In February 2023, PetSmart announced that it would no longer sell live birds in its stores. This decision ends the sale of all live birds, including parakeets, cockatiels, parrots, and finches. PetSmart had sold live birds since it opened its first store in 1987. The move to stop selling birds was likely due to several factors.
Declining bird sales
PetSmart reported that bird sales had been declining for years. More people have become aware of the level of care and commitment required to properly look after birds. Birds are highly intelligent, social animals that require substantial time, effort and expense to keep them healthy and happy. The long lifespan of many bird species means they require a lifelong dedication that many consumers fail to grasp before an impulse purchase.
Bird Species | Average Lifespan |
---|---|
Parakeets | 5-8 years |
Cockatiels | 15-25 years |
Parrots | 50+ years |
The high level of neglect, malnutrition and inhumane treatment of pet store birds also deterred many caring and ethical consumers from supporting the live bird trade.
Ethical concerns
PetSmart faced growing criticism over animal welfare issues related to their live bird sales. Parrots and other birds are highly active, intelligent creatures that suffer immensely when confined to small cages and deprived of socialization, flight and mental stimulation. Prolonged isolation, loneliness, boredom and frustration lead to severe psychological distress and neurotic self-destructive behaviors.
Many parrots pluck out their own feathers or mutilate themselves due to stress and inadequate care. Pet store birds also faced risks from low genetic diversity, inbreeding, and the spread of diseases like psittacosis. Scientific studies show commercially bred pet birds are frequently infected with dangerous pathogens.
Prevalence of neglected and abandoned birds
Far too many birds sold in pet stores end up neglected, abused, abandoned or confined to small cages. Birds are the third most surrendered animals to shelters after cats and dogs. Shelters and bird rescue/adoption organizations are overloaded with unwanted parrots and other birds who were acquired on impulse as pets. Many shelters no longer accept surrendered birds because they lack resources to provide specialized lifetime bird care.
PetSmart’s Live Bird Sales History
PetSmart started selling pet birds soon after the first store opened in Phoenix, Arizona in 1987. Parakeets, or budgerigars, were likely one of the first bird species sold. Parakeets are small, relatively inexpensive birds capable of mimicking human speech. Their small size and quiet voices make them suitable as apartment pets.
Parakeet sales soared in the 1990s along with PetSmart’s rapid expansion. As the number of stores grew, so did the variety of bird species stocked. Cockatiels, lovebirds, parrotlets, finches and canaries were introduced to meet customer demand. Some locations may have also sold more exotic bird species like conures, lories, mynahs, softbills and toucans on a limited basis.
Live bird breeding farms
PetSmart sourced live birds from third party breeders, many of them large scale live animal breeding farms located overseas with lower costs and less oversight. Importing exotic birds interstate and from other countries risks exposing native bird populations to foreign pests and diseases. Commercial breeding for profit often puts efficiency ahead of inhumane factory farming conditions.
Some breeding operations crammed thousands of breeding pairs of birds into small cages stacked in massive warehouses. Breeding birds can suffer from malnutrition, constant egg laying, and lack of veterinary care. Inbreeding is common and there are no requirements for genetic or disease testing. After chicks are hand fed and weaned, they are shipped to pet stores like PetSmart for re-sale, often still very young and under socialized.
Concerns over inhumane supply chain practices
In the early 2010s, increased public awareness of cruel conditions at puppy mills pushed PetSmart and other retailers to stop selling dogs. However, concerns remained over inhumane practices in the live bird supply chain. Some advocacy groups called for an end to supporting irresponsible and inhumane bird breeding operations.
PetSmart policy started shifting around this time to increase focus on partnering with animal welfare organizations and adoption programs. In May 2017, PetSmart Charities announced grants of $1.35 million to support avian welfare. This new funding was allocated to help rescue and rehabilitate abandoned pet birds across the U.S.
Why PetSmart Made the Decision to Stop Bird Sales
In February 2023, PetSmart officially announced it would no longer sell birds in its stores and revealed some of the reasons behind this landmark decision.
Increasing public pressure to end sales
PetSmart noted the role of public pressure in their decision to end bird sales. National animal protection organizations like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States had campaigned vigorously for years for PetSmart to stop selling live birds due to animal welfare concerns. Grassroots advocacy groups staged in-store protests across the country. Online petitions circulated urging boycotts of PetSmart unless live bird sales ended.
Negative publicity and public backlash over the inhumane nature of their bird sales grew substantially from 2018-2022. PetSmart corporate leaders indicated this escalating public pressure campaign tipped the scales toward stopping sales. When a major retailer is the target of protests and boycotts, they often make financial calculations about the costs of brand reputation damage versus policy changes to appease advocates. In PetSmart’s case, the scales finally tipped in favor of ending bird sales.
Focus on partnerships with bird rescues and shelters
PetSmart Charities had already been ramping up financial support for bird rescue and adoption organizations for several years. Company statements emphasized planned expansion of partnerships with avian shelters and welfare groups across the U.S. to re-home more rescued birds.
Ending in-store sales aids PetSmart’s public messaging about aligning its business practices with animal care and welfare. The company brand benefits from public perception of prioritizing endangered birds over profits. Partnerships with non-profit bird rescues allow PetSmart to showcase community engagement and positive PR.
Industry changes and declining consumer demand
PetSmart noted that ending live bird sales brings their policies in line with competitors like Petco, which stopped selling birds in 2016. The live pet bird market has been shrinking for many years. Big box chains ending bird sales reflect adaptation to changes in consumer demand and greater competition from online bird breeders.
With millennial and Generation Z consumers especially motivated by animal welfare and environmental concerns, large pet retail chains have responded by adjusting inventory. PetSmart cited data showing decreasing consumer purchases of pet birds and increasing adoptions of rescued birds. Their economic analysis likely indicated too little return on investment from the small amount of floor space devoted to bird supplies and cages. That prime retail space can be utilized more profitably.
How PetSmart Live Bird Sales Phase Out Will Work
PetSmart has not yet set an exact end date for removing birds from their stores. The phase out process allows for re-homing birds currently in inventory through adoption partnerships. This transition period may last several months or up to a year to find placement for all remaining live birds.
Location by location removal of birds
Regional managers will coordinate the live bird removal process location by location across PetSmart’s approximately 1,660 U.S. retail stores. Pet care associates have already stopped ordering new inventory. As each store sells or places its remaining live birds in new homes, that location will cease bird sales permanently. Stores will remove shelving, displays and accessories associated with bird sales.
Donations to non-profit adoption partners
Stores will work with local bird rescue organizations, shelters, and avian adoption groups to place unsold birds. PetSmart’s charity branch will provide financial support and coordination to facilitate all remaining store birds being donated to non-profits. This transition partnership helps ensure birds are matched with experienced caretakers rather than released or abandoned.
Expanding bird supply inventory
Although live birds will no longer be sold, PetSmart pledges to continue providing essential pet bird supplies for current bird owners. Stores will replace live bird sections with expanded offerings of bird food, cages, perches, toys, and other bird care products. This allows them to retain bird owner business even without live sales.
Response to PetSmart’s Announcement on Ending Bird Sales
PetSmart received both praise and criticism from various sides following the live bird sales announcement.
Positive responses
Animal welfare non-profits that had pressured PetSmart for years to end bird sales were thrilled with the retailer’s decision. Both PETA and the Humane Society of the United States publicly applauded PetSmart for finally taking this ethical stand. Local bird rescue groups were optimistic about adopting out more birds in need. Pet owners responded favorably to PetSmart’s expanding relationship with animal protection partners.
Negative responses
Some critics argued PetSmart still allows sales of other controversial pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles and fish. They believe PetSmart should transition to only adopting out rescued animals if they want to prove commitment to animal welfare.
A minority of bird breeding groups were frustrated by losing one of their largest Livestock distribution retailers. Some bird owners worried about losing convenient access to purchase birds. However, this minority objection was outweighed by the overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Why the public response matters to PetSmart
Public reception to policy changes can validate or discourage retailer decision making. The mostly positive reactions indicate ending bird sales improved PetSmart’s brand image and customer loyalty. If public response had been strongly negative, PetSmart leaders may have felt pressured to reverse course to avoid sales impacts.
Sustained positive feedback rewards PetSmart for making an ethical choice. Ongoing public support will provide incentive for PetSmart to consider similar animal welfare policy changes related to other small pets.
Impacts of PetSmart Ending Bird Sales
While the effects are still emerging, PetSmart’s decision to stop bird sales can be expected to have significant impacts on the pet retail industry and bird welfare issues.
Business forecasting changes
PetSmart will need to update sales forecasts, inventory planning, resource allocation, staff scheduling and other business operations to adjust for discontinued bird sales. Financial analysts will monitor sales data to see if expanded supplies for current bird owners offset some lost revenue. Some PetSmart competitors who still sell birds may see sales bumps by absorbing former PetSmart customers.
Boosts in bird adoptions and rescues
Bird adoption organizations should see increased interest and more birds adopted as PetSmart promotes rescues. Shelters will benefit from PetSmart Charities funding but will also face challenges managing higher bird intake. As the largest pet retailer, PetSmart’s move is likely to influence other chains to consider phasing out live animal sales. This will further increase the role of non-profits in finding homes for unwanted birds.
Reduced impulsive bird purchases
PetSmart’s 1,600+ stores will no longer enable impulse purchases of birds. Many birds suffered from buyers who took home pets without understanding proper care. Ending in-store sales will require buyers to locate breeders and plan purchases more intentionally. This can reduce neglect from unprepared owners.
Potential shakeup of bird breeding industry
The loss of a huge buyer like PetSmart could be damaging to some mass bird breeding operations, especially overseas farms that supplied exotic species. However, banning retail sales tends to sustain demand for other purchase channels. Online bird sales and smaller U.S. breeders may see increased business. There are concerns that ending retail chains bird sales may drive the bird trade further underground with less oversight.
Influence on views of live animal sales
PetSmart choosing ethics over bird sales profits could have a far reaching influence on public attitudes. Other retailers may come under pressure to re-evaluate live animal sales. Some local jurisdictions could consider bans on retail stores selling birds, as Los Angeles already has. Continuing public education campaigns about adopting birds rather than buying them will be needed to sustain momentum. But PetSmart removing birds can contribute significantly to reducing consumer demand and improving welfare standards.
The Future of Pet Birds After PetSmart Ending Sales
The full impacts of PetSmart’s move to stop bird sales will emerge over time. But it reflects growing public rejection of unethical business practices that subject animals to exploitation and neglect.
Increase in pet bird adoptions
Continuing efforts to promote adoption of rescued birds can divert buyers away from breeders. PetSmart’s partnership with rescue organizations helps showcase adoptable birds. Making adoption more visible and convenient than finding breeders can fundamentally alter consumer behavior.
Higher standards of care expected
Ongoing education of bird owners, especially first-time buyers, is crucial to ensure pet birds get proper lifetime care. Vet exams, large cages, nutrient-rich diets, foraging toys and social interaction must be normalized as essentials. Future buyers may also demand healthier parent-raised birds over unhealthy hand-fed pet store birds.
Smaller but more dedicated bird-keeping community
Stoping impulse bird purchases may shrink the overall number of pet bird owners. But a smaller community focused on education and excellent care could improve life for birds kept responsibly as companions. With time and sustained effort, the days of parrots starving in tiny cages could eventually become a cruel practice of the past. PetSmart ending bird sales reflects society moving toward a more compassionate future.