The warehouse-style store, located in the lower part of the Watchung Mall, seems to have a wide selection of products (including some natural food) and is well-stocked. The employees, to a person, seem to be animal lovers and, at the same time, professionals who are able to connect well with other people (i.e. their customers). It's a safe guess that there is good management at work here.
Based on that customer experience as described, we had expected that our experience at two of the other enterprises within the store -- the veterinarian services ("Banfield Pet Hospital") and the cat "adoption" service (presumably made of volunteers). We were wrong.
We'll start with the latter. Now, there are few things more noble than trying to improve the lives of helpless creatures, many of which have been abandoned and even abused, and that is presumably their mission. And we all know that "cat people" are a breed apart, in some cases even reserving their entire well of empathy and affection for their cats, with none left for their members of their species. The cats are perhaps somewhat fortunate to have such advocates -- but to fellow humans, I say, beware.
I'm guessing these folks have seen too much abuse (to the cats they are handling) to behave toward potential adoptive families with what most would consider to be a minimum level of respect and manners. Instead, it will, shockingly, become your challenge to prove that you will not purposely hurt the cat if you adopt it (and with my POV as a professional family with two kind little girls). It is a unique experience to be grilled this way and by such people, so if you are interested in adopting a cat, brace yourself to be (what nice people would call) insulted.
Also, it is helpful to know (according to a worker called "Tina") that adopters are required to sign a contract governing your relationship with the cat, including an oath that you will not let the cat outside, ever -- even if you live in a rural area with lots of acres. Our family happened to adopt a barn cat (not from this group) over a year ago, which freely went through the cat door in and out, had the time of its life for a year. When the first frost came, the cat went outside for an hour, and had a sudden, instant heart attack -- apparently this is actually common in certain breeds -- which the vet told us only after this happened (when we were investigating the cause of death of this perfectly happy cat)!
Needless to say we were quite sad, and waited several months before deciding to adopt a pair of cats, so that they might provide enough amusement for each other that they would not clamor to go outside).
When we explained all this to the cat lady, she looked shocked and started mumbling that (Petsmart's) visiting room was being renovated so we couldn't visit with the cats and they were all spoken for anyway.
While I do sympathize with her perspective, it would have been appropriate for her to also acknowledge that a family had gone through something sad here. Also, if her group had a rule against allowing people to adopt cats if their last cats died, then they could simply state that in a matter of fact way, rather than attempting to berate them, or dump some emotional baggage on some strangers who they happen to have access to and some power over at that moment.
I include all of this in a review for petsmart for 2 reasons:
1. Petsmart allows this cat shelter to operate from its premises, and
2. by doing so Petsmart does therefore not sell kittens or cats as they do dogs and other creatures, which at this point would be easier and less unpleasant.
The ideal would be that the cat shelter continued to operate as it does but only after the workers or volunteers are trained not to insult Petsmart's customers (and we are good ones).
The Banfield review will be shorter.
1. After the cat mentioned above caught a cold -- sneezing, yucky eyes, etc. -- we made an appointment and brought him to Banfield for treatment. We got there at the appointed time -- and literally waited in line for hours to see their staff! There were about 20 people on line with the same appointment time (all being exposed to the other animals' ailments).
2. When I finally talked with the attendant or vet, I explained that I only wanted the cat to be treated for the cold, no other shots or deworming poisons he was trying to sell us on--I said we might come back to get that done after the cat had recuperated from this cold. He said he understood, and then explained that he had to take the cat in the back area, where the "adoptive parents" (in this context I suppose we were the pet owners) were not allowed.
5 minutes later, we get the cat and the bill for around $300 which included all the shots and tests that we specifically asked him NOT to perform -- including a test for worms that was negative, along with worm poison! Since then I've learned that Scotch Plains Animal Hospital is the local favorite. read more