Why is it that although we are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Mondays to Saturdays and 11.am to 4pm on Sundays people want to visit the shop at the very last minute before the doors close? Or even after we have shut? Only last Saturday a Lady came in at 11am in the morning enquiring if we had any guinea pigs? We told her that we had and she said that she would be back. Sure enough back she came , but at 5.30pm. Accompanied by her husband and two children. They then proceeded on the long process of choosing their pet. 'Should we take this one?' 'No-that one is nicer'. Or 'I like that one with the longer hair', 'No - the one with the short coat is best'. This went on and on.
When selling an animal we like to take our time and give the customer as much information about their new pet as is possible. We also like to say goodbye to it so all in all this can take quite a while. But this was stretched to the limit last Saturday. I think customers think that we love animals so much we sleep at the shop with them too. Anyway the guinea pig went to a nice home in the end and myself and the rest of the staff left sometime later. - (The shop has to be clean and tidy ready for the next day.) We were all really tired as it had been a long hard day and when my staff go home they all also go home to various pets who all need cleaning, walking and feeding too. So work really does not stop at the shop door.
Anyway I eventually arrived home and after tea settled down to put my tired feet up only to hear the telephone ring. It was someone who had just arrived in the area for their holidays and they had brought their dog with them, but had forgotten his favourite food, and it was the only one he would eat! Two hours after leaving the shop I was down there again.
Good job that the burglar alarm didn't go off that night too. A call out in the middle of the night would have been the last straw.
Thursday 26 July 2007
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Tortoise Tales
Selling tortoises thirty or forty years ago was a very different proposition than what it is today. Then your average Pet shop owner was asked for tortoises by his customers. He would then order them from his wholesaler and then a few days later a consignment of tortoises would appear. When we received them they were in flat boxes, but many years earlier they had come in Ali Baba type baskets. On arrival all the tortoises were first put into large trays of warm water and given a drink, then they were washed and checked for ticks. After a few hours rest they were then fed lots of fresh vegetables and then next day put out on show ready to go to new homes. One of my earliest childhood summer memories was going to check the tortoises with my Father and seeing which were male or female. (turn tortoise upside down, concave shell - male, flattish shell -female.)
Way back then not too many people questioned how animals were transported or how they were caught. Now-a-days things are different. I guess that we have learnt our lesson in the Pet Trade and are now questioning issues about transportation and taking animals from the wild. I don't think that pet shop owners were cruel, just ignorant. Not many had even travelled abroad so knew nothing about freight or flying. But I did hear tell after the importation ban of tortoises was imposed that instead of catching the tortoises and selling them for pets the Greek and Turkish farmers were clubbing the poor animals to death. This was because the poor old tortoises were eating the farmers crops and were a pest. There always seems to be two sides to each coin.
So many people have stories to tell about their first pet,and many will reminisce about their pet tortoise. A great many people still have them, but not many will admit to it as they are frightened that their pet will be stolen as now tortoises cost quite a bit of money.
Tortoises for sale in pet shops in 2007 are captive bred and most require documentation. Any reliable pet store would not sell a tortoise without the relevant information on heating, feeding etc. This complies with the conditions of our pet licence.
But I still remember one of my first pets a big tortoise call 'Tug'. He ruled the roost at our house, living till just last year. I still have fond memories of him getting into the strawberry patch and enjoying our home grown strawberries. Much to my Mothers annoyance.
Way back then not too many people questioned how animals were transported or how they were caught. Now-a-days things are different. I guess that we have learnt our lesson in the Pet Trade and are now questioning issues about transportation and taking animals from the wild. I don't think that pet shop owners were cruel, just ignorant. Not many had even travelled abroad so knew nothing about freight or flying. But I did hear tell after the importation ban of tortoises was imposed that instead of catching the tortoises and selling them for pets the Greek and Turkish farmers were clubbing the poor animals to death. This was because the poor old tortoises were eating the farmers crops and were a pest. There always seems to be two sides to each coin.
So many people have stories to tell about their first pet,and many will reminisce about their pet tortoise. A great many people still have them, but not many will admit to it as they are frightened that their pet will be stolen as now tortoises cost quite a bit of money.
Tortoises for sale in pet shops in 2007 are captive bred and most require documentation. Any reliable pet store would not sell a tortoise without the relevant information on heating, feeding etc. This complies with the conditions of our pet licence.
But I still remember one of my first pets a big tortoise call 'Tug'. He ruled the roost at our house, living till just last year. I still have fond memories of him getting into the strawberry patch and enjoying our home grown strawberries. Much to my Mothers annoyance.
Sunday 15 July 2007
Pets or Owners ideas?
Someone sent me a comment regarding the love of their cat. She said that she always took her cat with her when she went on holiday. This set me thinking? Do we do things for our Pets or for ourselves? I know that if I took any of my cats on holiday they would not thank me. In fact they would be very upset and would probably try to make a quick exit out of the car every time the door was opened. But on the other hand if you have a dog and you take a trip he may be mortified if you leave him at home. But do we as Pet owners put our own ideals before that of our Pets? I guess that it is up to the individual to decide what is good and helpful to their pet. And so long as the Pet and its owner are happy and content then who are we to argue. So many people have different ideas and thoughts about how to keep and rear pets that this can become a very sticky issue. We have a customer who regularly runs up and down mountains with his two beautiful dogs. They think nothing of a quick run before breakfast doing ten to twelve miles. These super fit dogs are devoted to their owner and he just adores them. They were in the shop one day after a good morning out when another customer remarked that the 'poor dogs had run too far, and shouldn't have been allowed to have run such a distance'. I didn't know what to say. They looked healthy enough, were young and fit and I think really enjoyed their run. But was the customer right? Were they taken too far? I guess everyone has an opinion, so long as there is no hardship at the end of the day the dogs owner must have the final say. He is the one who has looked after them and cared for them and should know what they like and need. But it is still a tricky issue. Should be feed our cats mice instead of tinned or dried food because they prefer them? Or should we make our dogs eat vegetarian food because we are a vegetarian ourselves? Questions, questions.
Friday 13 July 2007
Tickle strikes again
Whoops. Tickle the Parrot has been at it again. Earlier on today a well dressed woman walked into the shop. She looked round for a few minutes, and then bent down to pick up a packet of dog food from a bottom shelf. At that precise moment Tickle looked up and gave a very loud and long wolf whistle. The Lady stood bolt upright and turned to where one of our male shop assistants was standing. She obviously thought it was him as he was the only other person in the shop at the time. Poor chap, he immediately apologised and said that it was Tickle and pointed to Tickles cage at the back of the shop. Of course our shop is quite large and the Lady only glanced over in Tickles direction. Tickle was sitting at the bottom of his cage enjoying his breakfast -yes he can whistle and eat at the same time -. Anyway the lady did not see Tickle and stormed out of the shop tutting about rude leering men. The poor assistant who is a very polite and charming man was quite mortified.
Thursday 12 July 2007
Tasty titbits
Maybe we are a butchers shop too. A butchers shop for dogs and cats that is. We sell all sorts of interesting meaty products. Tripe - well dogs think it is tasty-, chicken, beef, liver etc. Of course this comes in tins, is frozen, or vacuum packed. But it is the natural treats that amuse me the most. We sell pigs ears, and trotters, hooves, cheeks, snouts, ribs, paddywack -a sort of crispy skin-. Roast bones - large and small- parma ham bone and smoked bones, not to mention bones filled with cheese, or mint, aniseed or chicken. Sausages, kebabs, jerky, and one that I cannot bring myself to stock - Bulls Pizzle! - A bit of imagination here and you will work out what it is-.
I guess that we sell all the bits that the traditional family butcher does not use and that dogs love. A good method of recycling.
I often think that a Pet shop must smell delicious to a dog when he walkes through the front door. So many tasty smells. All too often a well trained dog will refuse to 'sit' or 'stay' and will drag his owner round the shop till he finds the meat section and then sit there drooling until his 'well trained' owner has purchased his favourite meaty treat.
I guess that we sell all the bits that the traditional family butcher does not use and that dogs love. A good method of recycling.
I often think that a Pet shop must smell delicious to a dog when he walkes through the front door. So many tasty smells. All too often a well trained dog will refuse to 'sit' or 'stay' and will drag his owner round the shop till he finds the meat section and then sit there drooling until his 'well trained' owner has purchased his favourite meaty treat.
Monday 9 July 2007
Getting the beauty treatment
I was just looking at the products that we sell for pets concerning their grooming. Of course we sell brushes, combs, etc. but I didn't realise quite how like a human beauty parlour we are until I took a closer look at the hundreds of products on offer from various manufacturers of pet shampoos and toiletries.
Shampoos alone come in flavours like, pina colada, wild berry, green apple, wild cherry and baby powder scented (for puppies), not to mention tea tree, dry foam, coal tar, evening primrose, blacksatin, insecticidal etc.etc. And these wonderful smelling products aren't just for dogs, they are for other small animals such as ferrets, guinea pigs and cats.
There are the deodorant sprays to keep your pet smelling sweet, the ear cleaning lotion to keep those little ear holes tidy, the eye wipes, the toothpaste, the sweet breath tablets and more and more....
Then you get the actual items that you groom your pet with. There are dematting combs, flea combs, combs for long hair, combs for short hair, shedding combs, wire combs, rubber combs and plastic combs. The brushes too are too numerous to mention but slickers, knot busters, zooms, pins,and grooming gloves are just some of their names. And although we do not stock too many different clipping accessories we still have the traditional scissors and clippers as well as guillotine nails clippers, multicut clippers, nail files, cat claw clippers, thinning scissors, tick pickers, and stripping knives.
If your pet has a skin problem we can help too. Hot itch lotion, mite cream, skin balm, seaweed powder, dry skin oil and tea tree cream. Birds of course are not left out so we sell scaly face cream and plume spray.
I always find paw wax a bit of an interesting product as the wax that I know is the one that Ladies use to wax their legs. But this wax is used to put on dogs paws if they are cracked and damaged. I just have this strange image in my head of a dog sitting in the beauty parlour having his legs waxed!
So when you have been to our Beauty Parlour - Sorry Pet Shop. And purchased your pets beauty treatment, given him a luxurious bath and cut and filed his claws, combed his coat till it gleams and brushed his teeth then you can take him out for his usual walk only to find that because he is looking and smelling so clean and tidy he will find the nearest cow pat and decide to roll in it. Then you will have to take him home and start all over again.
Shampoos alone come in flavours like, pina colada, wild berry, green apple, wild cherry and baby powder scented (for puppies), not to mention tea tree, dry foam, coal tar, evening primrose, blacksatin, insecticidal etc.etc. And these wonderful smelling products aren't just for dogs, they are for other small animals such as ferrets, guinea pigs and cats.
There are the deodorant sprays to keep your pet smelling sweet, the ear cleaning lotion to keep those little ear holes tidy, the eye wipes, the toothpaste, the sweet breath tablets and more and more....
Then you get the actual items that you groom your pet with. There are dematting combs, flea combs, combs for long hair, combs for short hair, shedding combs, wire combs, rubber combs and plastic combs. The brushes too are too numerous to mention but slickers, knot busters, zooms, pins,and grooming gloves are just some of their names. And although we do not stock too many different clipping accessories we still have the traditional scissors and clippers as well as guillotine nails clippers, multicut clippers, nail files, cat claw clippers, thinning scissors, tick pickers, and stripping knives.
If your pet has a skin problem we can help too. Hot itch lotion, mite cream, skin balm, seaweed powder, dry skin oil and tea tree cream. Birds of course are not left out so we sell scaly face cream and plume spray.
I always find paw wax a bit of an interesting product as the wax that I know is the one that Ladies use to wax their legs. But this wax is used to put on dogs paws if they are cracked and damaged. I just have this strange image in my head of a dog sitting in the beauty parlour having his legs waxed!
So when you have been to our Beauty Parlour - Sorry Pet Shop. And purchased your pets beauty treatment, given him a luxurious bath and cut and filed his claws, combed his coat till it gleams and brushed his teeth then you can take him out for his usual walk only to find that because he is looking and smelling so clean and tidy he will find the nearest cow pat and decide to roll in it. Then you will have to take him home and start all over again.
Thursday 5 July 2007
Happy Hamsters
Our new consignment of baby hamsters have just arrived. As usual all are fit and healthy. They come to us from quite a distance, but they are very well cared for. They come from our supplier in their own van and the container that they travel in is well ventilated with lots of food for their journey. Much better than the accommodation provided for us humans when we travel on public transport.
All the hamsters are examined by us and then we try and sex them. Usually we get this right, but sometimes, just sometimes we make a mistake. Baby hamsters are so tiny. Russian Dwarf hamsters are even more difficult. On top of all the turning upside down to try and inspect their nether regions they squiggle too. Of course they don't enjoy the process and you have to keep an eye on their tiny teeth. Even though they are small they can still give you a nasty nip.
Anyway all are present and correct and are settling into their temporary homes very well. All too soon they will be living in their permanent residences. It is always good to see happy owners taking their new pets home. We make sure that each animal goes to its new owner with lots of details on how to care for it and a leaflet about hamster keeping. These little bundles of fur deserve only the best.
All the hamsters are examined by us and then we try and sex them. Usually we get this right, but sometimes, just sometimes we make a mistake. Baby hamsters are so tiny. Russian Dwarf hamsters are even more difficult. On top of all the turning upside down to try and inspect their nether regions they squiggle too. Of course they don't enjoy the process and you have to keep an eye on their tiny teeth. Even though they are small they can still give you a nasty nip.
Anyway all are present and correct and are settling into their temporary homes very well. All too soon they will be living in their permanent residences. It is always good to see happy owners taking their new pets home. We make sure that each animal goes to its new owner with lots of details on how to care for it and a leaflet about hamster keeping. These little bundles of fur deserve only the best.
Tuesday 3 July 2007
Mid Summer - it must be Christmas
Oh dear - Christmas is near. I have just received my first Christmas brochure. It is full of pet Christmas presents. Somehow I just can't face ordering 'Cat tinsel', cat or dog advent calendars of 'Raffles' the Christmas reindeer. I have only just got over the Easter rush and selling 'Doggie Easter eggs'.
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