Why I won't buy from a pet store

[M&NSnakeDen]

Thank you!

Life in any form, human or animal is a gift & therefore it is priceless. Just because we can slap a $20 on the counter and call it a pet doesn't mean that it's somehow less deserving of being treated or defended as we would our own young.

I would say NOT running to the ASPCA is irresponsible, just as I'd say NOT reporting a neglectful mother to child protective services is irresponsible.

[Marrissa]

See I don't have a problem with people reporting to the ASPCA without further knowledge. It happened to the ranch I board my horse at. We had a lot of old horses that we were doing our best to keep weight on, but old age was just catching up to them (they were in their 30s). People saw them out grazing on the pastures and the ASPCA came out and talked to the ranch about it. The ranch just explained to them their age, they saw the care that was being put into them, and just advised that the ranch should think about putting them down before winter because it was going to be a harsh one. The ranch had already planned to put them down before the winter, but was giving them one last shot. No harm done.

And no pets do not belong in the same category as human children. If you eat any kind of meat or use any animal products then you too are using animals for your benefit. That's what they're here for our use, but we need to treat them with respect. If you want to say an animal needs to be defended as much as a human child I would expect you to be a vegan then. An animal is not equal to a human. There's no sense in comparing the two.

[sho220]

An animal is not equal to a human.

If a stray dog and Kim Kardashian are both choking on chicken bones, I'm helping the dog first...

[Marrissa]

If a stray dog and Kim Kardashian are both choking on chicken bones, I'm helping the dog first...

lol now that I can agree with. I've never watched any show with her on it, or keep up with her in any of the news. But just from seeing commercials of her stupid show while waiting for mine to come back on, I would totally help any animal out first.

[therunaway]

Hey Wilomn, what happened to the $30 price tag? There wasn't enough information there on that snake to be that expensive so they knocked off ten bucks? I for one would not take the snake, in spite of keeping my funds and my collection under control and in good position, I know what you're thinking, "Oh, one snake, especially not a normal can't break the bank!" but they can! You toss vet bills for this guy in, the time you're going to spend force feeding it, etc. and you've lost a nice chunk of change for something that may not even make it. I would much rather see the ASPCA brought in, and allow them to deal with this part of the scum of the Earth.

/rant off.

[CrystalRose]

If a stray dog and Kim Kardashian are both choking on chicken bones, I'm helping the dog first...

^ Word.

Wow. That snake does look horrible. I used to go to Pet Supplies Plus years ago when I lived closer to Milwaukee. Back then all they had for live animals were fish. Things like this are always hard. I agree that the ASPCA or some kind of humane law enforcement should be called. While my first urge is like many others to buy it and try to nurse it back to health,Like others have said they will just get more. It's kind of the same scenario as puppy mill puppies. You want to buy the poor puppy locked in the pet store cage...but all that does is open that cage for a new puppy straight from the mill.

Things like this have no easy or quick answers. If you buy that snake sure you might save that snake,but who is going to save the next one? What I think really needs to happen is call the ASPCA and contact the corporate office for Pet Supplies Plus. Maybe they will get someone in there with more knowledge of reptiles and hopefully if it is neglect the ASPCA will find it and act accordingly.

I do feel really really bad for that snake though. He must be suffering terribly.

[BrandiR]

For all the people thinking we're too hasty in thinking with our emotions...how about you flip the coin, here. Put a child in the place of this snake. Imagine seeing a 6 month old infants's ribs, his muscles, skin clearly dehydrated & lethargic. Maybe he has a rash. Then imagine talking to his mother about it, to which she replies, "oh yeah, he's just missed a couple meals. He'll eat soon." You tell me what you'd do. Would you think to yourself "Oh, I don't know the full situation. I won't judge. I'm sure she's an okay mother and I'd be a rude ass to think otherwise." Or would you think to yourself "this woman has no right to have her child in her custody. That baby needs help" and call child protective services? Guarunteed you'd choose the latter & if not, you have far bigger issues to worry about than an outspoken customer complaining about the condition of the animals in your store.

New managers, lack of education, lack of space. There's nothing that could make that situation okay. A snake like that needs to be at a vet or in the care of someone who can give it what it needs. Anyone with eyes can see that.

I wouldn't do any of the things you suggest. I'd march right up to the mother and demand that she relinquish the child to me immediately, along with its crib, bottles, formula, and diapers!

[DestinyLynette]

It's just a $20-30 snake?...
Hamsters are only $10-15... can I buy one just to toss it in a microwave?
No?
Why not?
Maybe because that's long suffering and cruelty.
Animal cruelty does NOT stop at a price tag... sorry.

Ditto with everyone else- it's worth reporting to the ASPCA; it fits the criteria- deprivation of food, or even if it's "not eating", it's being deprived of medical care (for the sake of the bottom line- you're right). If we don't know the whole store, ASPCA is more than capable of finding that out... If it was a puppy, it'd already be reported and out of custody.

EDIT: Oh, and just to throw this out there, I took a $10 hamster to the vet to earn a $115 vet bill. Why? Because something was wrong with it, and it was my RESPONSIBILITY as her caregiver to do my best to take care of her. Did it suck, yes, but it was the right thing to do.

[DSpythons]

I didnt think this would get so opinionated so quick. As for some saying its a $30 snake and to let it die.. You all love this hobby money aside right? Most of you must have started off with one normal at some point in your hobby. Isnt that what started it all? I care for every animal and I only have 3 snakes and do not plan to breed yet, but if you hatched out a normal in a clutch would you neglect ot because it was only $30? I am not trying to start a problem there but that snake should not be offered for sale and it needs help ASAP. If they cannot provide it, which they are not, my question was if there is someone I could contact. I may go back and try to get it for free and tell them I will try to nurse it back to health. Then I will find a home for it when it is healthy and put on lots of weight. I agree about not being neglected.. the other 2 ball pythons are fat and healthy just covered in burns from climbing the unprotected light bulbs in their tank. I dont know why they would put those in all the reptile tanks including aboreal lizards and frogs. But they should hand that snake over to me free of charge. A sick dog and a sick snake are the same in my eyes.I hate seeing an animal suffer and if I can provent it I will.

[MarkS]

Just some food for thought here. The ASPCA does not believe that reptiles should be kept as pets at all. http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adopti...c-animals.aspx Do you REALLY wish to report something to them that will just add fuel to their animal rights agenda?

Yes the snake looks starved and dehydrated and it should NOT be on the sales floor, but it's impossible to accurately access an animals health from a picture. As someone who has volunteered for a reptile adoption program for over 10 years, I've had ACTUAL experience working with snakes that looked like this, and no this is NOT the worst I've ever seen. Some have been turned around with nothing more then a little TLC and some simply didn't thrive no matter what was tried. Just because something LOOKS bad does not mean it's at deaths doorstep.

Going in and making demands of the owner will do nothing more then fill THEM with righteous indignation as they show you to the door or call the cops. Having a rational discussion about why the snake should not be on the sales floor, why having a sickly animal on display reflects poorly on their business and giving them advice on how they can better care for it will go MUCH further then stomping around and making demands. Believe it or not, pet stores are not gold mines, people will generally open a pet store because they actually like animals. They just may not have experience or knowledge of of how to properly care for every species they carry. If you can convince them of your genuine concern and willingness to share your knowledge they may even thank you for helping them out with their problem.