Well as you know I am new at all this, but even I can tell when a budgie is sick........and from what I've learnt they have been sick for a while by the time they show it.......

 

I went to a local pet shop today -I want to get a few more birds and there was a baby sitting all fluffed up at the bottom of the cage - I went to the counter and told the girl that she had a really sick budgie - she came over and snatched it out and had a look and said " it's not too bad..." (even though it had poop all stuck to it's bottom)....She then said she would "pop" that one out the back...then proceded to ask which one I was interested in....I told her....no... they ALL need to be taken off sale and get a Vet to look at them to decide what the problem was, or at the least quarantined and watched..... she then informed me that they were all from different breeders and only recieved today so that is not enough time for them all to be sick with the same thing??????

 

I went to the hardware a few doors down - was gone about half an hour...went back to the pet shop and all the others were still there..... they should not be sold....

 

I have bought from this shop before and never had a problem - but now I will NEVER walk through those doors again - I have put in writing my complaint to management - I am not holding my breath for a reply........

 

I wish I'd had the money to take the all home...............

 

Anyone on the Southside of Brisbane with budgies for sale???????????????

It is very sad when this happens.

You dont want to be buying the birds out of sympathy either. this is what pet shops often want. "aww the poor little thing, i will give it a better life at home" = sale and $$$ for the pet shop.

 

You did the right thing. If everyone walked away then pet shops would get the hint that people want top quality and healthy pets... not sick rejects. This is why buying direct from the breeder is best.

Thanks Liv,

 

I have felt very sad all day....if that little bird has something bad...and no doubt it does... then it will be just left "out the back" til it dies a slow death .....but as you say we have to be strong.....

 

I had a PM from a member here recomending someone close to home so that's good.....

 

Thanks for your reply....

 

Anne

that person is very careless and lazy... i am very upset that there are people like that that run pet stores (none of the faces express my anger)

Agreed, i feel like exploding every time i see pathetic pet shop worker's not taking any notice or care for sick bird's. i just report it to the local ranger's to come have a look...

Easy Anne101 darling, stay cool and view the whole pool...

It is so frustrating and I can empathize as I have been there too before .

Excellent advice has been given.

I find the best thing to do is to not go to a pet shop at all.

LOL Richo.....

 

I think I know what you are saying....and I know that there are some great pet shops out there....I thought this one was one of them....I called in on my way home tonight and that bird was not in the cage with the others....but all the others were still for sale....

 

It IS thier responsibility to ensure the pets they sell are healthy.....

 

Still angry but most of all sad for the little fella - I should have bought him....

Don't beat yourself up luv...

you did the best you could.

I share your anger. I also wish I could save the ones that need to be saved.

There's no way of telling how long the sick one was in contact with the others, and if the illness was contracted by any others. HOWEVER, petshops always put their new guys in with existing birds the moment they get them...........well, most petshops I know anyway.

Why dont we all make an effort to address the fact that petshops either dont know about or dont have spare cages for QUARANTINE ? and of course some dont care either to change their practices when bringing new "stock " in.

We can all make a difference. Print up some quarantine info aimed at both pet shop staff/management and also for those buying a budgie.

Whats it going to cost us ?? Some time and effort and some photocopy money. Maybe approach a well known printer and ask that they donate your printed sheets with acknowledgement to them also ?

Make it two articles per A4 page to save costs, cut the sheets in half and then either keep them in your car or handbag and distribute to every petshop we either go in or go to or go past.

 

Be proactive......make changes.

 

I have tackled many a petshop on their caging, sick birds, and feeding methods. Speak out and dont be afraid of consequences.

Be loud so customers in the shop also hear what is being said.

Petshop staff and management will tow a line if they think their work practices are likely to be loudly proclaimed to their prospective customers.

Make the petshops aware that the info being given and the watch being taken on their stores is based on a wordwide budgerigar welfare group ( no need to name names ) and that you will be back.

 

 

 

.......make being angry work for you.

Edited July 7, 200915 yr by KAZ

Great idea Kaz!

by the way anne101 im on the southside of brissy if you're still looking. i have some for sale and will have a heap more coming out of winter and into spring. theres plenty of other breeders here too.

Other thing too Anne is that as much as you wanted to save this little fellow - taking him home (even with very careful quarantine) runs the risk of spreading whatever he has to your birds too. Probably better that you didn't take him home - as awful as that might sound.

Anne, if you wish to get a bird from a reputable shop, Pet City at Mount Gravatt/Wishart is excellent.

I have been there many times and their birds are of a good quality and reasonably priced for a pet store. The one time I found an ill bird and informed the staff they immediately put him into a hospital cage and they do (not just say they do) take any sick birds to the vet who is located in the same building.

There is even a parrot forum member who works a few days a week in their bird section.

There's no way of telling how long the sick one was in contact with the others, and if the illness was contracted by any others. HOWEVER, petshops always put their new guys in with existing birds the moment they get them...........well, most petshops I know anyway.

Why dont we all make an effort to address the fact that petshops either dont know about or dont have spare cages for QUARANTINE ? and of course some dont care either to change their practices when bringing new "stock " in.

We can all make a difference. Print up some quarantine info aimed at both pet shop staff/management and also for those buying a budgie.

Whats it going to cost us ?? Some time and effort and some photocopy money. Maybe approach a well known printer and ask that they donate your printed sheets with acknowledgement to them also ?

Make it two articles per A4 page to save costs, cut the sheets in half and then either keep them in your car or handbag and distribute to every petshop we either go in or go to or go past.

 

Be proactive......make changes.

 

I have tackled many a petshop on their caging, sick birds, and feeding methods. Speak out and dont be afraid of consequences.

Be loud so customers in the shop also hear what is being said.

Petshop staff and management will tow a line if they think their work practices are likely to be loudly proclaimed to their prospective customers.

Make the petshops aware that the info being given and the watch being taken on their stores is based on a wordwide budgerigar welfare group ( no need to name names ) and that you will be back.

 

 

 

.......make being angry work for you.

 

 

we coiuld make a bigger difference to the way budgies are kept in pet shops then the RSPCA could just some motivation!!!