Makes Me Sick! Reporting a pet shop?!?

[rushchaser]

We have a local pet shop near where we live. We are there frequently to get our supply of live feeders. However every time we are there it seems like there conditions are getting worse and worse. There are tanks that have mixes of bearded dragons, iguanas, and geckos. Almost every water bowl in that place is a mix of aspen and nasty "stuff" not clean and full of plain water. Heating elements are almost non existent. Too small chameleons (two of which were dead at the bottom). The ball pythons are all mixed sizes in the same tanks. Of course the small ones are all underneath the larger ones. They look underweight and just plain sad. There are exposed light bulbs in some of these vision type cages. Just plain dirty also. There was one tortoise that really upset me today. They have this poor thing in a little turtle shaped kiddie pool right when you walk in. It is just sitting in its watery feces. No food or water around for it to drink. Its shell length was about 16 inches or so, give or take. Its shell had looked like it had at one point been in some kind of accident and someone probably brought it in bc they found it or something. The girl working there knew nothing about it except that they were selling it for $500. All he/she was doing the entire time we were there was trying to climb out the side of the pool and kept squishing his head between his shell and the edge of the pool, kind of like it was choking himself. I got real close to it and was talking to him/her. Just looking in its eyes they looked like they were crying. I felt so bad for it along with all of the other animals they have. Some of the people there are nice people, but it still doesn't excuse this type of setting for these animals. Most of the people working there are extremely uneducated about there animals also. It really is hard to go there and not want to buy every single animal in there. There are also some larger snakes that are in way too small cages, PLUS there are more than one snake in these tanks. One of the guys working there even told us one day that they are just incredibly aggressive because of these conditions. It is sad to me that people can be so much about the money and not give a damn about there animals! How can they get away with it? There has got to be something I can do to have them change these living conditions for their animals. I don't want to get these people in trouble per say, BUT I would like for them to have an eye opener about what they are doing to these animals and that they can't get away with it. Oh yeah, its always nice to see there kids there (probably about 2 and 4 yrs. old) Climbing on the tables were the birds and rabbits and other small animals are spraying a bottle of clorox cleaner giving the animals a "bath". PLEASE shoot me some ideas of what can be done if anything and any other ideas, suggestions, comments, anything. There are definitely more scenarios that I have seen being there, but can't exactly think of them all right now. Plus I can go on and on about it how much it infuriates me. I figured if anyone would understand how I feel about this it would be you guys here on this forum! Hope to hear some good suggestions and thanks for "listening" to me vent!

[Snakeman]

sounds horrible!

i'd contact your local ASPCA

[python.princess]

that's horrible! i'd say your only real option if you want to see a change is to report them to whatever animal regulation groups you have there. let them get smacked with a hefty fine and watch to see if anything changes. if not, call them in again!

[BallPythonsRule]

Theres a pet store near me that I bought 2 snakes from, one had mites and the other one also had mites and RI. I treated one of them and lost the other one.
I never really spoke to them about it exept for one time when I said to the cashier that I got sick animals from them. She looked at me in a rude way and I don't come there any more. I go to a better one, where the animals are cared for, not 100% good but better than the other one.
Maybe you can sign some kind of a petition and team up with other people... ? I think that just because you want to have money you shouldn't treat animals this way. They are just big :cens0r:

[rushchaser]

I definitely planned on calling the local authorities tomorrow morning, but I was concerned that they may not give a darn about the situation. I was just trying to come up with a back up plan in case this was true.

[python.princess]

if it's as bad as you say, they will do something! give them as much detail as possible and say whatever it takes to convince them that it's a desperate situation. and if it doesn't work, maybe write a letter to your editor? petition? strike? i don't know. but i would hope reporting them would be enough!

[rushchaser]

There is EBN by me, unfortunately it is a bit too far for us to travel there every week. Fortunately we are breeding our own rats and trying to get into the groove of it. I still feel like we are these animals only hope. If we stop going there all together we won't be able to check up on how they are doing. A petition also sounds like a good back up plan, but I wouldn't quite know how to find out who goes there. After all, herps are kind of a small interest here in New Orleans.

[dalvers63]

You should only need to file a complaint and let them know the conditions you saw at the store.

Here is a link to the Louisiana ASPCA Animal Abuse page and a short paragraph with contact info:

http://www.la-spca.org/prevention/cruelty.htm

"The public is the biggest ally in fighting animal cruelty and neglect. It is crucial that everyone gets involved and stays involved. If you witness animal cruelty, or think that you have, in Orleans Parish, call the LA/SPCA at (504) 368-5191, as well as the police department or fill out the online Request For Investigation Report."

In this case, it isn't about the people, it is about the animals. If they get in trouble then that is the consequence for allowing the animals to get in this condition.

Good for you for sticking up for the pets. MOst of the time, the Animal Control agencies are way understaffed and the only time they know about conditions such as you describe is when people call and report them.

Let us know how it goes!

[Snakeman]

You should only need to file a complaint and let them know the conditions you saw at the store.

Here is a link to the Louisiana ASPCA Animal Abuse page and a short paragraph with contact info:

http://www.la-spca.org/prevention/cruelty.htm

"The public is the biggest ally in fighting animal cruelty and neglect. It is crucial that everyone gets involved and stays involved. If you witness animal cruelty, or think that you have, in Orleans Parish, call the LA/SPCA at (504) 368-5191, as well as the police department or fill out the online Request For Investigation Report."

In this case, it isn't about the people, it is about the animals. If they get in trouble then that is the consequence for allowing the animals to get in this condition.

Good for you for sticking up for the pets. MOst of the time, the Animal Control agencies are way understaffed and the only time they know about conditions such as you describe is when people call and report them.

Let us know how it goes!

and if it's possible, send them pics showing how bad the animals look!!!

[rushchaser]

Thanks a lot Deb! I am going to try and take care of what I can now and what's left I will take care of in the morning. I will DEFINITELY keep you guys posted as to what happens with this situation.