Petsmart Atrocity

[adam03]

It must be individual store care - our Pet Smart is great with Leo's and all other animals. The "other" well known pet store chain has no clue how to care for leo's at all but seems to do well with the other reptiles. The other store (not petsmart) says that's how they come in -some make it some don't. It does break my heart to see all those dying Leo's in a 5 gallon. Anyone ever write a letter to the company (any company) in question and receive feedback negitive or positive? Just wondering if it would help.

 

[Ossoceo]

Keep at it! And if you do manage to see him again, get us some snaps? I know it sounds weird, but photos of unhealthy animals along with a diagnosis and info are really helpful for us newbs, means we know what to look out for in our own critters.

I don't know much about Petco and Petsmart, but on our side of the pond we have Pets at Home, which have only just started up selling reptiles. There are about 6 in my area, and I'm sad enough to have visited each of them. Just like from what I can gather from you guys and gals, there are massive differences from store to store. Some have got sand with crickets almost bigger than the geckos themselves, whilst others have carpet and decent size food etc. One store had accidentally put the new creatures in quarantine with their old ones!

What has impressed me though is a garden centre near me that's opened a new pet department. It's run by one guy, and is yet to sell a reptile, but when I had a chat with him, he was eager to hear about alternatives to sand (he'd lost one to impaction already) and food sizes. And could tell me all about their feeding habits, temprement, I was pretty impressed. (I've got one of them now on reserve, just got to find the fella a viv!)

What I've found is it depends on the people running the reptile section. Whilst for a lot of the Pets at Home employees, it's simply a job they'd rather not do (which, as an unemployed 17 year old student, peeves me off as I'd work as many hours as I could for lower than average wages and bloody hard). It's a shame really, but what can I say.

And, rant over.

But yes, let us know how the little guy does, because I am rather against the prospect of the destruction of animals for profit.

C

 

[gizmo143]

did ya get him yet? did ya? did ya? I'v been waiting for news like a kid at christmas

 

[j_izzle8930]

Just out of curiosity how many of the people shunning chain stores on this thread will still go there to save $2 on their substrate instead of going to a smaller local shop that takes care of the animals and knows what they are doing?

Probably most...

Although the employees are at fault you cant fully blame them. Corporations dont search through each application looking for a hobbyist with oodles of experience. More often than not they hire young kids who couldnt care less. This doesnt make them bad people, animals just arnt their thing. They show up, stand around bored, maybe help a couple customers and collect their paycheck.

Before I started working at my store I didnt go to my fast food job and put my heart and soul into preparing the perfect cheeseburger. Not a perfect example since one job deals with live animals and another food but my point is that not everyone is as passionate about these things as we are.

Also, I have customers that work at petco and petsmart and as far as I know they arnt even aloud to treat any of the animals. They are taken off display and put into a "quarantine" aka set in the back out of view to die. Sometimes these sick animals arnt the cause of buying crappy grade farm raised animals or employee neglect. I know of one employee at a Petco who for the most part keeps their reptiles looking good and healthy. Quite a feat considering their display case is outdated and doesnt even keep the animals at proper temps, but again because of coporation standards or guidelines they cant do anything about it.

Not all chain store employees spend the day killing animals for fun, and not all chain stores are pure evil. As far as contacting district or regional managers I would assume they have less of an idea of whats going on in the group of stores they look over than the employees. I would also bet they couldnt care less about the animals as long as they go to work and collect their paycheck.

Hopefully that leopard will survive and find a happy home.

Just my thoughts

 

[j_izzle8930]

Animal control doesn't care about things unless they are cute and fuzzy or dangerous. A little gecko that's dying in a petstore? Yeah right....

Agreed. You should have seen the neglected savannah monitor that came into my store. Someone found it outisde so it had to be turned in. Its in intensive care at the vets but guess what, the authorities handling the case are going to give it back to the careless owner once its healed up. More exciting news! Theres nothing I can do about it except not sell savannahs at my store anymore and ban the owner from coming in. One of my employees who has rehab experience even offered to adopt the lizard but that would be a "conflict of interest"

 

[thehotchik1000]

I used to sell baby leos to my local mom and pop petstore when I first got into this hobby. They were getting beautiful, healthy, well acclimated, 3 month old animals and I was going in quite frequently to check up on them. The first couple I sold to the one store in my area they had a great employee working for them and they had no issues. They did everything I suggested and kept up with what I think is acceptable care. Which is much more than the bare minimum. The next 4 I sold to them were exactly the same, but right after they were acquired the petstore fired 3 people including the really good employee to try and save $. From that point on my leos went from great to 2 dead in a matter of two months. The other 2 were so malnourished that it took me tube feeding to get them back. After I found that the 2nd animal died I went in there and bought the other 2 back from them. After talking to the employees about what was going on I was pretty unimpressed about what basic care they weren't getting. It was sad. The leos still live with me today and I've learned my lesson about alot of petstores. It may not be all of them but... There are way too many that are like this. I don't use petstores in my area for anything. I think they all are awful. I either order online or go to the farm store, I won't give my $ or my animals to any of them around here. It really does depend on who is caring for them. But I think they have a responsibility to all the animals they have in the store to provide the best level or care possible. If that means hiring and training someone or having a specific live animal manager, they need to do it. Here's a link where you can look up any states Petshop laws. From what I was reading only 2 states have a vet care requirement.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a1_petshoplaws_state.php?s=vt

I think saving $ or not wanting to train someone is a really poor excuse for not taking care of the animals. if you have them there it's your job to provide for them 100% to the beat of your ability.

 

[Metal_Gecko]

Due to unforseen circumstances, I was out of town all weekend....

Well, according to the girl I talked to last week, he *should* be going to the vet TODAY if her story holds water.

I WILL be going over there after work today to find out what's what.
If he's still sick in the back, and as of today the vet hasn't seen him yet, I'll be livid as all hell.

I'll update when I learn more.

-Wes

 

[gizmo143]

just keep us updated and raise holy heck if he doesn't see the vet;-)

 

[Metal_Gecko]

Well, I went back last night(as promised ), and the reptile manager was REALLY nice, and answered every question honestly, and to her best knowledge, but there's some good news, and some bad news....

Bad News:
He still hasn't seen the vet. Vet is *supposed* to show up today.
He still won't eat on his own.
He's still incredibly under weight. You can make out the exact shape of his skull.... It almost looks like a Gargoyle's head unfortunately.
I can still see the "Black Triangle" under his belly(liver I think).

Good News:
He actually looks a *bit* better. His back is straightened out, and
They've been force feeding him, and he's reacting positively to it.
She took down my name and number, so if the Leo needs to adopted out, I'm FIRST on the list.
He seems to be fighting to stay alive!

-Wes

 

[gizmo143]

good! thats awesome! hope you get him though

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Well, I went back last night(as promised ), and the reptile manager was REALLY nice, and answered every question honestly, and to her best knowledge, but there's some good news, and some bad news....

Bad News:
He still hasn't seen the vet. Vet is *supposed* to show up today.
He still won't eat on his own.
He's still incredibly under weight. You can make out the exact shape of his skull.... It almost looks like a Gargoyle's head unfortunately.
I can still see the "Black Triangle" under his belly(liver I think).

Good News:
He actually looks a *bit* better. His back is straightened out, and
They've been force feeding him, and he's reacting positively to it.
She took down my name and number, so if the Leo needs to adopted out, I'm FIRST on the list.
He seems to be fighting to stay alive!

-Wes

Thanks for this update. Are you planning a visit tomorrow to check up on this guy? Can you find out what product they are using for his force fed meals?

We are cheering him along :banana:......and you too :yahoo:!

 

[Metal_Gecko]

Yes. I will do a follow up on him tomorrow after work.
I'll also find out what their force feeding him as well.

Thanks for all the support guys.

-Wes

 

[Metal_Gecko]

Well, yesterday was interesting...

After confronting the assistant manager, she confirmed that there is no fabled, "7-day vet hold policy."

...AND HE STILL HASN'T SEEN THE VET!!!

I also found out they've been force feeding him mealworms..... *SIGH*

She assured me that she would personally drive him to the vet first thing this morning, and let me know the results, good or bad.
She also promised that I'd be FIRST on the list to adopt him, should the vet deem him, "Not sellable."

We'll see what happens I guess...

-Wes

 

[gizmo143]

ugh, people are so annoying! the gecko will hopefully be yours though and together we will all get him better!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Well, yesterday was interesting...

After confronting the assistant manager, she confirmed that there is no fabled, "7-day vet hold policy."

...AND HE STILL HASN'T SEEN THE VET!!!

I also found out they've been force feeding him mealworms..... *SIGH*

She assured me that she would personally drive him to the vet first thing this morning, and let me know the results, good or bad.
She also promised that I'd be FIRST on the list to adopt him, should the vet deem him, "Not sellable."

We'll see what happens I guess...

-Wes

Thanks for your update, Wes. Keep chugging away at this......

 

[thehotchik1000]

Oh my good lord. He should have been to the vet a long time ago. I mean seriously. You should remind them that in every state, having a sick animal and not giving it veterinary care is neglect and cruelty. Since they are a chain store they should think about that. If you have to forcefeed an animal something is wrong. If he is so emaciated that you can see every bone in his body that's a serious issue. When I brought back home the extremely emaciated leos that I had sold to my local petstore
They needed to be forcefed. I used Hills Perscribtion Diet A/d. Canned cat and dog food as prescribed by my vet. It's Made for annorexic animals that are getting over traumas or surgeries. According to my vet especially if you have to forcefeed you shld never use insects. As it's too risky that the animal doesn't chew them and it will sit and rot in their esophagus. Plus 1 or two force fed mealies just isn't going
To put adaquate amounts of calories in their system. The ad formula has high protein and high ca and is easy for them to swallow and digest. I've had to forcefeed many animals since that and I always keep it in my house. It literally works wonders.

 

[azkfxgecko]

in honesty the "7 day rule" they probably made up so that they could let the animal die in the back without having to see a vet. I would care less what type of animal it is its cruel and they shouldnt get away with it

 

[Metal_Gecko]

in honesty the "7 day rule" they probably made up

It is.
I recieved a PM from a member here on this forum(who'll remain un-named), who is also a store manager at a Petsmart, and I was informed by said manager, that THERE IS NO "7-DAY HOLD POLICY."


When I get this guy, I'm wondering what the best course of action is for "emergency nutrition and fattening?"

-Wes

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

It is.
I recieved a PM from a member here on this forum(who'll remain un-named), who is also a store manager at a Petsmart, and I was informed by said manager, that THERE IS NO "7-DAY HOLD POLICY."


When I get this guy, I'm wondering what the best course of action is for "emergency nutrition and fattening?"

-Wes

How about posting a separate thread in the leo forum titled: "Emergency Nutrition for a Rescued Leo---Ideas Sought"?

Allee Toler has recently posted the recipe for a gecko slurry to feed geckos in such situations which she got from Golden Gate Geckos. Individual portions are frozen in ice cube trays and then placed in ziplocs. Thaw and feed as needed.

 

[psychmylife]

That sounds like a great idea. That way when new members come in they can find the info right away.