Before going to Petco or Petsmart to find a new friend for yourself, please consider adoption first. A lot of people think that if you want a fish or a bird or even a mouse or gerbil, that you have to go and purchase them.
Petfinder is a largely well-known website that lets you search for adoptable pets of ALL kinds across the United States & Canada! And yes, they even have fish listed on their site for adoption. They have ALL kinds of species up for adoption. Petco and Petsmart both have a computer set up in their stores that allow you to search Petfinder to find that perfect guniea pig or dwarf hamster rather than purchasing one from them. Although, in reality, they would love for you to purchase an animal from them.
Many allegations have come out against both stores in the last several years. Most of these are by PETA, however, many of them are by former employees and managers both who have seen the inside workings of what goes on with these animals. Here are just a few links to sources of animal abuse, cruelty, and animal mills: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The number of deaths of animals in these two stores' care is highly alarming but sadly, this kind of information isn't widely known.
I know that I personally used to love going to either Petsmart or Petco in my free time to watch the cute little mice run around in their wheels and the precious hamsters dig little holes to hide away. I had even, until recently, considered purchasing (I hate that word, "adopting") some pets from them for myself. I was also looking into changing jobs so that I could go and work for one of these companies. Now, that I have stumbled across this information I am horrified and personally am pulling all of my money and support out of these companies.
Please do the right thing people and only put your money in places you truly believe in. Don't support Petsmart or Petco by purchasing animals, fish, reptiles or birds from them. Instead, use Petfinder or any other adoption agencies you can find to find a new pet. Thank you.
