strongbrew-hamstery:

Petsmart has begun a new initiative in the Small Animal and Reptile sections, encouraging visitors and customers to ask associates to handle the animals. Not only does this put the animals at risk, but the customers as well.

1. Hamsters, rats, gerbils, and many other small animals use the daytime to nap and rest. While not strictly nocturnal (hamsters and rats are crepuscular), many of these animals do require their sleep during the day and continuous agitation is stressful and negatively impacts health. Many terrestrial geckos are also nocturnal.

2. These are unsocialized animals from mills. They are not used to being handled or manipulated by the public. Not only could children mishandle these animals (squeezing, dropping, etc.) they too could get hurt through bites or scratches from a terrified animal. I’ve seen some employees struggle to safely handle hamsters (and heard many stories of employees dropping them!), so I worry about extending this one step further, to the public!

3. There are many zoonotic diseases, such as ringworm, mange, giardia and salmonella that can be spread from animals to people or vice versa. As well, if customers handle one species, then another, they risk transferring animal-based diseases, like pinworms, rodent mites or fleas. Will Petsmart be taking steps to ensure all customers properly disinfect between handlings?

4. These interactions will only further misinformation and spread stereotypes (ie. rats and hamsters are biters). Customers will base their opinions of these animals on the handlings of unsocialized, terrified animals, in a strange setting with artificial lights, loud noises, and during times when these animals should be asleep.

This new initiative is simply unfair to all parties. Animals should not be forced to interact with customers during their sleep time, or placed in a situation where they’re at risk from communicable diseases or mishandling. Customers should not have their first interaction with these wonderful animals in a terrified setting, with unsocialized animals. Staff members should not have to rouse terrified animals from their sleep, and force them to interact with the public.

Petsmart – we want to work with you. We want to help you so that you can proudly stand behind your products, as the forefront of the pet industry. You claim, “we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people”, but you are not listening to these pets, owners, or enthusiasts who are encouraging Petsmart to do better, to be better. Please change for the better.

Please help us to make a positive difference in the pet community by signing and sharing our petition (https://bit.ly/2NMy0ww), sending a protest email (https://bit.ly/2zaQGC2), or by leaving reviews of the Tiny Tales line on their website (https://bit.ly/2zSyjBe).