I'm 17 and have been working at the pet shop for a few months now.
You do have to be 19 to buy a pet from us.
The reason for this is: a 15 year old girl thinks its a great idea to buy a cat for her mom,
whereas, when she takes the kittywitty home, her mom flips out about who is going to take
care of it, and no room for a cat, and not being able to afford food for it, and the vet,
THUS:
the cat is taken back to the store (IF they are nice people)
OR thrown outside and the cat wanders away and probably starves.
I can work at the store at 17, because I am not taking the cats and dogs home.
If i wanted to purchase one, i'd need an adult over 19 with me.
I CAN however purchase any fish or rodent I want, and things like that.