The Best Places to Get a Small Pet
Header Photo by Jiří Suchý on Unsplash
There are multiple places to get a small pet. The pros and cons of each option vary depending on the species you choose. The species matters because genetics can have a large impact on temperament and health. With some species, like rats, you can’t fix certain problems. This may influence which decision you make because some situations can put you in a harder position than you initially bargained for. Likewise, if you choose the best option of the four listed below, you will most likely have a happy, long lived pet.
Many People Get a Small Pet at Pet Stores
Getting any pet from a pet store may be very convenient. You can go anytime and get any pet in stock. Usually you have multiple options for each species. For example, different hamsters and multiple of each type of hamster. They have you sign a paper, and give you the pet of your choosing in a temporary carrier. Most supplies are in the store.
If you want a pet but don’t know which one, you can ask and they’ll give you recommendations. They’ll tell you what they know of the pet care for that animal and probably give you a pamphlet with an equally convenient shopping list on the back. However, I would never recommend adopting any pet from a pet store. Here’s why:
Stores Get Small Pets from Bad Sources
Nearly all of their small pets come from small animal or rodent mills, which have very lax regulations on the care of their animals and rarely provide adequate care. They keep the animals in small bins with only water, cheap food, and bedding. Hamsters don’t get wheels, rats have no access to chew toys or enrichment, and chinchillas do not get dust baths. The only human socialization they get is cage cleanings.
Once, or with feeders sometimes before they grow up, mills divide them into one of three groups: breeding stock, feeders, and pets. Pet mills keep the breeding stock in these conditions and breed without care for genetics. They do not retire the rodents after a few litters like ethical breeders do because they value quantity over quality or the wellbeing of any one pet.
A Pet Store's Priorities
No matter what pet stores say, they are a business first. This especially goes for big chain pet stores. Their priority is to sell products to you. To many of them, live animals are just some of those products. They come in boxes just like everything else. If you walk in completely unprepared to get a pet and seem interested, they’ll do everything they can to make sure you walk out with one. Why?
If you buy a pet, you will need all the supplies for it. Some pet supplies they promote are unsafe, but if you don’t know, you might unknowingly buy it. I saw this happening dozens of times in the three months I worked at a big chain pet store. Why did I quit after three months? I could not warn people against unsafe pet products. The managers punished and urged me to promote the same products I knew could harm your new pet. I could only encourage people to research and discover the truth on their own.
Pet Stores promote impulse buying pets. Throughout this section I touch on a few reasons they do, but I believe it’s important to point it out directly. Impulse buying means more money for the business. While this is usually okay for products, it causes many live animals they sell to suffer. They have no wait times or adoption applications, and pets are easy to see and touch if you ask. Pet stores don’t tell you potential downsides about the pet you want to buy because they don’t want to discourage profit. They do not make sure you are knowledgeable about your pet.
Common Mistakes
I saw first hand pet store employees giving false pet care information. They might hear, “hamsters should never be alone” or “chinchillas need daily baths” and unknowingly tell others harmful info. Also, many employees never owned or researched that pet. Pet stores might encourage them to ask another employee who knows more about that pet, but doing so doesn’t always stop false information from spreading. There can also be an ‘ignorance loop’ where both the customer and pet caretaker assume the other knows what they’re doing, so potentially harmful decisions slip through. Occasionally, this can lead to buying or not buying products you do or don’t need.
If you already got your pet from a store, don’t worry, I made this mistake before too. What matters is not doing it again. I love my pets but regret getting them at a pet store. In doing so, I supported rodent mills by opening up more space for the store to fill with more hamsters. I was not rescuing them.
Other people buy nothing from a pet store hoping it will shut down. The pet store needs to stop their unethical practices, but to do that they don’t need to go out of business. They do good for educated pet owners by providing food and supplies. Any store works by supply and demand. Without demand, they will stop the supply. This means if enough people stop buying pet store pets, the demand will go down and stores will stop selling live animals. If enough people stop buying dangerous products, those products will stop being sold. We can do this through education and self-control.
Rescues: A Better Place to Get a Small Pet
Rescuing domestic pets is a much better option than buying from a pet store. However, it is riskier than adopting from a breeder. If you’re a first time owner, I don’t recommend taking this route. There are two ways to rescue. Directly, like through Craigslist or Facebook, or from a small animal shelter.
Small Animal Rescue Shelter
Shelters tell you what they can, but the pet’s origin may be unknown. Chances are it’s a pet store, backyard breeder, or accidental litter. This means genetics likely weren’t considered. Only adopt from a small animal shelter if you had previous experience with the species and will pay for vet bills. While you can get lucky, estimated lifespan is lower, and the chances of illnesses are higher with pet store and accidental litter pets. They can also have behavioral issues. Whether you can help depends on the species.
If you are willing, experienced, and financially able to rescue, congratulations! You helped give your pet a better home. However, don’t feel obligated to keep a pet beyond your ability to help. You can always return it to the shelter.
Some small animal rescues are Heartland Small Animal Rescue, Rasa Rescue, Hoppy Haven Small Animal Rescue, and Sterling Shelter. To find other shelters, go to the Adopt A Pet website and enter your location, the animal you’re adopting, and how far you’ll go. Research and ask questions before adopting. And of course, say hello to your new friend!
Direct Rescues
Meeting the pet owner is riskier because they’re a stranger. It could be a scam or trap. You might meet at their house or a separate location. Bring a friend and if they want to meet somewhere, make sure it’s a public area during the day.
The pet is free or for sale and sometimes comes with the cage. Whether the cage is suitable and in good condition should determine if you keep, sell, or toss it.
Something else to keep in mind: unfortunately people lie. There’s also a chance they genuinely don’t know. The pet could be aggressive, and they tell you it’s a perfect angel. Or they say it’s a fat male, and it’s a pregnant female. It may be sick and they don’t know or can’t afford the vet care. Or old and they say it’s young. If possible, do your own health, gender, and temperament check on site. If it looks fat, do you feel any movement in the belly? Prepare for anything. Ask questions, confirm what you can, trust your gut, and use your own discretion. You can’t be too careful.
Breeders: The Best Place to Get a Small Pet
Anyone can claim to be a breeder. There are two types; ethical breeders and unethical or backyard breeders. Whether you should adopt from one depends on which they are. Breeders may do good and bad things. Occasionally there is a gray area between ethical and unethical breeders and you need to decide to adopt or not.
Get a Small Pet From Ethical Breeders
Ethical breeders are your best option for adopting your new pet. They are very knowledgeable about the animals they breed and truly care for them. Ethical breeders are always looking to improve their lines and breed for health and temperament above anything else. Their primary goal is to improve the species. They have standards and ethics to adhere to. Ethical breeders will answer questions you ask; they expect them, and may ask some in return.
Ethical small pet breeders rarely gain money from their practice. Chances are they lose money or break even. Anything they make goes back into their breeding program. Because of this, it’s most likely not their job and they may have certain times they can dedicate to answering adoptee’s questions.
Backyard Breeders
Unethical “Backyard” breeders don’t know or care about genetics or improving the species. They may keep animals in unsuitable enclosures, or sometimes abusive or hoarding situations. They might try to make money from the small animals they’re breeding. Like rodent and small animal mills, backyard breeders may breed for quantity over quality. Marginally better, they might only breed for pretty coat colors instead of health and temperament. They may have done little or no research on pet care.
Some BYB “BackYard Breeders” claim to know what they’re doing because they have years of experience. They may have done research years ago but did not stay updated on information. Acceptable pet care in the past was more harmful, but since then it has improved.
Some mistakes are: not focusing on genetics or the right genetics, using mesh wheels and uncovered bar flooring, crowded enclosures, and handling or not handling at the wrong points of development. This type rarely is open to change and convinced their care is correct.
If you find an unethical breeder, do not adopt from them. Remember, buying those pets is not saving them. It will only support poor practice. If it’s an animal abuse situation, call the police and report it. Don’t save the pets yourself because it can get you in trouble.
So Where Should I Get a Small Pet?
Never buy live animals at a pet store because it encourages poor practice, but buying supplies there is okay. Be careful and ready for anything when adopting. Organizations are better to adopt from than directly. Ethical breeders are the best option, but watch for backyard breeders. Make sure you’re confident in your knowledge, because there is a lot of false information out there. And when you’re ready, you’ll have an adorable two or four-legged friend.
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