Category: | Pet Store |
Address: | 412 Burnett Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA |
Phone: | +1 515-233-5625 |
Site: | aspca.org |
Rating: | 3.6 |
Working: | 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10AM–5:30PM 10:30AM–5PM 12–4PM |
JO
Jordan Pool
My experience with this pet store was great! Walking in, it is very cleanly and orderly. The fact that it has an actual carpet floor that isnt caked in animal feces already puts it several notches ahead of The Ark, one of its competitors here in Ames. There isnt a gigantic selection as far as pet products and accessories, but they seem to make good use of the space they have to work with. They have a good selection of pets. The employee I talked to was a vet student who seemed to be very invested in her work, I talked with her for at least 10 minutes and her passion for animals was very evident. She was quite helpful and attentive, allowing me to hold the rats I was looking at buying and even letting me use the employee bathroom to wash up after the rat pooped on my hand (lol). After reading several reviews online for Dyvigs, the issue of "puppy mills" is a recurring topic and certainly the only reason this place isnt getting 4 or 5 star reviews consistently. I brought this up with the employee, and she assured me there was absolutely no way she would be working there if the dogs they were getting had come from such places. She said she had met the breeders (she has been working there for 3 years) and they do not raise their puppies in cruel environments. She said that their main breeder had actually taken a break from breeding due to health issues, which checked out considering there were no puppies for sale when I stopped by. Im not saying it isnt a possibility, but I highly doubt the employee was lying to me. (begin rant) I know animal cruelty is an issue that is easy to get fired up about, especially over a cute animal like a puppy, but I have no reason to believe they are getting their puppies from puppy mills, and it seems slanderous and unfair to spread these rumors without having solid evidence to back it up, especially since this is a local business trying to compete against the new giant in town, Petco. Some people are saying that selling puppies is wrong and that puppies shouldnt be sold for profit. Im sorry, but if you want a purebred puppy you probably arent going to find it at the animal shelter, and if your job is raising puppies, you deserve to make some money for your efforts--thats how the economy works. People are biased because puppies are cute--people wouldnt be nearly as passionate or quick to demonize if there were "snake mills" churning out snakes for profit. There are a lot of warriors for animal rights, but rage can blind people, and it can be easier to express that rage than to take the time to find out if that rage is founded on truth. So maybe take a look inside and ask around before you take the word of all these reviews. Many are irrational--NO WAY is this is a 1 star business, puppy mills or not. And come on, if you were the owner of a business and nearly EVERY reviewer was hating on you because of one of your providers, dont you think you would drop that provider instantly? You would be an idiot not to. (end rant)
KR
Kristina L.
Hi. I recently moved to Ames and almost immediately I looked up local pet shops. I always have been an animal lover and have enjoyed perusing through pet shops wherever I go. I am always critical because animals are priceless and deserve a good quality of life. So, I went to check out Dyvigs to see what I thought of it. Well, they have lots of supplies and animals. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they carried a certain product I needed for my newly adopted friend (I found her through an advertisement not related to Dyvigs). I was happy to support a small and local shop and the front desk worker was helpful (Score=2). Dyvigs also has many animals - and I am only giving a score of "1" because some of the enclosures I disapprove of. My main example is the anole cage (little green/brown lizards). They are in a desert-like enclosure, whereas they are tropical creatures. I had anoles for years and they thrived because I set them up right. They need foliage and humidity - neither of which is provided in their enclosure at Dyvigs as of yet (that Ive seen). One anole was even near-death and emaciated last time I visited the store. I also have had hermit crabs my whole life and they thrived with access to plenty of water and a deep enough water bowl to climb in and out of. Humidity is another important component for them. It is a "decent" set up at the store, I think. My last comment has to do with my first visit to the store. I was in the small animal area and noticed that one gerbil cage was completely out of water. It was a hot day and I notified one staff member - maybe the owner...? He seemed a little bothered and busy, but I spoke up for the animals welfare, not to make anyone feel bad. It is probably hard to keep up with so many animals, but water is a main priority. All in all I enjoy visiting to look at all the animals and supplies, I just ask that Dyvigs and every pet shop check up on all of their animals and give them the best life they can while they are in the store. Thanks for reading. Speak your mind, speak for animals, and support local businesses!
J.
j. rollins
Nearly every time Im home from school I visit Dyvigs. During the summer, when I tutor, I use trips to Dyvigs to see the animals as a reward (very effective). Even though Im too busy to be a pet owner at the moment I try to buy something every time Im there for pets of my friends. Seeing a locally-owned pet shop is encouraging. Because they are small they dont have a huge variety, but Im sure they would be willing to order what they dont have in stock, and they have all the basics you could possibly need. Their staff is friendly, and helpful, and while Ive never asked if theyre related I think Ive seen some of the owners kids working there so theyre a family business too. The puppies are a great attraction, and are not puppy mill puppies. While Petland and others do continue to use puppy mill puppies, Dyvigs is not one of those places. Yes, the dogs come from a breeder. Yes, that breeder breeds many dogs, so its hard to give them individualized attention. This is not the same thing as being a puppy mill, where the dogs are often malnourished, abused, unregistered, and inbred. The breeders Dyvigs uses specialize in certain breeds so their puppies are healthy and have good temperaments. Their puppies are well cared for. The breeders Dyvigs uses are very typical. If you want a purebred, whether you buy it from Dyvigs or not youre going to get a comparable dog. I understand some people feel adopting shelter animals is the better way to go, and I hope to adopt some day, but this doesnt mean everyone who wants a purebred is evil. If anything, at least Dyvigs is selling healthy dogs so when someone impulse buys a puppy theyre not going to die six months later like they do when you get them from Petland. And the staff is friendlier than the staff at The Ark, and their shop is much cleaner.