Buuny_Friend
Mama Doe
I was invited by a member of staff to see their procedures and I visited every part of the shop (including 'out back')
I went in with an open mind and, for some parts, they were better than I thought they would be. This is what I saw (not all bad!):
- They sell Rabbits, piggies, hamsters, degus, rats, fish and chinchillas
- They had a quarantene and isolation room
- The staff were not aware of neutering rabbits
- The staff's knowledge on vaccinations was very poor - they didn't know how often and their literature they give to clients does not explain them.
- They are not allowed to refuse a sale if someone wants to buy a guinea pig to live alone
- They do not have procedures for minimum cage requirements for owners (i.s. the RSPCA states 6ftx2ft etc) - the staff are just expected to "use their initiative!"
- They use wood shavings for all animals
- The rabbits and guinea pigs hardly had any hay
- They do not have strong procedure in place for when an animal needs to se a vet except that if an animal has been in the quarentene room for more than 2 days, it should go to the vet!
- They do not allow rabbits and guinea pigs to be sold together and will refuse a sale.
The staff member who showed me round was lovely and seemed really eager to do the right thing. I also met the deputy manager who also seemed really keen to do the right thing by the animals. However, their knowledge was very poor. They also admitted that many of the staff are just part time teenagers who just want to make some money.
It was a very interesting insight I must say!
I went in with an open mind and, for some parts, they were better than I thought they would be. This is what I saw (not all bad!):
- They sell Rabbits, piggies, hamsters, degus, rats, fish and chinchillas
- They had a quarantene and isolation room
- The staff were not aware of neutering rabbits
- The staff's knowledge on vaccinations was very poor - they didn't know how often and their literature they give to clients does not explain them.
- They are not allowed to refuse a sale if someone wants to buy a guinea pig to live alone
- They do not have procedures for minimum cage requirements for owners (i.s. the RSPCA states 6ftx2ft etc) - the staff are just expected to "use their initiative!"
- They use wood shavings for all animals
- The rabbits and guinea pigs hardly had any hay
- They do not have strong procedure in place for when an animal needs to se a vet except that if an animal has been in the quarentene room for more than 2 days, it should go to the vet!
- They do not allow rabbits and guinea pigs to be sold together and will refuse a sale.
The staff member who showed me round was lovely and seemed really eager to do the right thing. I also met the deputy manager who also seemed really keen to do the right thing by the animals. However, their knowledge was very poor. They also admitted that many of the staff are just part time teenagers who just want to make some money.
It was a very interesting insight I must say!