Petsmart

[debbie276]

You have to look at the individual store, just as you would look at an individual breeder--some are better than others.

Couldn't agree more! I have been to breeders that are far worse then any pet store I've seen. Just because someone breeds the birds themselves and bands doesn't mean they are taking better care of them.

[Ria]

my petsmart usually has good looking birds, sure wish petco still had finches tho. theirs always seemed more lively and happier. but they ditched birds in favor of a cat adoption area.

the worst I've seen is a local pet store well known for their fish and reptiles. sadly, their small animals and small birds were in poor condition. the zebra finches especially were terribly overcrowded and several were badly plucked. my friend and I mentioned something about the overcrowding to a worker, and she replied that the zebras just breed like crazy, and there's nothing they could do about it. ridiculous! they had 2 empty cages, and regular dumping of the eggs in nest would prevent excess chicks! I had not gone back for a full year; went there last week, and it's just as bad. poor birds.

[konkata]

The petsmart in my area is decent. The birds don't seem to be over crowded and the prices are dropping way, way down. Cutthroats used to be $75, then they dropped to $40, and now they are $35 but you'll get a $5 discount with the pet perks card. They had Cordon Blues there with the same discount and they went like lightening. There is only one cutthroat male there now and he looks lonely as ever.

The zebras tend to go fast there and the budgies are active. Doves look decent except for the occasional smashed egg at the bottom of the cage. Whats nasty is the personally owned store down the street that the humane society consistantly turns a blind eye to. The urine smell is so bad that you can smell it 10ft outside the store, in the middle of winter, with the doors shut, and the animals in there are literally dieing.

Poor things.

[tajuano]

I am so glad to know that there a some stores who cares about their birds, sure shame to see those poor things straggle, from the move and not always correct diet. In my opinion if you sell the birds, then have someone in personal who would know about the birds, same goes with any animal or pet.

[cindy]

The petsmart in my area is decent. The birds don't seem to be over crowded and the prices are dropping way, way down. Cutthroats used to be $75, then they dropped to $40, and now they are $35 but you'll get a $5 discount with the pet perks card. They had Cordon Blues there with the same discount and they went like lightening. There is only one cutthroat male there now and he looks lonely as ever.

The zebras tend to go fast there and the budgies are active. Doves look decent except for the occasional smashed egg at the bottom of the cage. Whats nasty is the personally owned store down the street that the humane society consistantly turns a blind eye to. The urine smell is so bad that you can smell it 10ft outside the store, in the middle of winter, with the doors shut, and the animals in there are literally dieing.

Poor things.

Contact your state's Fish and Game or Dept of Agriculture...not sure the Humane Society can do much in the way of policing and making them clean things up. Sometimes the county departments can step in and may have more power to do something, try your government pages for your county and contact the Animal Service facility in your area.