A pet store that listened

[frankykeno]

With so many threads about bad pet stores, I thought it only right to post one giving a pet store the thumbs up.

We have a store called Pet Supplies Plus here in Toledo (at the intersection of Alexis & Lewis). It used to be much like any chain petstore with okay but not really great care of any of their reptiles and it was slipping into outright crappy care. There was a time that Mike and I really raised cane with them about things like a dead hatchling BP in one of their tanks that they didn't even seem to be aware of. It was common back then to see stick thin hatchling BPs, a baby burm mixed in with another species, really scrawny lizards, etc.

They listened! They have worked really hard and it's showing. Mike and I were in there the other day and having seen this store really put forth an effort we made sure and expressed our pleasure to the employees. They do still keep multiple snakes in an enclosure but they are seperating them by size (no hatchlings competeing with sub-adults), no mixing different species in a tank, multiple hides, clean water and good heat. It was great to see healthy snakes and lizards without stuck shed all over them and in very good body weight.

We spoke to one of the young men who was tending them and he told us that now they are required by their manager to keep records on weekly feedings and to feed multiple prey items if the snake doesn't seem satisfied after the first prey given (which is nice because before it was one prey to a snake - who cares if it's still hungry or the prey is too small). It shows in the well fleshed look of all the snakes there.

The lizards now have hides that they can use but the customer can still see inside. They are constructed of some sort of dense foam which appears natural but isn't. The lizards can get into these "fake rock" structures, feel safe but as a customer you can still get a peek at them through the cut outs in this type of hide. A very nice compromise I think between what the lizard needs but attending to the needs of your customer base.

Definitely a big step up in their care of these animals and one I've been thrilled to see developing over the past year.

[kid_mustango02]

Yep, there's the stores that could care less, then there's the stores that just don't know. Good job Franky!

[OhBalls]

That's one less! Good for you!

[Wh00h0069]

Wow, that’s great to hear. Good job, it seems you made a difference.

[catawhat75]

Yea Jo & yea PSP!

[frankykeno]

I'm sure it took a lot more than Mike and I raising a bit of hell with a few employees and a manager. They've probably gotten other complaints since the situation did get pretty dismal for awhile. In the end, it doesn't really matter what made a difference, I'm just really glad to see a store that's trying to do right by these creatures. If you happen to live in Toledo, it's a store to give your business to.