Good and Bad News

Let's start with the good news:

My new pinstripe I got from Sloan Reptiles (99g) ate tonight! She arrived last Wed, so I gave her a week to settle in. She has been very skittish all week, hiding under her tail and retreating to her hide when I walked in the room at night. She sleeps all day in her hide, but comes out at night.

Decided I wasn't going to handle her until she ate. So I waited until this eve to offer her a live small mouse (10g). She seemed a bit scared at first, hiding under her tail. She tried to slither away, the mouse ran infront of her and she took it. Killed it and ate it, the process took about 5 mins. Once I saw she took it all down, I attached the lid back to the tank, and just let her lone. It was exciting to see her eat! Very relieving. Will try to start handling her Monday, seeing as she did eat :)

The bad news...

I went to the local pet store to pick out a mouse (I told the clerk I wanted a small mouse and they just grabbed one :colbert: I made sure to pick one out that was about the size of my snakes girth). Well, there were 2 young guys (17-20 yrs old maybe?) playing with the BP's.

A different clerk told them that BP's were very mean and aggressive. And then he proceed to FLICK the snake until it bit him! Wtf?? The guys got a kick out of it and started doing the same! They thought it was so cool it was a "badass mean ass snake". My jaw was on the ground.

I got pretty upset. I tried correcting him and telling them that BPs are not aggressive at all, they were mistreating it etc. I also explained that the heat rock the clerk was recommending was a big no no:colbert: Gave them the advice that I was given (UTH+Thermostat), proper hides, humidity, etc. They said it sounded like it cost too much money and left. The clerk got all upset because I cost him a sale! Then a manager came over and asked me to leave! So I just gave them the mouse back and left. And no this was not PetSmart or PetCo, but it was a petstore chain.

So, I went to a mom&pop pet store that I have never been to. Got a mouse from there instead. It was .25c more expensive, but.. oh well.

I hope I did the right thing by trying to educate them on ideal environment for a BP. I hate being confrontational, but I don't know.




Anyhow, back to good news!
She ate! :banana::banana::banana:

i think you did the right thing. you probably saved the snakes life.

Wow, that is unbelievable! I can't believe the clerk aggravated the BP so it would bite him -- I have never heard of anyone being that ignorant!

I don't think you were out of line at all! I am glad you costed the store a sale! I doesn't sound like they have any business selling snakes, and the two customers don't sound like they should be owning one!

Good work!!

-- George

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chago11

i think you did the right thing. you probably saved the snakes life.

---

Or bought it a little more time :( I was so tempted to buy it right there. I have the money for another snake + eq, and I could just use tubs.. but, I figure since I am still new to keeping snakes, I should wait to take on a "petstore rescue" until I am more knowledgeable.

Good job :gj: you did the right thing, feel good about yourself for it.

Lucky for them it was you and not me :taz: I tend to handle situations like that a little differently :O

I might have felt the need to flick the clerk in the face and then ask him how he liked it :rofl: (JK)

Actually I would have called and reported the pet store, the clerk and then called corporate about the manager. :banana: managers hate corporate bothering them :mad:

We bought ours at jacks aquarium and pets :P

They dont seem like anything is wrong with them. Hope i would never see that there

:O OMG....I think I would of been kickin some bootey. Holy crap....

Well kudos to you...who wants to buy from them anyways!! You should put something on Fauna Classifieds onthe Board of Inquiry about the store.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RockyTop

Or bought it a little more time :( I was so tempted to buy it right there. I have the money for another snake + eq, and I could just use tubs.. but, I figure since I am still new to keeping snakes, I should wait to take on a "petstore rescue" until I am more knowledgeable.

---

Do NOT buy from that store. It may make a difference for the snakes there right now, but they'll just bring in more ball pythons to replace the ones sold. More snakes for the salesperson to flick :mad:! I'd complain to corporate and the manager. I know the manager told you to leave, but I doubt he knew the employee was hitting the animals! If he did well... Then the whole place is nuts and hopefully corporate would do something. But boycott that place for sure.

I certainly would go back to that store. Ask to speak to the manager, and then ask for the information to their corporate office. If he refuses to give it to you, tell him he'll be speaking to the BBB next.

You contact the corporate office, and tell them you witnessed an employee of that store abusing an animal. When you attempted to stop the abuse, you were told by the manager to leave. Then tell them if they do not take action, you will speak to the BBB about the store.

Then take out a small ad in your local paper stating that employees of that store abuse animals. Let the rest of the people take it from there.

It may seem extreme, but if they are going to abuse snakes, they'll abuse other animals as well. Don't let them get away with this!

Gale

Call the police:


TENNESSEE STATUTES
TITLE 39 CRIMINAL OFFENSES
CHAPTER 14 OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY
Part 2-- Animals

39-14-201 Definitions for animal offenses.
As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Animal" means a domesticated living creature or a wild creature previously captured;

(2) "Livestock" means all equine as well as animals which are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry;

(3) "Non-livestock animal" means a pet normally maintained in or near the household(s) of its owner(s), other domesticated animal, previously captured wildlife, an exotic animal, or any other pet, including but not limited to, pet rabbits, a pet chick, duck, or pot bellied pig that is not classified as "livestock" pursuant to this part; and

(4) "Torture" means every act, omission, or neglect whereby unreasonable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused or permitted, but nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the shooting of birds or game for the purpose of human food or the use of animate targets by incorporated gun clubs.


39-14-202 Cruelty to animals.
(a) A person commits an offense who intentionally or knowingly:
(1) Tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal;
(2) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
(3) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
(4) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or
(5) Inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain, by any method, including blistering compounds, to the legs or hooves of horses in order to make them sore for any purpose including, but not limited to, competition in horse shows and similar events.