Pet shops in South Africa

Pet shops in South Africa are mostly small shops in the suburbs.

They usually have the normal pet products – dog collars, dog baskets and chewable bones. Some of the bigger pets shops carry a lot of animals – fish, rabbits, dogs and puppies. Many of the more modern pet shops have lizards and snakes. Many of the pets are exotic – meaning they come from other countries – this is a trade that is restricted and often you need a license

protected - you cannot keep them

Where the pet shops get their animal from has always been controversial – puppies especially have come under the spot light – dubious dog breeders have been featured on Carte Blanch on may occasions. I would say it is up to the public to ask the right questions – where did the puppy come from?

The other contentious issue is the breed of dog – as a member of the public I have no idea – if I am told it is an Alsatian I believe the pet shop owner – and in many cases the public is ripped off – once your kid has fallen in love with a puppy – it is very difficult to just take it back – the unscrupulous pet shop owner knows this. It is not like a pair of shoes which has no emotional attachment.

The other animal or group of animals are reptiles – I often wonder where these lizards and snakes come from – are they caught locally, are they protected – and in the case of exotic reptiles – are they legally in South Africa – and what effect, if let loose, will they have on our indigenous reptiles? Many pets shops in South Africa sell dog boxes for moving animals overseas.