So you think your pet store is bad?

[mitochondria]

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.

[Ham]

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.

[Highline Reptiles South]

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

State Pet Shop Laws: Ohio
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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.

[babyknees]

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

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

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

I wouldn't call this splitting hairs:





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.

[AK907]

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:





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.

[MoshBalls]

That is horrible!

[deathfromabove]

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

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

[Kymberli]

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.

[Nektu]

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

[dragonrider]

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.