Nov 4, 1997
by Nicholas Read
Firm will see exotic animals, which cannot be cared for in captivity, perpetuating inhumane attitudes, practices.
This Friday a new kind of pet-supply store will open in Vancouver. Modelled in part on PETsMART, a giant U.S. chain, Petcetera will have SPCA dogs and cats for adoption among its stacks of dog and cat food.
It will have a special shelter for 10 rescued animals, who will be adopted out exactly as they are at the SPCA. Even the adoption fees will be the same, going partly toward spaying or neutering the animal and partly to SPCA coffers.
PETsMART has been doing the same thing in its U.S. and Canadian stores for years, but Petcetera, at the corner of Grandview and Rupert, is the first store of its kind to do it in Vancouver.
However, Petcetera will be selling other kinds of animals for profit, just like PETsMART. Opposite the makeshift shelter there will be an appalling array of birds, fish, rodents and even reptiles for sale; company vice-president Dan Urbani calls it the "livestock section."
It's living proof of the Orwellian maxim that some animals are more equal than others.
Urbani defends the practice saying that "customers demand it." He also says that none of the animals sold will be wild-caught. Instead, they all will come from "reputable" Lower Mainland breeders.
Fair enough, but from an ethical point of view, it's still indefensible. Selling living creatures for profit and amusement is wrong - especially exotic animals like reptiles which can't be looked after properly in captivity.
From a business point of view, it's understandable. Petcetera wants to make money; if it can make it selling birds and reptiles for profit it will. At least it's seen the light where dogs and cats are concerned.
But what about the SPCA? Is it right that an organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals will benefit from an association with a company whose business practices perpetuate inhumane attitudes and practices?
The SPCA deals with all kinds of rescued animals, including birds and rodents. Until now, reptiles went to the Rainforest Reptile Refuge in Surrey, but it can no longer accept more snakes, lizards or turtles because it's overrun with them.
At SPCA shelters, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs are put up for adoption every day.
Yet here is the SPCA giving its tacit approval to disseminating even more of these animals through its association with Petcetera.
Petcetera says that once its other Lower Mainland stores have opened - in about 30 months - it hopes to contribute $1 million to the SPCA. That's quite a carrot. The SPCA needs money to operate and Petcetera needs the SPCA to legitimize its cat-and-dog adoption schemes.
But it still means the SPCA is compromising what should be inviolate principles. Cruelty is cruelty, no matter what kind of animal is involved.
SPCA Greater Vancouver regional director Doug Hooper says he is satisfied that Petcetera is well-intentioned and that animals sold for profit will suffer no harm in breeding or transport. He also believes their sale will for an insignificant part of Petcetera's business.
Perhaps, but exotic animals bred domestically are still exotic animals, unfit for domestic sale. And while it's understandable that the SPCA would wish to champion what's right about Petcetera's policies - and reap a $1-million reward in the bargain - that doesn't excuse it overlooking what's wrong.