Petco = pathetic

[SquamishSerpents]

I'd have to agree. A few stores I've visited don't know how to take care of their reptiles. Or the people they hire just don't give a crap. Like you, my roommate and I always alert one of the employees to the status of bad looking reptiles (and small animals).

I hit up one Petco, where I got Sabbath, and the guy in charge of the reptiles definitely knew what he was doing. He was very knowledgeable about feeding, morphs, care and the like.

However, when it comes to getting an animal in the future, I will stick with a breeder

Kudos to ya for alerting one of the workers, though!

yes, some of the employees just don't give a crap at all. and why would they; i'm sure petco doesn't pay very nicely. probably just like any other chain store getting away with VERY minimum wage. not everybody is as compassionate about animals as us snake lovers, and that's the sad truth. they SHOULD give a crap, but they don't.

[Jay_Bunny]

Well as someone who keeps reptiles/small mammals/birds/lizards/etc AND is hopefully getting a job at Petsmart, I hope to bring that knowledge with me and inform people correctly. What those stores need are to hire people that actually know what they are doing and KNOW about the animals they sell. I would not boycott an entire company because of the practices of a few stores. All the Petsmarts and Petcos around here do very well and keep their animals clean and cared for. (Clean bedding, reptiles have hides, correct humidity/temps, etc)

[king216]

Some of these pet shops treat the reptiles like crap

[ajsnoopy]

Well as someone who keeps reptiles/small mammals/birds/lizards/etc AND is hopefully getting a job at Petsmart, I hope to bring that knowledge with me and inform people correctly. What those stores need are to hire people that actually know what they are doing and KNOW about the animals they sell. I would not boycott an entire company because of the practices of a few stores. All the Petsmarts and Petcos around here do very well and keep their animals clean and cared for. (Clean bedding, reptiles have hides, correct humidity/temps, etc)

That's the exact reason why I would like to apply to the Petsmart here in Flagstaff . They do a pretty decent job with taking care of their herps, but I've noticed they've recently hired someone new for the herps/fish (when the fish guy isn't working). So! I would love to do my part to educate those searching for a new friend and also provide proper care for the animals.

My roommate has run into people on small animal forums that are attempting the same; getting hired on at Petsmart so they can apply their knowledge to the care of the animals.

I must admit, though...I'm not a fan of the Petco here in Flag :S we've alerted them to spoiled food being on the shelves and bad living conditions for reps and hammies alike. u.u I really wish they would hire people who cared about the animals at that store.

[Jay_Bunny]

I think it may have been a case of, one employee was cleaning tanks and was in the process of finishing the corn snake's tank but had to leave (shift ended, sudden emergency in the store, etc) and did not get a chance to tell the next person on shift. Who knows, BUT she did sound like she was concerned and promptly fixed the error. With the ball pythons, while I don't agree with that practice, I can understand why so many would be in the same tank. These ball pythons are not meant to stay there for weeks and months. They are meant to be in for a few days at most and sold. Though I do think they should have hides and temperatures need to be checked several times a day.

If you want to see change in that store, go above them. Get in touch with someone higher than the store manager (district manager or even the top CEO if you can) and let them know about the conditions in the store. Let them know they will be losing you as a customer and you will be going to another local store for your pet needs and will be bringing several of your friends and family along with you. Tell them if they'd look into it and conditions in the store improve, then you will come back as a customer. I know that when I worked in retail, if someone went above us with a complaint you bet the store would have it fixed soon.