Preuss Pets — Attraction in Lansing

Writing this review is a bit difficult because I experienced many emotions on my first time visiting Preuss Pets in my 12 years that I've been in Michigan. The initial impression is amazement due to the wide range of animals and the different habitats that house the different species. I went in with the sole desire to own my very first pet/s. I've always know I wanted a dog but living in an apartment can be expensive and not comfortable for them so I have put that on hold throughout this time. I have always loved birds, especially parakeets due to the nostalgia from my childhood (my grandmother had them throughout her lifetime). I remember helping her take care of them and the feeling of being so amazed by these avian beauties. Keep in mind, I visited with the goal in mind to purchase 2 parakeets and I found my potential long-term pet friends ❤️. I was able to reserve 2 specific birds upon closing, and I was one step closer to obtaining my parakeet birds. I was advised that the closing agreement would take about an hour, understandably - owning parakeets is also a large responsibility. I decided to come in the next day to finalize the purchase, after carefully reviewing the recommendational instruction packet provided by a staff member. By this day, I had extensive research and suggestions on owning parakeets and had 2 cages set up and ready to go, prepped with food, water, treats, perches, etc. I was prepared, or so I thought... when I arrived, with the thought in mind that I would be taking home my first 2 pets I was welcomed with a statement addressing my tardy arrival (that is my own fault, as I had decided to take invite my best friend who already has 4 parakeets, 2 of which she has had for 10 years). I could have called but I was just so excited and thankful that she was able to come with me. I in no way implied that I needed to be attended right away but I guess the staff member felt the need to start the conversation that way. I was politely informed that another project was initiated before they could attend me and I understood and waited patiently. I would have also been ok if i was told to come the next day. Not more than 5 minutes passed before I was attended by the same staff member (whom I had not met the day before, on my initial visit to Preuss). I told him I wanted to pick up the two parakeets that I had reserved and was asked the following (questions were not prased as below): Why do you want birds, and how many, what sex? What is your current set up?

I answered as I could with the following.. I always wanted to have pets and birds have always been a preference, with the space that I could offer. My desire was to have 2 males (as previously recommended by every other pet store I had been to as females tend to be territorial). I've also seen that on the cage description in other petstores, it specifically recommended having them in pairs, as birds tend to be very social. I wanted to potentially have them in the same cage. To my dismay, I was confronted with immediate discouraging suggestions, that I should only have one bird, in a cage (roughly 20"x15"x25"). Keep I. Mind, these parakeets were roughly 10 months old at least, living in conditions were 10 other birds were being housed, in a cage that was double the size of that recommendation in height, yet, I was HIGHLY encouraged to only take one. I learned that contrary to pupular belief, parakeets can be single pets.. I did have 2 cages set up, just in case I needed to use one to carry my new pet friends but was encouraged to keep them in separate cages, as I would need to socialize them eventually (which is what I wanted to do, in terms of socializing them). I would have rather the staff member share recommendations from the start, instead of telling me my ideas were completely wrong and I was set up to fail. The staff member in no way spoke to me in an undesired tone, he was professional in that manner.

I just recall my emotions racing and I was losing hope. Long story short, I was able to walk out with my 2 parakeets after a...

This is the most visually stunning pet shop I have ever visited. However the quality of this establishment runs far deeper than its cosmetic appeal. The animals are well cared for and the staff is knowledgeable.

The owners are kind honest people that really care for the animals they keep, and customers they attract. They assist people without any concern for personal benefit, they are genuinely kind and help others because it's the right thing to do, even when it isn't the easiest thing to do.

Over the years they have selflessly helped myself and my family with pet emergencies.

There was the time they stayed on the phone for over 45 minutes with me in a devoted attempt to help save my dying pet fish. I did not even purchase this fish from them, despite the fact that they had no obligation to help me, they did their best to help me save him regardless. When they couldn't, they comforted and supported me through his passing.

Or the time my Aunt became unable to properly care for the koi she had raised and treasured for over 20 years due to her advancing age, she had no where to turn for help. Out of options, I told her to call Preuss Pets, and they were kind enough to adopt her koi when no one else would and gave them a new home and a 2nd life they would not have gotten otherwise.

This store is one of a kind, a true gem. I have spoken to the owners but I only know them as a nameless customer. Just a perfect stranger that will always be grateful for the geniune kindness they showed my family and I. Although I've moved across the country and haven't been back for years, my first thought entering any pet store since and always will be: " I wish this was Preuss Pets."

To the owners:

Thank you for all you've done and all you continue to do for all of us strangers. Your establishment is truly one of a kind. The love and care you have poured into your shop all these years is exactly what makes it so exceptional.

Preuss Pets isn't just a pet store, it is a beautiful experience that has touched so many people. I'll always be grateful for your kindness and I appreciate everything you have done for my family and I without even knowing us. I can't repay the kindness I was shown those years ago, but I can leave a long overdue 5 star review for the pet store that will always hold a special place in my memories.

Even when there are 100 people in your store you both always had a way of making everyone feel seen and valued. I was always made to feel welcome there regardless of if I was buying something or not. I always felt like the customer's experience was of far more value to the store than their wallet.

From the bottom of my heart I give my sincerest thanks and gratitude to you Rick and Debbie Preuss. Thank you for all you are, all you've done, and the kindness and integrity I know you still uphold to this day.

If there was ever a time you've wondered if the kindness you've shown to strangers has mattered, I wanted you both to know it definitely mattered to me, my mother, my aunt, a friend you helped for 2 hours in your store, and to those koi I admired throughout my entire childhood to whom you granted a future.

Thank you so very much.

Sincerely,

One of Your Many...

My partner and I are rat parents. With rats, it’s very common to have a good amount of them- they’re very social, playful, and lovable animals. When it came time to get more rats, we signed up for a waitlist at Preuss Pets. After a while, they called us, and we brought home 2 new babies! We were so excited. They aren’t like any other rats we’ve ever had. They aren’t social, they aren’t playful, they don’t interact with each other or other rats or people any more than they have to. When we got them, they were already a few months old. It’s clear they were never socialized with people or other rats. These rats genuinely acted like wild rats when we got them. They were honestly scary at first. Rats can bite hard and can do serious damage, even to people. They can bite fingers off. This has never ever been a concern with any other rats I’ve had, but these ones genuinely scared me at first. After months and months of training, it felt like we were finally getting somewhere with one of them. I was able to hold one of them and she was eating out of my hand, she was beginning to snuggle up with me. She was doing good, so we decided to try to introduce her to the other rats. We did what we were supposed to do when introducing new rats- we put the 2 different cages next to each other for a couple of weeks and then took out the rats to meet in a neutral location- in our case that was the bath tub. One of the rats from Preuss Pets bit down on the back of one of our babies that we got from a local breeder. It’s extremely deep. I’m currently writing this review from the waiting room at the Ann Arbor emergency vet, waiting to find out if our baby is going to be ok. Every other time my partner or I have had rats, they’ve been relatively friendly right off the bat. They can be nervous and territorial around new rats (like any pair of animals), but after a while of being used to each others smells, they’re normally just fine. We’ve had a lot of rats but absolutely none of them have been as antisocial and aggressive as the two we got from Preuss Pets. They both act like an animal does after being abused or neglected. I can’t speak for any of the fish or larger animals that they sell, but I absolutely advise against getting any small caged animals...