You should encourage schools to teach children proper animal husbandry.
Look around behind you and I guess it’s ok for you to have animals but no one else. Your selfish and dangerous.
Stop being a speciesist!!!! A cricket or mosquito is not less important than a quinea pig. Stop making some animals are more important than others!!! These are animals not humans and stop acting like they are and reflecting your feelings onto them!
How many piggies do you have? ^_^ I was trying to count lol