Pet shops?

jp_bl_68

jp_bl_68

jp_bl_68

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3 Jan 2009
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Do pet shops still exist?

Someone told me that it is illegal to keep live animals in pet shops. If you want to buy a pet you need to visit a professional breeder. Is this true?

I only ask because I can't remember the last time I saw a pet shop that had live animals in it.
 
Last time I saw a pet shop was several years ago, I'm not aware of any that are still open apart from.... >.< I forget it's name, it's not a dedicated pet shop though. Infact theres two chains I know of, Pets @ home is one iirc.
 
jp_bl_68 said:
Do pet shops still exist?

Someone told me that it is illegal to keep live animals in pet shops. If you want to buy a pet you need to visit a professional breeder. Is this true?

I only ask because I can't remember the last time I saw a pet shop that had live animals in it.
Click to expand...

I wanted to say "Last time I went to Pets at home they had animals in there..." but now I think about it, apart from fish I'm not sure they did!

Also curious now..

Edit: Just did a little research, apparently it's not illegal but along with a pet store license (which I imagine is tedious) you also have to adhere to these rules;


  • the Pet Animals Act, which requires your shop to be licensed if you sell pets
  • the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order - you must comply with specific requirements if you transport animals more than 65 kilometres or for over eight hours for commercial purposes
  • the Animal Welfare Act. The minimum age limit for anyone buying an animal from a pet shop in England and Wales is 16 years. Under the Act there are special welfare codes of practice for owners and keepers of dogs, cats, horses and certain other animals. Separate animal welfare legislation applies in Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, which apply to strong cleaning materials and also cover infectious diseases which can be passed on to humans from animals
  • the Environmental Protection Act and regulations made under it (particularly the Controlled Waste Regulations and Hazardous Waste Regulations), which apply to the noises, smells and disposal of waste
I suppose with all that Pet Store owners just can't be bothered. I work in Animal care and it is hard work, for people just doing it for a profit they don't usually care about the welfare and when caught out the fine is usually worth more than their livelyhoods.
 
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Our local Pets at Home still have rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters as well as fish and reptiles for sale.

Don't think they're allowed to sell cat and dogs any more though.
 
Pretty sure its not illegal, Pets at home still have loads of animals in. Not sure about the legality of dogs and such, guessing its legal but too much maintenance and cost to sell at retail, therefore people go to breeders.
 
The last one I went in had the usual rabbits, hamsters etc. You're right they don't do dogs or cats any more (must be 20 years or more since they could).
 
They do yeah, not sold cats and dogs for a while though. I'd still recommend going to a breeder if anyone wants anything from a hamster upwards really.
 
Pet shop close to my house has the usual cats/fish/small birds/hamsters and rodents not to mention beautiful exotic birds in small cages! Not very nice indeed!
 
Local pet shop has fish, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, budgies, cockatiels, a parrot and smaller birds whom the name of escapes me now!
 
Thankfully the small local pet shops dontt seem to sell kittens/pups any more, which in my opinion is a good thing as from the ones I visited they were often kept in appalling conditions.
 
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