Tam Wrote:
>I guess my main problem with turning them over to a pet store is that
they'll go to anyone who has the >money to pay for them. You don't get
to question the people, see what they know/don't know, what >kind of
habitat they're setting up, no home check...... ?????
I agree that placing your gerbil pups directly is a nice way to go. If
you are a hobby-breeder like myself (limited litter that "sell" at a
loss), it is feasible and part of the fun of breeding gerbils.
If someone doesn't sound good on the phone, I don't have any gerbils
available.
I spend about 1 to 2 hours with the person, in their home or mine*.
I sell a complete tank setup taking advantage of web petstore sales for
$25 with starter food and litter.
I give them a 1 page writeup/cheat sheet, point them to the Gerbil FAQ
http://www.nanetworks.net/~mhaines/gerbil.html
And (if they have net access) give them a sheet of all my favorite web
sites including joining the GML.
I give them means to contact me with any questions.
Also, all my gerbils have a life time, no questions asked,
just-bring-them-back promise.
*I just spent a follow-up afternoon at the house of the girl bit by the
in-labor dove gerbil (if you recall that incident). She is an informed
and attentive young gerbil keeper of 13; I wrote a page in her gerbil
journal of the most common reasons that people get gerbil-bitten.
