Ensure a healthy and safe environment, PetsMART

Are you proposing that animals be given H1N1 vaccinations? There
aren't even enough for pregnant women and children.

If you are worried about it-don't take your dog to the store.
My dogs are both up to date on their shots. But I would object to
having to show proof of this to anyone. Besides-they are more likely
to get sick from something they eat out in the woods, or from going to
the dog park than they are in a petstore in my opinion. Not to
mention the possibility of getting into something like cleaning
supplies at your house.
As someone else said-life is full of risks.

will be honored.

i would be happy if my children and myself didn't have to be exposed
to people at wal mart that don't have their vaccinations.

i'm pretty sure that it would be impossible to monitor something like
that though...wouldn't it?

Apparently the cat in question was infected with H1N1 because its
owner infected him.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/the-cat-who-got-swine-flu/

Maybe we shouldn't let PEOPLE in PetsMart who haven't been given the
swine flu vaccine.....

I was in Home Depot a few weeks ago, and a customer brought in a bull
dog, looked like his owner, while I was returning something.

I asked the cashier whether they were allowed. She stated they
probably werent. She acted like she wasnt going to do anything about
it.

I know if I fell in dog crap or urine in a HOME DEPOT, there would be
hell to pay.

And no, it wasnt a service animal.


Good Day

I would never bring my pet along to me to a pet store. The less she
sees, the less she knows what she is missing.

My dog has her sheltered environment at home. It is hard to imagine
turning the rest of the world into the same. I do my part of keeping
her healthy and safe, so I don't need to be concerned about what
others do.

There would be waaaaaay more people complaining that they had to stand
in line forever to have their vaccination papers confirmed so they
could get a badge before they could even get in to buy a bag of
dogfood. Or they "forgot" their badge and do they have to go through
all that again? I can see it already.

If you are THAT concerned about it, don't bring your dog.

if you are being proactive with your pet in keeping him vaccinated,
does it make any difference what other pet parents do?

Your animal is innoculated, therefore, even if another infected animal
did come in contact with him, he is already be immunized for it, so it
would be a moot point, right?

It's touching and noble that you want people to be aware that pets
need protection too, but I just think it's a little unrealistic to
expect PetSmart to enforce this rule and even more unrealistic to
expect all customers to adhere to it.

You take risks the minute you wake up in the morning and head out the
door. That's life.

What vaccine are you talking about? There is currently no swine flu
vaccine for canines and no evidence of H1N1 in canines. There is
always the possibility that the virus will mutate but it hasn't yet.
This is even confirmed on the AVMA website. There is 1 case of swine
flu in a ferret and one in a cat. Both these animals got it from
their owners.

The AVMA recommends the same precautions for pets as people. If you
are ill, don't cuddle up to your pet, cough into a tissue and wash,
wash, wash your hands. If you suspect your pet is ill, call your
vet.

That being said, any pet, especially those that go out in public
should be up to date on all their recommended vaccinations, rabies,
etc. There is not even enough swine flu vaccine for humans, it's not
going to be considered for pets right now.

Petsmart and other pet stores have always had a welcoming attitude to
people bringing their pets. It would be impossible to get a
preclearence for every pet, and proving vaccinations would be too
timely of a process. Knowing that there could be something your pet
could catch, I think that is the risk you take when you bring an
animal in to one of these stores. If you dont want to accept this
risk, then your pet can stay home - no one forces you to bring it in
the store.

Not being a pet owner, I am not too familiar with this topic, however
I am sure that if there was a serious problem or an outbreak of some
sort, pets would no longer be allowed in the store.

Is there a vaccine for cats and dogs against H1N1?

You dont have to have your pet vaccinated to see the vet, so why would
you to walk into pet smart with your animal.


However, you do have to have your pet vaccinated if it stays
overnight.

I love taking my Bengal to Petsmart. I place him in the shopping cart
and push him around the store, getting his food. We stop and watch the
birds, and gerbils, he loves it. People are amazed to see a cat in the
store.

Good Day