So I applied at Petco...( rather long)

[RoyalGuardian]

So today I wasn't feeling like getting yelled at by my english teacher so I went to Petco instead. Of course I walked straight to the reptile department and saw something I hoped I would never have to see... There were four medium sized Ball pythons STUFFED into a terrarium that would only comfortably fit one. They were all trying to hide under one of their water dishes and when I walked by they all poked their little heads out as if to say " HELP US!!!" One of them was FAT, like it had just eaten a smaller ball python. Other than being stuffed into a tiney cage they had no hides.. thats why they were using their water dish. Their temps and humidity were ok. there was no warm side, it was all just 86. Their humidity was in the upper 50's so not too bad. Then I looked up and saw the prettiest little Corn snake I have ever seen, but it wasn't moving and its sides were flat. I knew I had to do something so I applied for part time reptile associate! After I talked to the manager I wanted to say goodbye to all my little reptile friends. As I sat on the floor talking to the Ball Pythons I saw a cool hidebox. I picked it up and what did I find? A dead and very hard green anole... I would post pics if I had had my camera but I did manage to bring home the anole. I was disgusted so I decided to go home. Bad Idea. Dad was home and I was still supposed to be at school. So what did I do? Went to Petsmart of course. I must have looked at every book and none of them said what the humidity for any of the animals were so I could not check. But what I did see was the cutest little normal in his own little cage. This lifted my spirits... until I saw the temp and humidity. It was 117 degrees and 30% humidity! I was HORRIFIED! I immediatly found an employee and asked him to fix it while I held the poor little guy. The Ball python was good looking. Nice markings, he looked well fed and was very sweet. But that look he gave me was so haunting.. I could see that this torment was wearing him down. I told the guy that I would be back in a few days and if this ball python wasn't being cared for properly that I would speak to a manager. And if it continued I would have no choice but to go higher up the food chain. He "fixed" it and put the ball python back in. I'm going to check up on the little guy tomorrow and if it isnt spot on I am going to raise some hell. Sorry for my long story. But that is what Miss Luna was up to today. I hope i get my job. >_> ...<_<.. Skrew store policies I'm doing whats best for the animals!

[aaramire]

So today I wasn't feeling like getting yelled at by my english teacher so I went to Petco instead. Of course I walked straight to the reptile department and saw something I hoped I would never have to see... There were four medium sized Ball pythons STUFFED into a terrarium that would only comfortably fit one. They were all trying to hide under one of their water dishes and when I walked by they all poked their little heads out as if to say " HELP US!!!" One of them was FAT, like it had just eaten a smaller ball python. Other than being stuffed into a tiney cage they had no hides.. thats why they were using their water dish. Their temps and humidity were ok. there was no warm side, it was all just 86. Their humidity was in the upper 50's so not too bad. Then I looked up and saw the prettiest little Corn snake I have ever seen, but it wasn't moving and its sides were flat. I knew I had to do something so I applied for part time reptile associate! After I talked to the manager I wanted to say goodbye to all my little reptile friends. As I sat on the floor talking to the Ball Pythons I saw a cool hidebox. I picked it up and what did I find? A dead and very hard green anole... I would post pics if I had had my camera but I did manage to bring home the anole. I was disgusted so I decided to go home. Bad Idea. Dad was home and I was still supposed to be at school. So what did I do? Went to Petsmart of course. I must have looked at every book and none of them said what the humidity for any of the animals were so I could not check. But what I did see was the cutest little normal in his own little cage. This lifted my spirits... until I saw the temp and humidity. It was 117 degrees and 30% humidity! I was HORRIFIED! I immediatly found an employee and asked him to fix it while I held the poor little guy. The Ball python was good looking. Nice markings, he looked well fed and was very sweet. But that look he gave me was so haunting.. I could see that this torment was wearing him down. I told the guy that I would be back in a few days and if this ball python wasn't being cared for properly that I would speak to a manager. And if it continued I would have no choice but to go higher up the food chain. He "fixed" it and put the ball python back in. I'm going to check up on the little guy tomorrow and if it isnt spot on I am going to raise some hell. Sorry for my long story. But that is what Miss Luna was up to today. I hope i get my job. >_> ...<_<.. Skrew store policies I'm doing whats best for the animals!

Thats what I tried to do when I worked at Petsmart, do whats best for the animals...unfortunately if you do that the managers dont like you/dont keep you around for very long because either you "take too much time" feeding the animals properly or whatever the deal is. With stores like that no matter how much you try to "save" the animals there will be ones that dont make it and if you dont do things according to the stores "standards" you wont last long....thats the sad reality....

[Gooseman]

Skrew store policies I'm doing whats best for the animals!

Then don't expect to have your job for long. Chain pet stores have very strict rules as far as housing the "product" is concerned. The animals are given habitats that are sufficient enough for the animals to survive, but little else. There is really nothing you can do to impact the number of animals per cage. The stores lose all their profit in having all those cages cleaned and bedding replaced twice a week if each animal had their own cage. Ever think of why big breeders use more basic paper bedding in rack set-ups than expensive aspen in glass cages? If they kept all their snakes individually in "fancy" cages, they'd be in red ink fast. Thus Petco has given maximums per cage, and for ball pythons, I believe that number is 8. If you started to work at petco, and used up all the alotted bedding for that store housing the snakes how they should be caged, there will be no bedding left for the small animal cage cleanings, the animals that truly are sick and need to be set-up in wellness. Other animals that come in as overstock. Because each Petco is only allowed 6 bags of carefresh and 2 bags of aspen per week, and believe it or not... that's barely enough to get by housing the animals as is. Further tearing apart the habitats and putting even fewer per cage... you'd run out of bedding, quite simply. The problem is much greater than individual pet stores, but the bureaucratic red-tape of the corporation and loss prevention teams. Unless Petco was to purchase snake racks for their snakes (which they won't because racks don't sell all the other products as vivariums do), there is no cost efficient way to house the snakes. And the stores would have to stop carrying the snakes all together. Which is actually being looked at by Petco. There is a very good chance Petco will stop carrying animals all together. Many are losing their bird habitats, and most other animals sections are shrinking or "right-sizing". However, I believe this to be a very negative thing to the animal community, and even for the ball python community. How many new members to this site bought their first ball from a breeder? How many from a store like Petco? Petco and other chain stores are the cost efficient/easy way to get into pet ownership. And if the team is knowledgeable about the animals, they can point out that there are better ways to house animals to the customers while understanding the necessity of the current housing conditions. Not great, but could be worse. I believe there are individual stores that need work, just as in any business, but temporarily housing 8 snakes in one cage isn't the worst scenario. Keeping a snake habitat at a constant 86 degrees isn't necessarily a negative. If I'm not mistaken, there are quite a few keepers who do the same through space heaters and not heating individual cages. Thing is, if the stores followed policy, you'd find stores like the petco you visited (minus the anole, as that should have been spotted by an associate before a customer). When Policy isn't followed, you get stores like the Petsmart you went to. So, back to the original quote... Breaking policy means you won't be able to make much of an impact. Following policy, and helping customers gain valuable information is a much better use of time and energy on the animals behalf.

But... word of advice, don't skip class, you won't get anywhere in life with that attitude.

[Inknsteel]

But... word of advice, don't skip class, you won't get anywhere in life with that attitude.

Ditto everything Ben just said. Especially that last bit.

Really, there isn't much you can do to change the bix-box pet stores. Many have tried and failed. If the conditions are THAT bad, which it doesn't sound like they are, you could try contacting the corporate office as a "concerned customer" but they will most likely thank you by not changing anything...

But for real, go to school and study hard and you'll have a lot more tools and ammo to help make a difference where you can.

[RoyalGuardian]

Then don't expect to have your job for long. Chain pet stores have very strict rules as far as housing the "product" is concerned. The animals are given habitats that are sufficient enough for the animals to survive, but little else. There is really nothing you can do to impact the number of animals per cage. The stores lose all their profit in having all those cages cleaned and bedding replaced twice a week if each animal had their own cage. Ever think of why big breeders use more basic paper bedding in rack set-ups than expensive aspen in glass cages? If they kept all their snakes individually in "fancy" cages, they'd be in red ink fast. Thus Petco has given maximums per cage, and for ball pythons, I believe that number is 8. If you started to work at petco, and used up all the alotted bedding for that store housing the snakes how they should be caged, there will be no bedding left for the small animal cage cleanings, the animals that truly are sick and need to be set-up in wellness. Other animals that come in as overstock. Because each Petco is only allowed 6 bags of carefresh and 2 bags of aspen per week, and believe it or not... that's barely enough to get by housing the animals as is. Further tearing apart the habitats and putting even fewer per cage... you'd run out of bedding, quite simply. The problem is much greater than individual pet stores, but the bureaucratic red-tape of the corporation and loss prevention teams. Unless Petco was to purchase snake racks for their snakes (which they won't because racks don't sell all the other products as vivariums do), there is no cost efficient way to house the snakes. And the stores would have to stop carrying the snakes all together. Which is actually being looked at by Petco. There is a very good chance Petco will stop carrying animals all together. Many are losing their bird habitats, and most other animals sections are shrinking or "right-sizing". However, I believe this to be a very negative thing to the animal community, and even for the ball python community. How many new members to this site bought their first ball from a breeder? How many from a store like Petco? Petco and other chain stores are the cost efficient/easy way to get into pet ownership. And if the team is knowledgeable about the animals, they can point out that there are better ways to house animals to the customers while understanding the necessity of the current housing conditions. Not great, but could be worse. I believe there are individual stores that need work, just as in any business, but temporarily housing 8 snakes in one cage isn't the worst scenario. Keeping a snake habitat at a constant 86 degrees isn't necessarily a negative. If I'm not mistaken, there are quite a few keepers who do the same through space heaters and not heating individual cages. Thing is, if the stores followed policy, you'd find stores like the petco you visited (minus the anole, as that should have been spotted by an associate before a customer). When Policy isn't followed, you get stores like the Petsmart you went to. So, back to the original quote... Breaking policy means you won't be able to make much of an impact. Following policy, and helping customers gain valuable information is a much better use of time and energy on the animals behalf.

But... word of advice, don't skip class, you won't get anywhere in life with that attitude.

My schooling is none of your business. I am an adult and can handle myself. If I choose not to go to a class that I know we are doing nothing I will skip. I wasn't expecting everyone to flame on me. I'm going to do my best so that the animals get what they deserve. I can do Quick and accurate unlike some people. I am going to try my very very best to help these little guys out. These stores where I live, their policy is If it dies it dies. I AM going to change that. If I have to buy food for the snakes and a hide a log I will. If I have to go to the store on my days off to check temps and humidity I will. I DO NOT halfass anything I do and sir. If they cant pay for more cages they shouldnt have all those animals. I am going to help owners and potential owners so I know that people arn't buying them with out knowing what they are getting into. I will NOT stand by and watch innocent animals die for nothing. My policies are, Take care of the animals, instruct and help the owners, and by the gods I will save these little lives. I could care less about you haters. To me you arn't worth my time. If you arn't going to support me then you are against me and you are just as bad as they are. You SETTLE, you never ask for more or what it could be. I can change people, animals can change people. I've poured my heart out for these little beasts and I will do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to help them. What do I suggest. DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! If I've learned anything in my life its that NO ONE tries harder than me if I put my mind to anything. So all of you thinking " Your going to be like all the others... your going to fail.. your not going to save any of them they are all going to die anyway." YOU have given up hope . Not me. NEVER. I'm not there for the money. I'm there for those little flicking forked toungs and those cute little tails. I will not stand by and watch animals suffer because of store policies. You can sit with your healthy snakes and feel sorry for those less fortunate. or you can be like me and actually try to do something about it.

[m00kfu]

You really need to chill out. I didn't see ANYONE do any flaming except for yourself. Everyone's posts were very well spoken and just trying to inform you of what you're up against. Chances are you will NOT change corporate policy, if you consistantly go against your manager you'll just end up losing your job. If you continue to go in there and raise a scene after they fire you, there's a pretty good chance you'll get banned from the store. As everyone has tried to point out, you'll do more good working within the system than against it.

[RoyalGuardian]

If I can do it for Show horses I can sure as heck do it for reptiles. ( I used to work at a show horse stable that had started to go broke. I didn't ask for money, instead I paid for bedding and feed for the special needs horses. I helped turn it around and I saved atleast 3 horses lives. I know what hard work is and helping the animals isn't half as hard as getting people to admit they are wrong. Which I've gotten pretty good at doing. )

[RoyalGuardian]

You really need to chill out. I didn't see ANYONE do any flaming except for yourself. Everyone's posts were very well spoken and just trying to inform you of what you're up against. Chances are you will NOT change corporate policy, if you consistantly go against your manager you'll just end up losing your job. If you continue to go in there and raise a scene after they fire you, there's a pretty good chance you'll get banned from the store. As everyone has tried to point out, you'll do more good working within the system than against it.

If the system is that animals individually arn't important then I will change it where I live. Just because corperate policies are corperate doesn't mean they can't be bended if they are wrong. and as for Petco I didn't see anything really wrong exept for the corn and the anole. As for Flaming. This is text, I can't hear or see you. Once you attack my idea to help animals YEAH you make me really angry. I hear all of you and I am telling you that I CAN make a difference. I have no one even saying good luck or even giving me alittle support so yeah I'm alittle defensive. I am only as stong as the support my friends give me and as my friends I had hoped that you would at least sent some good will my way. But no, you change the subject to my schooling which is none of your business.

[m00kfu]

Was it a privately owned stable? If it was, that's probably why you were successful. I'm not trying to put you down, but a nationwide chain run by a corporation is a totally different animal. Even if you could convince your manager to put their own job on the line to let you do the extra stuff on your own pay, eventually corporate will find out about it, and chances are you'll both lose your jobs. You've got to remember, corporations generally don't care about the people or animals that they are involved with. The bottom line is how much profit they can make. If the snakes are selling and making them a profit as it is, they won't change their policies. They probably spend only $10 or so for each ball python. Most of the time they get sold for $80 before they get sick or die. That's considered an acceptable loss to the people in power. As far as most of them are concerned, they aren't selling animals -- they're selling product. You would have to convince them that they would make more money by spending more money and time to take better care of the animals. If you really want to try and change the way things are run, more power to ya. But really, you're best bet will be to not make a huge fuss as soon as you walk in there. Take the best care of them that you can with what they give you to work with, and try to make little changes for the better here and there when you can.

[ADEE]

luna, honestly.. coming from experience. skipping hurts no one but yourself, your being cheated in the long run and when you get wiser (often with age) you will learn that. You going "oh crap, dads home" admits you know it was the wrong thing to do.. however, your an individual who is going to do what you wanna do. With that said, i worked for two different petstore chains in my teen years and had a great time doing it. I did help with the fish/reptile center for one and equine specialist in the other. There are some situations you can make better but as others have said these animals are nothing but "profit and products" to them. Good luck getting things straightened out with the petstore if you get the job. But remember, education is very very important... that is unless you want to be a petstore worker the rest of your life. (and no im not talking upper management, there is nothing wrong with that so please dont take comments out of context)


ETA: if it was none of our business regarding your schooling, you couldve left that little tidbit of info out of the conversation. By saying something you open it entirely to the entire community... imo its free range, there are many many very wise adults who have been there/done that.. you should take into consideration the things they say instead of getting all huffy about it.