Stopped in today after noticing the sign out front with a macaw that caught my eye.
I was immediately surprised - in the best way - to see an unchained macaw perched on a branch stand in the center of the store, with smaller parrots flying freely between various perches around the upper portions of the store. In my 23 years of visiting pet stores across California, I have never seen animals more well cared for with such evident love, attention, and hard work than I have here at Exotic Pets 701.
Though I didn't spend a single dime, one of the lovely owners still took the time to speak with me and answer my questions at length. I felt genuinely valued as a guest, even after making it clear I was only there to look around. This store is a shining testament to how EVERY pet store should operate - from the incredible treatment of their animals to the courtesy they provide their visitors. The family running Exotic Pets 701 should feel immensely proud.
After leaving, I was shocked - in the worst way - to see the negative reviews left for this business. I couldn't understand how anyone could see things differently from what I had just experienced. Looking into the one-star reviews, it quickly became obvious the store has been targeted by a review bomber. Eight out of fifteen total Google reviews follow the same template, using identical buzzwords and false claims. Even on Yelp, one of their three reviews fits this same pattern.
As someone who has been a lifelong animal lover, is actively pursuing a degree in zoology, and has years of experience working hands-on with wildlife, I can confidently say these negative claims are entirely inaccurate.
* The birds are in no danger. Some reviews claim that macaws are predatorily dangerous to other birds, which is absurd. Macaws are not predators - they primarily eat fruit, nuts, and seeds. The only animal protein they consume in the wild comes from insects, and even that is rare.
* Birds are not randomly mixed together. Individuals that don't get along are housed separately, and when birds are let out for exercise, they are released strategically to prevent conflicts.
* The cages are temporary. While someone could argue the cages are small, the store itself is upfront that these are only temporary enclosures until the birds are adopted. More importantly, they do not spend their lives in these cages - they are given regular out-of-cage time, which is virtually unheard of in pet stores.
* There is no lack of food or water. In fact, the birds are provided with an outstanding diet. They are fed a variety of fresh fruits daily, with pellet mixes used only as a supplement. This was evident to anyone with eyes - I personally saw fresh fruit in the cages, and even the free-roaming macaw had fresh food and filtered water at his stand. I really appreciated hearing that they use filtered water, as I do the same for my own animals, and few pet owners - let alone pet stores - take this extra step.
* The birds available for purchase are not just babies. The youngest birds are already mature enough to have their full adult plumage.
* And speaking of feathers - the birds are fully feathered, happy, and healthy. Birds are highly intelligent animals with complex emotional needs, and one of the most common signs of stress or neglect is feather plucking. None of the birds at Exotic Pets 701 showed signs of this.
It is truly disheartening to see such an outstanding business suffer due to dishonest review bombing. Their rating does not reflect reality. I encourage anyone reading this to visit Exotic Pets 701 for themselves and see firsthand the level of care these animals receive. If you have a positive experience, please consider leaving a review to help counteract the unfair negativity. read more