Petsmart Atrocity

[Metal_Gecko]

So I went into Petsmart last night, and took the usual gander inside all the gecko terrariums, and spotted a newbie..... Mack Snow Leopard, and I mean super white too!

I asked to see him, since he was hiding under a log, and when the log was flipped over, the most appauling thing was revealed...
He was literally skin and bones, pencil tail, black swollen liver, horrible "L" shaped bend in his back(like it was broken), and part of his abdomen was sunken in!!!!!

...I was like, "WTF is wrong with you guys!!!??? Can't you see this guys is deathly sick? He need IMMEDIATE vet care, and his tank needs to be sterilized, and the other Leos NEED to be quarantined A.S.A.P!!!"

I couldn't believe he was in that bad of shape, much less alive! F*ckin sad really.... poor guy.


-Wes

 

[gizmo143]

Petsmart and all the other chain stores need to get a clue!:angry:
they don't have the slightest idea on how to take care of an animal! the bad thing about stores like that are, that you see the animal and know that you can do beter for it and possibly rehabilitate it but you don't want to give petco your buisness.addle:

 

[azkfxgecko]

if u see stuff like that, call local animal control , a store can still get in trouble for animal cruality like everyone else! especially in that bad of shape!

 

[Fai0607]

I saw a snake around my local petsmart and it had stargazing and tried to sell it to this little kid. I was appalled. How could they be licensed to sell these reptiles under such horrible conditions?

 

[Turtlestork]

Well, the truth is that, at least in my state, there is nothing they can do. IF it is a risk for public safety, then it is possible, or if they sell turtle under 4 inches. I encountered a store a few years ago where all of the animals were in atrocious shape. There was a monitor with a terribly abscessed eye. They had every reptile in like tiny 2.5 gallon tanks, even the large uros. Turtles that couldn't even turn around. It was just the worse thing ever. I called the humane society, and they just said they can't do anything about it. There aren't any reptile treatment laws really, only for mammals and such. It's dumb.


TS

 

[psychmylife]

I posted something similar to this in another forum. Here, Petsmart is pretty good, but PETCO is absolutely awful.

 

[gizmo143]

yeah, In ny area petsmart ain't too bad (still isn't great) but some of the petcos are just ...UGH!!!!!!!!

 

[Metal_Gecko]

I think I might go back tomorrow, just to see if they at least took him to the vet...

-Wes

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I think I might go back tomorrow, just to see if they at least took him to the vet...

-Wes

What was the reaction of the store when they "discovered" that poor gecko?

 

[Zilla]

Ok guys, let me just say that I know the irritation that you are feeling at seeing an animal not well cared for. But let me also insist that you direct your complaints to the right direction. It is ok to vent you opinions here and look for support of your feelings. But please if you see an animal that is being hurt in this way and it is at a company like this please call the regional or corporate offices. They can not fix anything if they do not know what is going on.
I work for a large pet retailer and we are not all like this. Matter of fact it is really disheartening to see this kind of thing going on when we work so hard to make sure our guys are well cared for.
Remember that some of these companies do have policies in place for the care of the animals. so when you see this sort of thing someone is breaking a policy somewhere and this is not how their business is to be run. This is the lack of care from an employee, and a lack of attention to detail by a manager. Don't forget that sometimes these animals come in very sick in the first place becasue the breeder that they come from ships them out before it is even a couple of weeks old.
The last thing a company wants is someone to see an animal that is ill and causing customers to turn away and not come back.

 

[thehotchik1000]

True I have called managers and regional managers before because the petsmart in my area is disgusting. Unfortunately it is. If these animals are so sick...1. Why are they up for sale? To the general public as healthy animals.
2. Why are these companies buying from farm breeders and not getting healthy acclimated and older stock?

The real reason is all about $$$$. Why buy well acclimated stock that's eating and old enough to be sold when you can get 100 hatchling just out of the egg animals for 1.00$ a peice? And then after they've been shipped and dehydrated sell them to unknowing customers that think that's how and what they are supposed to look and act like. Not giving them anything but an extremely low quality care sheet if that. I've seen the once in awhile good petstore before and I know that they are not all this bad. But let's face it petstores are out to make $ that's why they sell the products and the animals. They count on people coming in for the usual supplies and saying "oh that's cute how much?". Impulse buyers as I call them. Petstores rely on them. They also rely on making a profit. I understand that I just think better measures could be taken to get better stock as well as selling the animals at the healthiest they can be. As well as giving then better living area.

Morgan

 

[Metal_Gecko]

What was the reaction of the store when they "discovered" that poor gecko?

They didn't really seem concerned, even in the slightest, and I even told the manager that AFTER I had told the employees of his condition.


Well I went back.
After asking about the, "sick Mack Snow Leopard Gecko", no one, "knew what I was talking about." Typical..... :roll:

-Wes

 

[avoidtheboyd]

The problem with chain stores is that they dont care! I feel really bad for these animals when i go into somewhere like that but i will never buy one when just because its sick. This only makes the store more money and then they will just buy another and its just a vicious cycle

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

They didn't really seem concerned, even in the slightest, and I even told the manager that AFTER I had told the employees of his condition.


Well I went back.
After asking about the, "sick Mack Snow Leopard Gecko", no one, "knew what I was talking about." Typical..... :roll:

-Wes

My, my, my......I am really sorry to hear that, Wes.

 

[Morningstarlet]

I'll never buy a gecko from a petco or a petsmart. When I purchased Ziggy the store employee dropped two geckos on the floor when he was trying to show them to me. That was my first clue to leave the store. Unfortunately the thing that took Ziggy was crypto which is another danger from these stores.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'll never buy a gecko from a petco or a petsmart. When I purchased Ziggy the store employee dropped two geckos on the floor when he was trying to show them to me. That was my first clue to leave the store. Unfortunately the thing that took Ziggy was crypto which is another danger from these stores.

So sorry that Ziggy was a tough learning experience. Thanks for sharing firsthand. Best to always buy from a well respected breeder.

 

[Morningstarlet]

So sorry that Ziggy was a tough learning experience. Thanks for sharing firsthand. Best to always buy from a well respected breeder.

Yeah, I still miss the little guy. I may get another one in the distant future, I just don't want to go through another experience like I did with Ziggy.

 

[Fai0607]

I wanted to hold onto a Leo to check it's health for my cousin, and when the employee went in they were already hiding. So, to get them out he picks up the log and SHAKES them. The poor guys were holding onto the log for their life and some fell down. I did held it, and it was really lethargic. Maybe because it was scared. But it had mites and I was just like "Interesting..." and scampered out of there with my cousin.

Also, they leave crickets in there 24/7. Real smart, eh? I've seen some pretty decent pet stores. Most being Petsmart, but I'd stay away from Petland and Petco. Always. They're a joke to me and I'll never purchase anything from them.

 

[gizmo143]

The ONLY petstore i will EVER trust is a small two-store one in only my area called critter hut. that is where i got Gizmo from and he was in a fine 10 gal. as a baby with paper towels, a small water bowl, etc. they take care of all their animals and even take in rescues. the owners are almost always there and even if the younger employees don't know something they immidietly get someone over there who does know. Thats the only petstore I'd ever shop at...I mean, don't they have reptile animal cruelty laws?! I know that they have plenty for mammals but if they don't have em for reptiles someone should certainly make someaddle: Can't we have like a petition or something? ugh! I don't know.... just ugh!:angry:

 

[Fai0607]

Can't we have like a petition or something? ugh! I don't know.... just ugh!:angry:

Love that idea.. but we shouldn't even have to. It's crap that a whole bunch of people have to PETITION for animal cruelty to be banned. There shouldnt even be just a mammal law. It should be a general law applying to all living animals. May it be fishes, birds, reptiles, mammals etc. Reptiles have requirements, too =/ Can't tell you HOW many deaths I saw from MBD due to lack of information and petstore neglect. I'm a strong supporter of USARK and something WILL be done one day. Our biggest threats are those damn Humane Society people.