okay.. so Louie is sick and he needs to go to a vet. Well since it hasn't been 15 days since I purchased him from a pet shop their policy is that they will provide any veterinary care he needs in the 15 days from the day of purchase.

 

So I called them today and they told me this: "Well what we'll do is take the bird from you and give you your money back then we'll take the bird to the vet and call you when he is healthy again so you can buy him again.. but you know when a bird is sick it is usually to late for them" And I was like "okay.. what are the chances that I'll get the same bird back?" he said "well it depends on the bird."

 

And then I thought..what if they don't really take him to the vet and they just tell me it is too late and that I have to buy some other bird? but well they are a very famous pet store they wouldn't do that would they? but they did sell me a sick bird.. that I've grown attached to already

 

What should I do? its almost the 15 days and I don't want to let the opportunity of free vet care go away.. and also because I'm a little short of money this week and I believe Louie needs to go to the vet ASAP.

Cory, does the pet store have a vet on their premises? The big chain here does, and they have told me the same "return" policy. I believe them, since the vet is right there, and if the bird pulls through, then yes, you would buy your own bird back. (Haven't had to test this.)

 

One other thought, since it is Sunday, even their vet probably won't be there, and any after hours emergency vets in town would probably not be Avian vets, so you will problably have to wait until tomorrow. Look online to see if you can find an avian vet that you could call first thing tomorrow. (Or your mom or someone, if you are in school?)

 

If the store doesn't have their own vet, then they are in the same boat as you are in finding one, but you would think they would have this lined up already. Because it might be a good idea to let the store care for him if they can do it qicker than you can.

 

The guy on the phone sounds like a dud, but they let just anyone answer phones. There is probably a bird manager/specialist that would give you better answers if you call on a regular weekday morning, and it might sound more reassuring to talk to them, if they have done this before. You might be able to sound them out about which vet they would be taking him to, and if it is an actual avian vet. Then you would have a better idea if you can trust them. If there is no bird manager in the morning, ask to talk to the store manager- not the cashier who answers the phone. if you still don't like their answers, you will just have to find and pay for a vet on your own.

 

If Louie, God forbid, doesn't make it, keep your refund, and buy your next bird at a different store- not from them- their other birds could have what Louie has.

 

Make Louie as comfortable as you can today, (with a heat lamp?), try to locate a local avian vet that you can call- I think there is a link somewhere here, I saw it yesterday- and line up someone (mom?) who can take Louie in tomorrow, whether it be the store or the vet. I'm really sorry you have to be going through this. Here's hoping that he isn't as sick as you think, and that he will be tough and pull through. Good luck, let us know what happens.

Well if you choose to let them take Louie to the vet ask them to provide you with the vet's quote/tax invoice, that way they can't get out of taking the bird to the vet and pretending he died etc. Or you could ask them if you could take the bird to a vet of your choice and send them the bill.

I have a feeling that by refunding your money, before taking him to the vet, means that you have relinquished your rights in his ownership and they can do what ever they like with the bird because you effectively sold it back to them. So they may not take him to the vet, or get him properly treated (maybe they might even get him euthanised).

Talk to them about it and say you would like to take him to your own vet (or at least be present at the consultation) and send them the bill. I have a feeling they probably wouldn't want to pay for much, but who knows they may be a responsible and caring petshop.

I have to agree with Sailorwolf.The pet shop business see their animals as stock. It would be unfeasible for them to take a bird to the vet and treat, when it is much cheaper for them to tell you it died and replace it. No petshop pays more than $5 for a budgie - business wise its not worth their effort to take him to the vet

Edited March 16, 200916 yr by **Liv**

I had this issue once before, I explained to the pet shop that I was attached and I felt the the bird would be happier to go to the vet with me and could then please set up an appointment and I would take him and they get the bill. I also offered to go to the vet with one of their staff members to make sure I did not put unthing unreasonable on the bill.

 

I would not take a refund for the bird, say to them that you are happy to bring him back and they can keep you updated with his care and that can you please have the number of the vet so that you can call and check up on him and also recieve any information about his care so that if he gets sick again you have a madical history.

 

As soon as you take a refund he is no longer your bird.

 

In the mean time, what do his poops look like and make sure that you keep him warm.

I have no faith in a petshops claim that they take the bird to a vet. As Liv says they rarely pay more than $5-$7 for a birds and to seek vet treatment to them is more than the bird is worth. More likely he would end up in a cage out the back with a concoction of meds in his water if anything. The idea that a petshop has an inhouse vet to me seems ridiculous also.

I'd have to agree with the others... and If I was in your situation, I'd take him myself...

Kaz - some petstores down here have vets that either come in or are physically attached to a vet surgery. I know of about three in my area

Thought I would love to believe what Finnie posted my gut instinct tells me what everyone else posted don't trust them and take him to the vet yourself, even if they don't reimburse you for the bird because it is not within the policy. In your heart in the end you have to determine how attached you are and what you feel is best in this situation. Everyone can say I won't give him back, someone will say they will...you do what you feel you can deal with in the end.

I used to work in a pet shop that had an inhouse vet

 

I agree with the others though, I would ask which vet they use and explain that you want totake him to the appointment yourself.

Kaz - some petstores down here have vets that either come in or are physically attached to a vet surgery. I know of about three in my area

Perhaps, but a suggestion was made that a vet was on premises all the time like an employee

Cory, does the pet store have a vet on their premises? The big chain here does

To have a vet work in a petstore I would find unbelievable.

Edited March 16, 200916 yr by KAZ

Kaz - some petstores down here have vets that either come in or are physically attached to a vet surgery. I know of about three in my area

Perhaps, but a suggestion was made that a vet was on premises all the time like an employee

Cory, does the pet store have a vet on their premises? The big chain here does

To have a vet work in a petstore I would find unbelievable.

 

 

Hey guys, I really wasn't making it up. The clinic is called "Banfield", and you have to go inside of Petsmart, past their grooming shop, and then there is the counter that looks just like any vet receptionist counter. Our other Petsmart store has the Banfield clinic way in the back. I've seen plenty of people taking their dogs in there, but I can't vouch for their level of care.

 

I agree about pet shops in general, though, because one I worked at for a while had a room in back where they kept all incoming animals for a few days before they put them on display. That's where they would take care of the sick ones, as well, so very likely they were using "store bought " remedies instead of vet care. But then, that store didn't have a vet care return policy, just a "get your money back" return policy.

 

But Cory didn't say which chain she bought Louie from, so if it was a different chain, then the vet on premises is a moot point. In the end, she will have to decide for herself if she trusts them or not. She sounded really worried, so I wonder how it is working out.

Its okay Finnie...I didnt think you were making it up...it was just hard to believe...but sounds like the vets is an adjoining business.

Yes, I believe that Banfield is separate from Petsmart, and they just have a contract as to locate within the store.

Yea we have a few clinics like that here. Vet clinics that are adjoined to petshops but are actually a separate business. The petshops claim to have their pets treated by these vets.