ANOTHER Pet Store Horror Story

[apple2]

I was driving around, and noticed a pet store that advertised having reptiles. Curious, I stopped and went in to have a look. The place was horrifying! I'll list the things wrong.

Ball Pythons:

Hatchlings housed with RTB, Juveniles crowded: 8 in a 10g tank. All have signs of mites and RI, soaking in water bowls continuously. Rodent/bird substrate (Little pellets), no hides. Temps at 75,120, based on strip thermometer. Water filthy, containing feces and urates. Bones showing.

Red Tail Boas:

Housed 4 Juveniles in a 10g, all soaking in water bowl. It's a really small bowl with hardly any water. They are pushing each other to get into the bowl. Signs of mites. More pellet substrate. Regurgitated mouse in corner. No hides.

Savannah Monitors:

Adults: Sand substrate, about .5 inches deep ! No water, TREES FOR CLIMBING... Seem lethargic

Juveniles: Sand substrate, .5 inches. 6 in one 10g. More trees, filthy water.

Tegus:

(Simply labeled as Tegu)

Over 5 layers of stuck, peeling shed. Could not walk because of shed caught on legs. Filthy water, crickets in adult's tank. Wedged into a 10g. Animal about 2x length of tank, tail going up the side to fit. Feces around tank, and in water.


However, there were also other animals. Fish were dead in the tanks and on the floor! Birds had overgrown beaks and dirty feathers. Overall filth. NO AIR CONDITIONER!!! It's over 100 degrees! Store is about 80!

The store in question is R.I. Aquarium and Pet Center. PLEASE don't buy animals from them.

Anyway, I'm posting to ask for advice on how to take action. The animals shouldn't be forced to live like this, but I won't buy them, as the owner will just buy more. Any ideas on what action to take?

Thanks,

Apple2

[Skittles1101]

How sad I live in MA and think I have actually visited that store before. It's disgusting. I'd start by reporting them to the BBB. You can also look into their local animal control, I know ours does investigations of neglect and abuse even in businesses.

[Rhasputin]

Report the store to the local humane society or something. The police as well.

Even if the police can do nothing, the humane society or animal cruelty prevention team near you may.

If nothing else. . . CALL PETA!

[llovelace]

This obviouslly has been going on awhile, I googled them, here are 2 reviews:

May 8, 2010
should be closed down! Ihave had tropical fish for over 30 yrs and have never seen a aquarium in this poor conditon before, Dead fish in most of the tanks,filthy tanks,many fish in very poor health. The only good thing is I did not bring my 5 yr old and subject her to this place. I read the other reviews and still visited them . Do your self a favor if you care about fish stay away!!!!!!!

Henry ‎ - Sep 6, 2009
Poor animal care, sick dying animals I've been to this store twice (visits spaced a year apart), and both times I've walked out in disgust at the sorry state of animals and the animal housing - filthy, small cages with inadequate heating and sanitation, often with animals which are obviously sick or outright dead. And these are not difficult animals - your basic frogs and snakes that anyone with half a brain could keep. On my most recent visit, a baby boa was dead from what was obviously Inclusion Body Disease by the characteristic death posture. IBD is an incurable disease which will wipe out the boa & python collection of anyone unfortunately enough to buy from this store. In spite of it being very close, I refuse to buy so much as a fake plant from this store. I even wash my hands intensively after visiting, just to make sure nothing I pick up there infects my own animals.

[apple2]

Wow, this place is even worse than I thought. I know that I used almost a whole bottle of Purell after leaving!

I think I'll call the humane society. I will keep you guys posted on any new events.

[Skittles1101]

Wow, this place is even worse than I thought. I know that I used almost a whole bottle of Purell after leaving!

I think I'll call the humane society. I will keep you guys posted on any new events.

I'd also try contacting the local board of health. Usually they only deal with "people" situations, but if this place is as gross as you described it could be an issue that the board of health and building inspector may want to know about....

[gold217]

That sucks! I found you the number to the Rhode Island Humane Society. Please call!!!

(401) 438-8150

[fluffpuffgerbil]

I can't believe anyone would keep animals in such awful conditions! (Worse than Alley Cat Pet Center at the mall which still has bad conditions...)

I hope something gets done about that place... I'm in WA(on the other side of the US.) so I've never been there or heard of the place, but I'd be horrified if I saw anything like that.

I'm glad that the chain pet stores(petsmart and petco) are all good with their snakes. Petco is iffy with their dragons, but Petsmart is good. Luckily there is a PERFECT reptile store about an hour or less away that does everything correct. Not one thing wrong at all with any of the reptiles or their husbandry.(BPs are 1 to a cage even! They breed most of their own animals as well. I got a really good BP book from them. The guy at the cash register said it was a really great book and it is. :3)

Good luck... I hope that place gets shut down. I cannot believe...

[python_addict]

i had always wanted to own a pet store but i would never put any animal through that horrible crap if you have a pet store i think you should atleast know and provide the right housing for the animals you sell! wow

[Jared2608]

I'd hold off on callin PETA, those fanatics will just use it as an example of why reptile keeping should be banned.