Pet Shops in South Africa - The FACTS -
Paula Spagnoletti
South African pet shops do not have a legally binding code of
conduct or ethics; Pet shops do not have a code of minimum
standards or requirements. Pet Traders are free to operate
willy-nilly as they please. There are NO LAWS to address the
care and treatment of animals kept in a retail environment or
breeding ‘facility’.
Question what happens to the over bred, prostituted mothers of
all these puppies when they are no longer breeding and are
therefore no longer economically viable?
In order for a store to realize a profit, animals must be viewed
as commodities. Do not fool yourself – these animals are bought,
bred, housed, transported and sold in the cheapest possible way
in order to realize the biggest possible profit. The welfare and
well-being of an animal will be compromised to ensure that
profits are maximized.
Too often conditions seem cruel and inappropriate. Confused and
frightened vulnerable young animals are often seen clawing and
chewing on cage bars, yelping and showing other obvious signs of
suffering and psychological distress. Often stores fail to
provide even the most basic environmental enrichment or comfort
for the animals in their care.
As the cost of providing veterinary care for an animal would
easily exceed the animal's commercial value many times over - We
have to ask, what happens to all the sick and injured animals?
Are they left to suffer and die in back rooms away from public
scrutiny?
Animal-selling pet shops do not support or promote responsible
pet ‘ownership’. Pet shops encourage and indeed profit from the
impulsive buying of companion animals. Their aim is to sell as
many animals as quickly as possible to whoever is willing to
pay.
What happens to animals that are past their ‘sell-by’ date?
Pet shops that sell animals contribute massively to the already
devastating problem of domestic animal overpopulation - Shelters
and Rescue groups are jam-packed with desperate animals on death
row. There are not enough loving homes for all these animals.
Pet shops are not required to and do not provide customers with
information on the proper care and treatment of the animal being
purchased.
STOP supporting them!
Rather get a rescued animal from the Hopeful
Network: Click below:
