Are you kidding me?!?! (Rant Warning)

[crazyj83]

It always makes me angry when I hear these stories. Most of the major pet stores in my area do not hire based on animal experience but rather on retail experience. To me that shows the mentality of the corporation. Mass produce and sell sell sell. Who cares if the animals suffer. Well I'm all for calling the ASPCA on irisponsible pet stores. It wont stop unless we take responsablity and do our part.

Messed up part is I have 10yrs retail exp. And within 6mons I have learned a huge amount on herps. They wont even let me volenteer...lol

[Raptor]

Means they changed managers or the person in charge of the reptile department. I go to that store and have never seen the conditions you describe. Considering this is a locally owned chain store, I suggest you contact the owners.

[python_addict]

Wow.....at petco last week I was actually looking at the mice and noticed one was twitching and trying to breathe....I told one of the employees and hes like oh and took it out and then said Ill just feed it to the sick snake in the back....hmmmm I wonder why hes sick...your feeding him sick and dying animals.....pet stores are the worst!!!

[crazyj83]

Means they changed managers or the person in charge of the reptile department. I go to that store and have never seen the conditions you describe. Considering this is a locally owned chain store, I suggest you contact the owners.

You live in tulsa area? Please go check out the herps there and tell me what you think... Its sad that they let it get that bad. I mean its bad when your handed a snake with mites or in a deep shed and bites due to people being ignorant, but scale rot and dripping slime from the mouth are both things even a noob thats never even seen a snake would go "um, somethings wrong here". The lil'guys belly was so ragged it was like someone ran him over a cheese grater, it was pinkish brown and splitting the belly atleast 1/3of his body... It was sickining and sad.

[Raptor]

As I said. That's something that is unusual for them. Anytime I've been in their stores, everything was fine, something is usually being cleaned. Be it the pocket pets, fish tanks, or the reptiles. Half the time there's signs up saying "Hi, I just arrived at the store and I'm not for sale right now". Their animals come from a local breeder, so it quite possibly could have been an issue there. However, I'm guessing that they changed caretakers with the reptile department.

[enchantress62]

No matter the reason they need to be held accountable. Here's a thought. Go back with a camera and when asked what you are doing say, "I just thought the ASPCA should see what a fine job this store is doing with it's snakes!" Garantied to get a responce. Lol

[Raptor]

ASPCA won't do anything. Personal experience. Reported a mom & pop pet store that consistently had reptiles without water, in dirty enclosures, stuck shed, dead animals on display, etc, and nothing was ever done.

[Missy King]

stand on the corner for one day, not really near the store, but on the street corner, with a sign protesting them and saying they have sick animals. Make sure they see you first. lol

I'd keep asking to talk to a higher up ...and i'd also ask the vet clinic in there if an employee would come over, follow you over to the tanks, and give you their "opinion" on the animals. I mean ask for someone high up, and tell them they NEED to see the conditions.
Probably won't work.

Better business beaureu, or online websites like yelp...people actually look at those. In fact, do a yelp comment, and then PRINT IT, and tape it to the door and just walk out. Tape a copy to the snake tank, and THEN put one on the door as you walk out *lol*

At least the'd SEE it, and it might illicit a response. Do they have a facebook page, or yellowpage ad, or anything on the internet? Only a hit in the pocketbook is going to touch them.

[Vypyrz]

that store has an IN STORE VET CLINIC...

If I'm not mistaken, those in-store vet clinics are independant veterinarians who lease the space from the store. I don't think that they treat store animals, unless the store pays them to, but it might be worth a shot to try mentioning it to them and see if there is anything they can do, if at least, talking to the store manager about improving conditions.

[zeion97]

If I'm not mistaken, those in-store vet clinics are independant veterinarians who lease the space from the store. I don't think that they treat store animals, unless the store pays them to, but it might be worth a shot to try mentioning it to them and see if there is anything they can do, if at least, talking to the store manager about improving conditions.

They don't, they simply lease the spot from the store. I know our petsmar gets a discount for employees, but they won't see the animals. (Cat and dog vet only) so there's little to work on there. If this store leases to a reptile vet then they may be able to get a discount, but remember, in the end it's up to the vet...

ASPCA won't do anything. Personal experience. Reported a mom & pop pet store that consistently had reptiles without water, in dirty enclosures, stuck shed, dead animals on display, etc, and nothing was ever done.

Reptiles get no rights, it's degrading. You say a kitten Is dying And You get raided by the FBI, You say a Burmese python is being held in inhuman conditions And the officers have another round of drinks..

Dramatization yes, but you see my point. a local store has been shut down 3 times for animal cruelty and EVERY time gets around it.. never once has it been for housing reptiles horribly but birds or ferrets or rabbits.

If we expect anything to change we need someone to come into power who understanding reptiles as a whole And does some good thinga for them instead of trying to ban them..