- 23 Sep 2005
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Numerous supermarkets these days sell live fish as pets. And as this becoming more commonplace, it is probably only a matter of time before other animals like frogs, mice, small birds, rabbits etc start getting sold in supermarkets as pets.
But should supermarkets sell pets? Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea?
Personally i am against supermarkets selling live pets, whether they are fish or other types of animals.
I believe that buying any animal as a pet is a commitment and needs a high level of responsibility, but in the world of supermarkets where everything is marketed to make people buy it the most and business is run on a ruthless profit scale, i don't think supermarkets should ever be the place where people start this long-term commitment. How often do you walk out of a supermarket after a long shopping trip with more than you originally planned to buy?
Not to mention, i have heard of the horrors of the fish sections at Wal-Mart, and almost no matter where the particular store is the conditions of the fish are almost always abysmal. And no matter how much customers complain, nothing is ever done about it (i've been a member of a particular fish forum for years).
So personally i am against supermarkets selling live animals in general. I have nothing against pet supplies, however i think live animals are a bad idea and are likely to end up being poorly treated either at the store (due to a lack of knowledge over care, limited resources and budget management etc) or by their new owners (spur of the moment purchase, poor planning, lack of knowledge over how to look after animal properly etc).
What do you think?
But should supermarkets sell pets? Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea?
Personally i am against supermarkets selling live pets, whether they are fish or other types of animals.
I believe that buying any animal as a pet is a commitment and needs a high level of responsibility, but in the world of supermarkets where everything is marketed to make people buy it the most and business is run on a ruthless profit scale, i don't think supermarkets should ever be the place where people start this long-term commitment. How often do you walk out of a supermarket after a long shopping trip with more than you originally planned to buy?
Not to mention, i have heard of the horrors of the fish sections at Wal-Mart, and almost no matter where the particular store is the conditions of the fish are almost always abysmal. And no matter how much customers complain, nothing is ever done about it (i've been a member of a particular fish forum for years).
So personally i am against supermarkets selling live animals in general. I have nothing against pet supplies, however i think live animals are a bad idea and are likely to end up being poorly treated either at the store (due to a lack of knowledge over care, limited resources and budget management etc) or by their new owners (spur of the moment purchase, poor planning, lack of knowledge over how to look after animal properly etc).
What do you think?