I worked at Petsmart, and depending on the store, they really aren't a BAD place to shop.

The reason they DON'T sell live rats and or mice is because people DO see them as pets. The company wants to promote "healthy" feeding. I wouldn't buy live rats from a pet store just because there is no telling what kind of gunk they carry on them

Frozen rats and mice are available and it's what is recommended by the company and the little guys that work there to feed.