Bad petstore..

So while I was working last night, someone came in and said that they heard that I had some snakes. I told her yea, Ive got two at the moment and have two on the way, then started showing pictures and all that fun stuff..

Well then she told me about this petstore near me that Ive never been to before (its a 'fish' store, been open for years but Ive never been in there), and she said that they had alot of reptiles.

So I went there today to check it out, and the first thing I see when I walk in is two huge BPs, laying together in their own fecies, and with maybe a 50w bulb about a foot away from them, and no UTH (the store was FREEZING!!), and the cage was the set up for like a baby green tree python. They also had two BD's in a cage togather, with a lightbulb burning through the screen, and the cage was WAY too small for one- let alone two. There were rats huddled together in a cage- some dead. ALOT of little lizards that looked lathargic- one of the baby iggys was touching the light bulb in its cage and was being burned, but still not moving...

There was alot more too- their fish seemed great- but as you can probably tell the reptiles- not at all.

So a myself and my friend that was with me, decided to talk to the people to see what we could do... Nothing. Plus neither of us had the money to get the on us ($100, each), to get the BPs, but we both put down a $25 deposite down, and set up an oppointment to take them both to the vet right after we pick the up from the pet store on Wed. (that gives us enough time to get a new tank set up and everything ready for them when we take them home). They did let us take out the BP's and BD's and look at them, and the BP's over all health didnt seem too bad, but I think one of them might have RI.

As for the other animals, weere thinking of calling animal control. We dont have the space for them or else Id have bout 25 lizards instead of 1, but its not possible for me.

What do you think I should do? I'm happy that were saving the snakes, but as for the rest- I dont know. The stores not going to change, thats for sure... Some help please?

Thats horrible!!!! I think calling animal control or a local reptile rescue would be the best thing. If that is impossible maybe you could start a petition/write some letters?

Definately... I just couldent believe it- the store I normaly go to is an exotic petstore with reptiles only, and their reptiles are in amazing condition at all times. Then petco's and petsmarts can be bad, but I've never seen one too bad...

But this was just sick! I'm going to do all I can to get those animals out of there.

Hi,

I would go back and ask for a refund of the deposit - giving them money for doing that to animals sends the wrong message.

Then I would leave and call the animal control or whomever to have them dealt with.


dr del

Exactly. Call local animal control, over and over if you must until something gets done, but DO NOT give that horrid place any money! All that will do is give them the reason and means to get more poor reptiles to put in those terrifying conditions. It is hard to leave the animals there, but believe us...it's the best thing to do to prevent others from continued suffering.

And I'll make three....

When you buy animals from abusive conditions, you are supporting those conditions.

No ifs, ands, or buts.

Don't support the abusers.

Buying the BPs may have seemed the best thing to do at the time - and it is certainly harder not to, when you see them in person - but at the same time one must be mindful that if you buy those 2 BPs now, the store will only be encouraged to get in 4 later. They will assume there is a market for the animals, and will try to push that market to make money.

I'd call animal control on the store, and let them deal with the animals themselves. Then you can maybe adopt the BPs for free from the shelter. That way the store is brought to task and not encouraged to keep reptiles they can not adequately care for, and you can rescue the BPs - in more ways than one.

I'm glad you were there to witness the way the animals were being abused. Its good to know that such mindful and compassionate people are on the lookout for the good of herps in our society. You deserve special Kudos! :gj:

I know I shouldent support them- but I want to help out the snakes... I'm worried about giving them money and accepting more reptiles (thats how they got them all- they said people just gave them to them and they accepted them; they didnt order any of them).. So I would like to get the snakes out, THEN call animal control- there will still be ALOT of evidence of animal cruelty- even if they look into those snakes emty cage..

You guys have VERY good points- but I'm just worried about all of the animals, and sense I know that I can help the snakes- I want to..

Do you think I should just get my money back- call animal control, then see if we can adopt out the snakes after they've been siezed? In that case Ill call ASAP and try to get them in there tomorrow.. Which seems like a very good idea...

And thank you all, for your advice :)

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

I would go back and ask for a refund of the deposit - giving them money for doing that to animals sends the wrong message.

Then I would leave and call the animal control or whomever to have them dealt with.


dr del

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+1.... You may "rescue" a couple animals, but you will be condeming their replacements. Get your money back and DO NOT HELP THE PROBLEM.

Why does noone see that buying these "rescue" animals only benefits the store that will do the same thing over again.

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Originally Posted by mischevious21

Do you think I should just get my money back- call animal control, then see if we can adopt out the snakes after they've been siezed?

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You already have your answer to this one.

If you read my previous post(s) before yours, it states that I do see that it is the problem. One way or another I am going to be calling animal control on them and making sure that they pay the price- and in my oppinion are hopefully shut down.

Yes, I want the snake- to rescue it, and because its beautiful- but I also stated that I may just wait untill after it is siezed by the humane society before adopting it.

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Originally Posted by bcampos

Why does noone see that buying these "rescue" animals only benefits the store that will do the same thing over again.

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It's not that no one gets it, it's just the initial reaction. Their first thought is "I have to save these poor animals" Atleast she is calling animal control, or atleast I think she is. People who buy animals in conditions like this aren't intentionally suporting these people, they just think about the animals. I'm sure now that she has thought about it, just calling animal control and not buying the snakes seams like the better choice.

Yes, rather I end up with a snake or not I had made up my mind to call animal control, and I did after I left there- but they were closed. My uncle retired from the one in my county, and he said to not bother leaving a message, but to just call them as soon as they open to file the complaint so that I have time to exsplain the severty of the situation, and get them to get there quicker.

One way or another though, I would like the snake, and my friend wants the other one. But rather we get them or not (Well, I cant speak for her but atleast for myself), as long as they get out of there and get the proper vet care they need- along with every other animal in there...

Even most of their fish looked bad/sick- and their a "fish" store... It's sick- I just dont see why people would not report something like that- or more importantly why would you surrender your animal to a place like this!!

So how did this turn out? I have a petstore near me that is barely keeping things afloat. It's just ok enough to get by not having animal control called. I hate going in there, and I'm convinced they are supporting a puppy mill.
They too have a nice fish room, but everything else is just soo sick and depressing. I should stop by sometime and see if things haven't shaped up.

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Originally Posted by mischevious21

Even most of their fish looked bad/sick- and their a "fish" store... It's sick- I just dont see why people would not report something like that- or more importantly why would you surrender your animal to a place like this!!

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in your first post you said "their fish seemed great."

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

So how did this turn out? I have a petstore near me that is barely keeping things afloat. It's just ok enough to get by not having animal control called. I hate going in there, and I'm convinced they are supporting a puppy mill.
They too have a nice fish room, but everything else is just soo sick and depressing. I should stop by sometime and see if things haven't shaped up.

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Where is that? Just wondering.

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Originally Posted by mischevious21

I just dont see why people would not report something like that- or more importantly why would you surrender your animal to a place like this!!

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Originally Posted by Street Killer

in your first post you said "their fish seemed great."

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I know- but then we went back and took a closer look.. Eww..

dang it sorry, I pressed the wrong button and posted before I typed anything. Oops. Anyways, there are tons of people that dont understand what these animals need, and unfortunately there are places like this EVERYWHERE. And its hard not to barge in and get the animals out of that situation, but that is one of the worst things that you can do. Everyones pretty much covered it so theres not much else I can say. Best wishes for those animals.

Yea, today I know that our local animal control went in there- but I dont know whats heppend yet, if anything even has. They probably got one of those 24hour notice things, but I'm going to see if my uncle can find out whats going on tommorrow and let me know.