PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Animals aren’t all that different from us. Any pet owner already knows this. Sometimes, in fact, it’s hard to think of our pets are animals and not another member of the family. They have a lot of the same ailments that we do and can even get hurt feelings if we scold them. So then, it shouldn’t be strange to think that some pets can have sensitive skin that requires a little extra care.

I currently have three cats. Two rescued mixed breeds and a purebred Sphynx. Out of all of them, I would have expected my hairless Sphynx to have skin issues, but she doesn’t, other than needing a bath every week. My sensitive cat is my troublemaker, Skylar. He’s the one who always seems to have problems. I’ve previously written about some of them. Here’s a new one. He has very sensitive skin. I didn’t always know this. In fact, I’ve only just recently discovered this new problem.

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I think most pet lovers, especially those who read this blog, know why it’s a bad idea to buy a cat or dog at a pet store. Even Oprah has taken up the cause of raising puppymill awareness. But did you know that if you buy a pair of rats or even fish for your aquarium at a pet store, you could be contributing to animal cruelty, unbalanced ecosystems, and the proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria, among other social woes?

Large pet stores acquire live animals from a variety of sources, including local mill-style breeders, huge warehouses where pets are bred, and importers who capture wild animals and sell them. All of these options are socially irresponsible and, in most cases, highly inhumane. Unfortunately, to keep up with demand, pet stores must make use of suppliers who can provide a continuous supply of large quantities of live pets. This means that more responsible means of animal breeding, like hobby breeding, aren’t compatible with pet stores’ needs — and besides, reputable, responsible hobby breeders wouldn’t dream of selling to retail stores.

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Everyone needs to visit a pet store sometimes, whether it’s for pet supplies, training, grooming, or even advice. However, pet owners concerned about the ethical problems associated with many pet shops often wonder if their dollars are going somewhere of which they can be proud. Luckily, it is possible to find an ethical pet shop in almost any geographical area; however, it may take some effort. In this first of a series, we’ll discuss two common features of ethical pet shops.

1. The ethical pet shop either does not sell live animals, or sells a very few, carefully selected species.

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