So you think your pet store is bad?

I've been reading a lot of threads lately about people who go to crappy pet stores and complain about them on here and other places. I just wanted to show you a local pet store we are trying to get shut down. How they can maintain thier business license is hard enough to fathom, but how they aren't charged with outright cruelty is beyond mind boggling. So far our efforts have failed and every phone call and email we've sent to various agencies have been in vain. Tomorrow I am going to do something I never thought I would do. I'm not a fan of groups such as PeTA and HSUS, but I believe that maybe they will be able to help since every other avenue we have tried has failed.

These pics are just a small glimpse of the horrors that go on at this pet shop. I was only able to snap a few candid photos with my cell phone when the owner was talking to my wife. Animals are left dead in cages to slowly rot away while the other animals walk or slither all over thier rotting remains and years worth of leftover fecal matter. Unfortunately I haven't gotten the opportunity to film much of what goes on here because the owner will stalk you all over the store and is never more than 6 feet away.

Look! They cleaned up for us! This is the extent of the cleaning that goes on in this place.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...t/critters.jpg

If you could only see all the caked on bird crap and stuff floating in his water. He was all feathers the day they got him. He plucked all his feathers out from stress.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...fricangrey.jpg

There was a liquified dead gecko behind that log deal. He had been there a while. In the anole/tree frog tank there is ALWAYS a couple dead ones dissolving in the water.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ist/geckos.jpg

One of the few animals that had water. Looks refreshing, doesn't it?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../critters2.jpg

Corn. They put a live rat in there with it while we were there. We came back a few days later to try and get more pics and the same rat was still in the tank with the corn and had chewed it up pretty good.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rist/corn1.jpg

Close up of some of wounds. I bet that crushed walnut and leftover poop feels great in that rat bite! I confronted the owner and she claimed it wasn't a big deal. It will come out in a shed or two. This snake died shortly after and received no medical care.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...arist/corn.jpg

i thought pet stores went through inspections to make sure they're meeting health and safety guidelines or something... :confused:
the pet store i buy my feeders from has numerous inspection certificates taped to their front door and on a wall behind the register as well. although it is a bit cramped with cages and merchandise the animals are in fairly good condition, well, except for the cockatoo. he's plucked his chest feathers and the last time i was there was screaming at the top of his lungs for attention i'm assuming. most of us customers and the other animals in there were cringing from the loudness of it and my ears were ringing.
anyways,
that poor grey :(. well, poor all of 'em.
i hope you guys are successful in shutting the place down although i dont imagine it's gonna positively alter the fate of any of the surviving critters there if they're not placed in a better environment. :tears:

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

This is the reason i cannot go into a pet store. I am a very childish person when it comes down to things like this, because i tend to blow up on the people in charge.
I have to hold back because (once again childish me) will say something and make a scene, have the cops called on me, and that is really the last thing anyone needs right?

Im not sure about around there, but animal control in Washington state, is a joke.
There is nothing we can really do here about it, so best thing i can do is not go in there, and tell as many people as i can not to go to those stores.

Its disgusting, and cruel, but it is as far as i can go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i thought pet stores went through inspections to make sure they're meeting health and safety guidelines or something... :confused:
the pet store i buy my feeders from has numerous inspection certificates taped to their front door and on a wall behind the register as well. although it is a bit cramped with cages and merchandise the animals are in fairly good condition, well, except for the cockatoo. he's plucked his chest feathers and the last time i was there was screaming at the top of his lungs for attention i'm assuming. most of us customers and the other animals in there were cringing from the loudness of it and my ears were ringing.
anyways,
that poor grey :(. well, poor all of 'em.
i hope you guys are successful in shutting the place down although i dont imagine it's gonna positively alter the fate of any of the surviving critters there if they're not placed in a better environment. :tears:

---

Thats what I would have thought. The standards must be mighty low here then. Basically all I've gotten from calls and emails is they have a license to be in business, so STFU.

Sucks that there is a good chance most would be euthanized, but its better than being starved to death or having your tail eaten up by a rat and then dying of infection a week later. We would gladly take in what we could. Got a whole empty heated/cooled add on garage that isn't really in use except for a few boxes in the corner that could easily be set up as a QT on very short notice. A trip to Wal-Mart for tubs and some extra Chlorox to clean our plethora of extra tanks that are gathering dust. May not be fancy, but they wouldn't suffer like this. They would always have food, clean water and a couple human beings who care about thier well being!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FIEND_FO_LYFE

This is the reason i cannot go into a pet store. I am a very childish person when it comes down to things like this, because i tend to blow up on the people in charge.
I have to hold back because (once again childish me) will say something and make a scene, have the cops called on me, and that is really the last thing anyone needs right?

Im not sure about around there, but animal control in Washington state, is a joke.
There is nothing we can really do here about it, so best thing i can do is not go in there, and tell as many people as i can not to go to those stores.

Its disgusting, and cruel, but it is as far as i can go.

---

Its hard not to go off on these people too. Not all pet shops are bad, though. It irks me whenever I see some idiot complain about places like PetCo or PetSmart. Sure we could split hairs and I could find things that could be improved, but they usually do ok. Nothing like places like this, which are the REAL problems.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AK907

Its hard not to go off on these people too. Not all pet shops are bad, though. It irks me whenever I see some idiot complain about places like PetCo or PetSmart. Sure we could split hairs and I could find things that could be improved, but they usually do ok. Nothing like places like this, which are the REAL problems.

---

I wouldnt put the all clear on Petco, or Petsmart...
Ive seen just as bad care at those places too....
Dead geckos that were moldy, water that had a thick oily film on it... Ive seen some gross things at those chains too. You cant get all beat up over it all... Ive learned over the years that you cant change stupid. Which these stores are just far beyond. You can try to enlighten them on proper care, but honestly, if they cared one bit, it wouldnt look like that.

Places like this make me glad I work with people who care about the animals under our care. I can't go into stores like that. I would definitely be put into jail for trying to stuff he store manager's head into a glass tank full of all the dirty water in the store and letting a rat chew on his bottom that was sticking out of the tank. Might be worth it though.

It really is stories like this that makes me want to go out and take business classes and start my own pet store. Show them how its meant to be done. Proper/clean environments, fresh water, food, and veterinary care when needed. There are some people (a lot of people) in this world that should never be in charge of caring for other living beings.

This reminds me of a pet shop in fountain Co. Dead animals, filth, owners/employees that don't care, green iguanas being housed with skinny beardies. Baby BPs with obvious signs of RI who languish and die next to their cage mates... Its very sad...and even though department of AG has received many complaints, this little pet shop of horror stays open....its beyond me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AJs Snake House

This reminds me of a pet shop in fountain Co. Dead animals, filth, owners/employees that don't care, green iguanas being housed with skinny beardies. Baby BPs with obvious signs of RI who languish and die next to their cage mates... Its very sad...and even though department of AG has received many complaints, this little pet shop of horror stays open....its beyond me.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

---

Yeah that place blows. I always felt so dirty going in there.

Sadly I think I have only been to one pet store locally that seemed like they were on top of everything. The Petcos and Petsmarts near me are mostly clean but you can tell the animals aren't getting what they need. I always see crickets in the corn snake enclosure. I'm hoping that they just got in there from some other animals enclosure but they are probably feeding them crickets.

There are also two reptile only shops near me. One of them is the shop I said is always on top of things. The other one is like their evil brother. It is small. You can smell it from outside. The cages are dirty. There are long dead prey animals. Too many animals in an enclosure. Visible illness.

It's a mom and pop store and they generally only have one or two people working. It is also been very busy the two times I have been in there. I don't know how they can possibly take care of the animals properly with such a small staff. Very very sad but I guess there isn't much you can do other than take your business elsewhere.

As much as I hate PETA's guts... I would reccomend you give them a call and send them thos pics, they have money and are fanatical so they are more likely to catch someones attention, plus the threat of a PETA demonstration in front their petstore may force the owners to clean up their act.

seems OH pet store laws are almost non-existent...

State Pet Shop Laws: Ohio
View Map
View Map

Definitions:

Animal: any animal that is a bird, reptile, amphibian, fish or mammal other than humans. (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 941.01)
Domestic animal: livestock and other animals that have been bred to a degree resulting in genetic changes to the species to an extent that makes them different from nondomestic animals of their kind. (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 941.01)

Vet Care:

Everyone is required to obtain a vet certificate prior to importing an animal into the state. (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 941.041)
Anyone who imports or exports a dog to/from the state for retail sale must obtain a vet certificate the dog is “sufficiently sound and healthy” to be transported without “adverse effect.” (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 955.50)

Housing:

N/A

Lemon Laws:

N/A

Food and Water:

N/A

Sanitary Conditions:

N/A

Unweaned Animals:

Everyone is prohibited from selling, offering to sell, or transporting (for sale at retail) any dog under 8 weeks old. (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 955.50)

Miscellaneous Provisions:

License not required for retail pet stores.
rohibits anyone from killing a domestic animal using a high altitude decompression chamber or any method that does not render the animal immediately and painlessly unconscious and subsequently dead. (Penalty: 4th degree misdemeanor) (OHIO REV. CODE ANN. § 959.06)

Notes:

Where “adequate space” is not defined the state has not established a definition for the term.
The definition of “animal” may actually be broadly written while the types of animals covered by the law (e.g., veterinary care, sanitation, food and water) may be more narrowly drafted.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i thought pet stores went through inspections to make sure they're meeting health and safety guidelines or something... :confused:

---

If they're anything like the inspections that I've seen done at restaurants then it's a joke.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AK907

It irks me whenever I see some idiot complain about places like PetCo or PetSmart.

---

I wouldn't call this splitting hairs:

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2030747_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5039447_n.jpg

Both victims of my local Petco.

Sadly I think most pet stores are probably terrible. There may be some that aren't but from what I've seen $$$ comes before the health of the animals. It makes me feel defeated and most efforts to change things seem futile.

Good luck. I hope you get them shut down even if you have to side with the devil.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by babyknees

If they're anything like the inspections that I've seen done at restaurants then it's a joke.


I wouldn't call this splitting hairs:

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2030747_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5039447_n.jpg

Both victims of my local Petco.

Sadly I think most pet stores are probably terrible. There may be some that aren't but from what I've seen $$$ comes before the health of the animals. It makes me feel defeated and most efforts to change things seem futile.

Good luck. I hope you get them shut down even if you have to side with the devil.

---

I've never had a bad experience at PetCo/PetSmart, but I'd imagine it does happen sometimes. I've only been to maybe a dozen or so around the country, so a very small percentage. I worked at a PetSmart twice and all the cages, even the fish tanks, were ALWAYS immaculately clean and generally well taken care of, save maybe a few minor, non life threatening issues. I did see a dead leopard gecko once at a PetCo, but after informing the staff it was immediately removed and the cage cleaned. Maybe I've just been lucky and only visited the good ones. Most of the whining I've heard were not to the extent your pictures show, mainly just simple stuff like the temps were 5 degrees too cool or the cages were smaller than they should be or someone pooped in the cage and it wasn't immediately cleaned up.

:mad::mad::mad: That is horrible!

ppl are retarted how hard is it to take care of animals, SPECIALLY WHEN YOUR GETTING PAID TO DO IT :rage:

im not sure about this but i heard birds pluck there feathers sometimes when they get really bored

Makes me sick to my stomach. :( It's really not all that difficult to clean those cages at least once a month. That would be the bare minimum, but would leave the condition of the animals much better than what has been shown.

Unfortunately, it's become apparent that even being able to shut down the worst pet stores won't make a dent in the problem. There will always be another pet store with sick and dying animals being kept in deplorable conditions.

That makes me so mad. If I post exactly what is on my mind about that pet store I may get banned. :mad:

My local Petland is honestly not that bad. The tanks are always clean and they have all the appropriate furnishings. The animals always look healthy.

That is crazy. Smh

I'm glad I've never seen horrors like this in pet stores, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut. The worst I've seen is the pet store right down the street from me has a lot of loose anoles that they said escape all the time. I still wouldn't buy another reptile from there as I know I have better choices, like the local reptile shop (which I would be extremely hard pressed to find an issue with) and breeders, but they aren't bad. They even socalize the birds. Every time I go there for dog food they have one or more birds up front on a nice perch. :)

So what do you think the best way to go about shutting one down would be?? I'm facing the same problem with a woman just a few blocks down from my home, in Louisiana. She's been open ever since I was little, I'm 21 now, and nothing's changed, in fact it's gotten worse. I went in for the first time in years a few weeks ago, and she had a Red tail in the same tank with a baby Ball. There were 2 Reticulated ones probably each over a good 6ft long, today there was only one, but the tank wasn't even big enough for 1 let alone 2. Today, just the one was in and there's stuck shed all in it probably from 4 to 5 sheds ago, the water bowl has no water and has shed all in there. And the poor thing is losing it's muscle mass and looks like it hasn't eaten in months, when it can go a month without eating anyway. She has probably about 4 tanks now with snakes, and none of them have hides. There was a new boa today, and the log for the hide was upside down in the water bowl. Then a Red tails water was so full of algae the only color I could compare it to was an Xbox 360 case. And it's not just reptiles, but she keeps puppies and ferrets and birds as well, and the smell was so bad in there I couldn't stop coughing. I have a sister in law and brother in law who are both cops, only for another city, who suggested to contact our Health Dept first over the Humane Society, but neither organization really has any interest in the issue. We would love to buy out the store and try to fix it up, the animals in there are most likely going to have to be put down. But it would be so much easier if we could get her shut down and have it cleaned out for us. Any suggestions???

Not to say all big pet stores are good but I wouldnt lump them all together. We sit pretty much between 2 Petco's. One is great all animals are healthy and well taken care of I heard the reptile guys there talk a couple out of a Veiled Chameloen and into a bearded dragon because they were not a good fit for the pet. This store always has the temps and humidity's correct and the animals look healthy and as happy as you could expect for a store enviroment. The other I wouldn't buy kitty litter from to use to clean my garrage floor. Stuck sheds and sickly looking animals. No one seems to know what they are talking about or even cares. I talked to the manager of the second store and even called the main office. I did see some changes but I will still not shop there. One of the local mom and pop stores is great nice looking animals and great advice. If they dont know the answer they tell you and will give you someone else to talk to or direct you to the right place. They even told me about this forum :). The other has way to many animals for thier space and the store always smells. So I dont shop at either of the locations and have complained about both. In this instance I would call PETA or ASPCA even though I am not fond of either agency but I so hate to see animals suffering and poorly cared for. One more thing the Reptile expert at the first petco told us that he had the basics and only the basics to care for a snake such as a Ball Python but did point us to the nice mom and pop shop for our specific needs and gave us some great advice. Sorry to ramble but I hate to see everything lumped into one catagory and names bashed when there are a few good locations of that store. Basicaly I shop and spen my money where I see animals in good health and an inviroment where they are cared for

This is in Ohio???? .... im speechless:mad: :mad: :mad:

if i were you and nobody that could do something about werent doing anything, i would definitly go to peta, even though i cant stand peta (except my peta: people eating tasty animals) but you know that they would hopefully be ALL over this shop, they really do need to be shut down. and good on you for trying to help these animals:gj: