So I set out on my CN hunt tonight, just to scout out some local pet shops . I'm going to start by saying that ti was a disappointing night.
I started at Tisol, but the man said they don't sell them, he referred me to PJ's Pet's down the street but I told him I knew they sold it, I just wanted to go the " no pet sale" route if I could . He then suggested online ordering but I shared that it would cost me almost as much as 2 cages to ship it. So anyways, it was a no go for Tisol :wallbang:
Next stop was P.J's Pet's . Its a big store, which I already knew sold the CN . Upon entering I told my friend that before checking the price of the cage, I wanted to take a look at the animals. First thing I see is a worker and a couple talking over an open rat tank. Inside was a tiny ( couldn't have been more then 2 months) little mink girl and an older, maybe 4 month PEW girl. I whispered to my friend that I wanted to hold one. but I shouldn't, but she convinced me. So I walked over, listened to their conversation for a little bit then asked if I could hold one. The lady sort of gave me a funny look, since I had come out of no where. So I quickly explained that I had 2 at home. She asked me which I wanted to hold but I said I didn't care. So she gave me the little mink girl. She was soft as could be and tiny. I got my rats at 4 months and I have never held a rat so small. She was so scared that she was peeing all over me. I felt so bad for both of the little girls. Anyways the whole time, the couple and the worker were talking. The women was asking the worker if they could show her the cage that they wanted to get so that they could bring one of them home today. Right then a red flag went up in my mind and my heart started to race. After I put the little mink back down ( much to my dismay as I could have so easily slipped her into my pocket and saved her from the fate she was inevitably going to face) I turned to the couple and said " you guys really should get 2, they need a buddy." I was hoping they would take my advice ( fat chance.. no one really likes to listen to teenagers about this stuff, specially when there is an adult worker there telling them something different. ) Right away the women shot me a bit of a dirty looked and ignored my comment. So I walked away, I couldn't risk blowing up in their faces. I was pretty unhappy at that point so I went to look at the other little animals. In the mean time the couple went off to show the worker they cage they wanted to get. Apparently the worker deemed it good because they soon walked over to the small pet department carrying one of those 3 story HAMSTER cages. At this point was was feeling horrible. One of the little girls I just saw was going to end up in that tiny cage all alone, and the other was going to be stuck in the tank alone. I walked around, consciously aware of what the couple and worker were up to. Seed mix, pine, the works. The whole time I was ranting to my friend about it. ( she knows where I'm coming from and often goes on the same rants about how they treat their hedgehogs.) So I decided I had enough and I went to look for the CN. Found it right where I thought it should be. 250 for a single and 350 for a double. Then add on 12 percent HST ( God I hate HST!) Probably will be cheaper to ship it.
Needless to say I left that store feeling physically ill to my stomach. Even now I feel horrible thinking about those poor little babies :sad3:
So I went shopping with my friend for a few hours, went out striped off all my cloths threw them in the wash and had a shower, before going anywhere near my babies.
All in all, it was a crappy way to end a really good day.
This is why I shouldn't go to pet stores.