I too also work at Petsmart. I think most of the care of the animals is set by a vet who Petsmart hires to come up with a set guide on how to care for the animals. So that means tank set up, feeding and what not. I will say most of the reptiles are not cared for properly or are the associates knowledgeable enough to be instructing new owners on how to care for their pets. I dont think I can blame the people working there as they are trained on how to care for the animals Petsmart's way and if the people dont know any different then they cant be wrong. Once someone has figured out the right way of caring for the animals, most of us will tell people to ignore the careguides and do it this way. Like with the bearded dragons, we have someone who is very good with them and has cared for them a long time. She is the one who is our go to when someone is interested in them. Since I came across the ball python we have I joined here and learned how to care for them properly and now I see we werent housing them right or anything! I ahve shared my information with the manager but she is so stuck in her thinking she knows everything that it doesnt really matter what anyone tells her. If she thought the sky was green there is no telling her different! Snakes are force fed when the vet instructs them to do so. Of course the vets they take them to are never certified herp vets.
As far as the pet training.... I am a pet trainer at my store... it is all about money and sales. We are to ask anyone with a dog to sign up for classes. The training you go through is ridiculous and they dont fail people who just dont understand and people who think Schutzhund is a breed of dog. There are some good trainers out there who have had previous experience and ride the fine line to teach the classes better than what petsmart says. I ahve been looking for another job just because I cant put up with a lot of the stuff that goes on in that store. They are supposed to be all about the animals and they arent. I have seen way more than I have ever wished to see in my life but I know now and I just want to pass on the word and educate people who dont know.
its sad... just sad... oh and frustrating.....dumb.. that too
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