Evolution of Pets/Koi Pet Store, Edmonton - Bad Guys

A friend and I were at this pet store on Stony Plain road yesterday, and we were really disgusted with what we saw. We took pictures, as there were no signs up saying we couldn't, and none of the staff told us to stop. I'm not sure of the rules on posting pictures, but If I'm allowed, I'll post them.

This is basically what we saw, and what we have pictures of:

-A 4'x2' (approx) enclosure with a Green Iguana, an Australian Water Dragon, a Colombian Tegu, and a Bearded Dragon. No UV, small hot Rock, very high heat lamp. Most of the bottom was covered in potting soil (containing chunks of vermiculite) and and large lava rocks. The Tegu's eyes were swollen and stuck shut. The Iguana was missing her tail and the stump was growing back badly, I have never seen one like that...She didn't move even when the bearded dragon scrambled up her face. The tegu was in the same place he had been on the 14th.

-3 emaciated boas in a small cage, with 1/2 inch of filthy water. One boa had a kinked neck and all had skin folds. The only heat source was a tiny little hot rock. That they were all piled onto.

-2 Bearded Dragons housed with a Blue Tongued Skink with no real UVB (only high flourescent tube) and no heat source. They had lettuce and shredded carrot. They were all thin, and the substrate had vermiculite in it, it was just potting soil.

-1 Deformed Veiled Chameleon (no uvb) with a large Golden Gecko

-2 Deformed Veiled Chameleons in a reptarium

-4 EXTREMELY emaciated boas, with tons of wrinkles and folds, in a 2x2 (approx) enclosure. One of them was sickening, a spine with skin...they were all different sizes, the smallest probably 2 feet and the largest almost six.

-2 Green Iguanas, one quite large and one quite young, in a chicken wire enclosure. The bottom of the enclosure was bent and distorted and looked as if they had been rubbing and pushing against it. They had only a coiled pl ant bulb for UVB. One of them had a few large injurys that were scarring over, I wouldn't be surprised if it was caused by the chicken wire.

-2 Savanah monitors in a barren (no substrate, a few chunks of wood, a glitter lamp... and a water dish) enclosure with a hot rock. We couldn't tell if one ofthe savs, which was emaciated, was alive or not.

-A thin, scarred juvi black throated monitor with only a flourescent tube and a hot rock, potting soil, no hide.

-Day geckos with no uvb, no heat source, in a critter keeper.
-Snakes (corns) with no heat

-Rabbits in extremely small enclosures, and a prairie dog on a horrible diet, that 2 years ago screamed and paced, and now just sleeps. Her cage is small and has no enrichment.

- A full grown Argentine Black and White Tegu in a small hexagonal aquarium with no light or heat on (mid day...wasn't on mid day on the 14th, either)...it was about 5 feet across.

I also have a video clip of some of the enclosures.

We were unable to get pictures of conditions of the birds, but there was a pigeon with a broken wing that has been there for atleast ayear, in a rabbit cage, and many birds in small cages.

Has anyone contacted the local animal control or humane officers? it seem that would be the first step here. and to also contact the local news. did you talk to anyone and let them know that this was inhumane treatment and you would be calling local authorities if something was not done to correct the living conditions.

I as well as numerous other people I know have contacted the humane society...everytime we go back it is the same, and this has been going on for years. The humane society says that as long as the animals have shelter, food and water, they cannot do anything. They don't have sufficient laws regaurding reptiles. We are going to put together a folder of information regaurding the care of the different reptiles, and statements from various experts and their opinions on what they see in the photos. If anybody would like to help us with that, that would be great. Contacting the media is a good idea as well.

I'm going to post the photos only because:

1) I took them in plain view (as you will see in the reflection of the glass!) of staff.
2) There were no signs saying I couldn't.
3) They back up my statements clearly.
4) I've already posted them on another forum.

If they're against the rules, I apologize, and feel free to remove them.



This iguana has an injury on its' leg. The cage had no heat lamp, and only a coiled bulb for UVB. There were two iguanas in the enclosure, and they had this tiny water dish....



This picture is a screenshot from a video clip showing a very small enclosure containing four animals requiring completely different habitats; An australian water dragon, a bearded dragon, a colombian tegu, and a green iguana. They're lucky that iguana has no tail or they wouldn't be able to fit her in there.


Another screenshot. Notice the hot rock that they're all trying to pile onto. There's a heatlamp waaaay up above them, no UVB.


Iguana and colombian Tegu


Colombian Tegu

Close up of the tegus swollen eyes, which were stuck shut.



This cage has three red tailed boas on a tiny hot rock, with a water dish that had about half an inch of dirty old water. The snakes were emaciated with obvious folds of skin.[/quote]

An emaciated, scarred up black throated monitor with a hot rock, vermiculite, and a hide he can't fit into.




This tiny cage has 2 bearded dragons and a blue tongued skink.




There were four different sized boas in this enclosure, all very skinny. The top one in the water dish was just skin and bones.


These were the only lights they had, none of them were actually UVB.



Savannah Monitors...and I'm pretty sure the one underneath was dead.






And with this one (3snakes in same enclosure) I tried to get a pic of the snake on top, but my camera focused on the glass instead...his neck was kinked and he had some sever neck folds, it almost looked as if his face was falling off.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aCMwtFh45aA
This is a compilation of the video clips.

E-mail me what you have and if you will. I'm out of town right now but I will be home in a week. I will keep in touch and see what we can do as a group. I'm on the board of the local humane society here and can't understand why they would not look into this. if the animals need vet care and are not getting it that would fall under neglect. have you asked about that?
dreammaker_wv@hotmail.com

Robin Bennett.

that's really sick and sad

I had the same problem in my town with a negligent pet store. The spca would go in and take the mammels time and time again but not the reptiles despite no heat provided in the middle of december... and terrible burns from the one trouble lamp in the cage that was occasionally turned on. The store finally shut down due to people refusing to support it with their business and not because the humane society did anything productive about it.

thank you for sharing... that way more people will know what's going on and refuse to do business with them and hopefully force them to either shut down or change their ways.

Disgusting.
I hope your efforts help out an end to these savages. You have more tolerance and good sense than me as I feel certain my reactions would have landed me in cuffs.
I agree with the suggestion to use the media....amazing what a little public exposure can do to provoke change. Barring that, a couple of hundred posters with those photos you took and some well chosen words - plastered on every surrounding utility pole, mailbox, etc. might get some reaction from enough people to make the idiots that own this store reconsider their practices.
Good luck.

Destroying life for a quick buck.

I have tried in the past to communicate with the SPCA in Edmonton concerning this place - and have even gone as far as sending them pictures similar to those seen above of animals in the store that were either dead or near-death from neglect and poor living conditions.

I received absolutely NO RESPONSE whatsoever from the SPCA.

I have also attempted to address the issue via the BBB and the local municipal authorities.

The story I was given was pretty much as follows:

So long as the animals are provided with food, water, shelter, and a source of heat - the minimum needs are being met and there is nothing else that can be done or is required to be done on the part of the store keeper.

(Notice nowhere does it say proper or adequate in front of any of the 4 items)

Nowhere is proper lighting mentioned, nowhere will you find mentioned that the animals should be kept isolated from each other (especially from other species or sick/wounded animals), and nowhere does it state that the enclosures must be maintained.

The last time I was in the store there was a large adult arboreal in an enclosure approx. 2x2x2 and she was asking $900.00 for it.
(the animal was apparently turned in as a "rescue" and it had health issues that were not mentioned anywhere - probably because the price was the only thing visible in the filth on the glass).

This place and others like it need to be shut down - but the unfortunate reality is that the seems to be no real protection for non-mammal species through a legal course.

Is there some way to change the law? Or is the law simply being misread? Or are the laws just not being upheld?

I don't want to bash the SPCA etc. - but who else can we turn to to aid these animals when the SPCA has so far done absolutely nothing?

Fine, I'll bash the SPCA for you. They are more useless than hemmorhoids. They have never, and will never receive any charity from me, because their complete unwillingness to take action and start giving a damn about reptiles is the reason why this abuse is allowed to continue.

LET THE BOYCOTT BEGIN:

Evolution Of Pets
Address : 15105 Stony Plain Road NW, Edmonton, AB T5P 3Y2
Telephone : 780-484-1303

Please, everyone: CALL THEM. Tell them that we will NOT sit back and allow this abuse to continue! Tell everyone you know to boycott them. Contact the media, write letters to the Editor, call the authorities, do whatever it takes.



Edmonton Humane Society - 780-471-1774
Fax : 780-479-8946
12251 67 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 1M8

Also, let's not let these useless tits of the hook either. They either get behind this, or get the same boycott. I WILL LET THE MEDIA KNOW ABOUT THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S LACK OF ACTION.

The SPCA can't really a take action though, that's the thing, there are no laws governing the care of small exotics, birds, reptiles, etc...as long as they have food, water, and shelter, they are breaking no laws. What needs to happen is a change in laws, or perhaps just a new one regulating pet stores in Edmonton, preferably all over Alberta...we need something like PEI's Companion Animal Act, which specifically regulates pet stores and such, and includes reptiles, birds, rodents, etc. http://www.canlii.org/pe/laws/sta/c-...718/whole.html

I'm an Agent with the Ontario Humane Society. Yes, if they are deemed to be Peace Officers under the meaning of the Criminal Code, they can lay charges and seize the animals if they are under obvious distress. From what I can see of the photos and descriptors they are under obvious distress and immediate action needs to be taken. A Vet qualified in reptiles should go with the Investigators. The section of the Criminal Code is 446(1)(a) ans states 'being the owner causes or permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or bird'. Pretty clear. I'd write a letter of complaint outlining the above to the local Manager and Board of the Humane Society responsible and cc a copy to the Police. This is a Criminal offence and the Police can also take action. Just show them the photos and provide them with a statement.
Good luck. The animals need your help.
Chris Rodgers

Be VERY careful approaching the subject of "changing laws". What will happen is, the government will solve the problem by banning all reptiles. This business needs to be hit in the pocketbook, and as Chris said, formal charges need to be laid.

I am going to write two letters tonight. I wonder what the owners of evolution is going to think when people from all over canada and perhaps North America begin calling / mailing about their horrible conditions.

Originally Posted by Chris R

The section of the Criminal Code is 446(1)(a) ans states 'being the owner causes or permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or bird'.

Thanks for the info! Is this a national criminal code or is it provincial ? sorry if I am asking a simple question but I am never going to know if I don't ask.
Thanks!

The Criminal Code is Federal law.

Unreal... I have seen some pretty disgusting things in my time on the web and in my travels, but those pictures... man.... I can't even really describe how they make me feel... almost like someone punched me in the stomach...

I hope something happens here that results in the rescue of those animals.

If it were a fair world, those people would be forced to live in similar conditions for a period of time.

The only good thing about this is that it has warmed my heart to see everyone in the reptile community Canada-wide standing in solidarity against this abuse. If we all continue with this united front, maybe we can affect positive change nation-wide and prevent unfair treatment of our animals AND unfair legislation banning the responsible from having the privilege of working with them.

On a sidenote, can someone please get me the name(s) of the owner(s), just in case they close shop and decide to set up somewhere else under a different name?

I know her first name is Michelle, she's a member of ERAS, we can't speak out about this place on the ERAS forums...I'm not sure of her last name.

Count me me Ken. Ill start the truck when anyone is ready.
Jim.
J&J Reptiles.

Count me in!!

I went with Devon to get the photos and I'd definitely be up for getting this place shut down.

I saw the pics that someone posted. So what i did was write the city. mayor, city council. action committee i think, and the spca. Just put my two cents worth in and asked for a response maybe if we all did this they might look into it harder and keep doing it they will get tired of getting emails after awhile. Hoepfully something is done that is disgusting.

I had no idea. I've been there a few times -they have alot of fish too- but I had no idea that things were that bad. I can tell the difference between chams and iguanas, but that's about it. They advocate hot rocks because they had fires with UTHs, that's what they told me.

There's one obstacle I thought I would mention: many of the creatures are not for sale. Specifically the RTBs you mentioned (there were only 2 when I was there) belong to a staff member. So as useless as the laws are to protect the animals for sale, I'll bet they're even more useless protecting animals from their owners.

I don't know if this info can help our cause but there it is.

I will phone them and let them know that I won't be buying fish or rodents from them anymore. Let me know if you want to picket them! That might get it on the news.

The RTB's had prices on them, they said that they were 500 dollars each.

Maybe different snakes then. Or he needs the money...

Wow that's some crazy sh*t... That's absolutely disgusting!!! Hopefully if enough people speak up to the right people somthing can be done about this.

I see Ken had their info but here is their e-mail addy

info@evolutionofpets.com

Do you have anymore contact info on people to write to... media, political people etc etc...

Mayor Stephen Mandel
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB
T5J 2R7

sorry forgot to add the link...he can also be contacted through email with this link:

http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server...e+to+mayor.htm

If anyone does write to the mayor, make sure you keep it politically correct. We don't want another reptile ban.

If you write him, post what you wrote here!

because we have the evolution of pets email, perhaps we should email them and allow them to see this thread ?

If so, make sure they see this thread as well:

http://www.reptilescanada.com/forums...ad.php?t=12771

Maybe they should know that the entire reptile community is disgusted by their abuse and neglect.

I just got off the phone with the owner of evolution of pets , shes going to join the forum and respond to this thread after 4:00 pm her time.

I tried to help her navigate threw the forum but shes not to familiar with computers, someone will be there to help after 4:00pm.

After talking to her on the phone for a few minutes it be came very clear to me that she new very little about reptiles, I was told by her that, some of the animals are rescues, apparently they come in so stressed she has to rock them in a rocking-chair to ease there stress

anyway she was very nice on the phone, I hope joining the forum has a positive affect on her husbandry skills.

Someone who knows that little about reptiles should not be in the business of rescuing and selling them. ERAS has a reptile rescue where REAL experts can take the animals in and treat them.

I recently spoke to Global TV in Edmonton and informed them that if no other media or legal action is taken to bring more awareness of this issue to the public I will be starting a picketing campaign in front of the location beginning Sunday Nov. 26 at 10 A.M. to let people know of the horrific conditions in which these animals are being kept.

Any or all interested are welcome and encouraged to come out and take part.

We can only succeed in this by standing together, one voice is not enough.

I hope to see a lot of people out to support this cause.

The only circumstances which will change this schedule will be if any of the local media take hold of this before Sunday, or if the authorities agree to do a proper investigation of this place, and the owner agrees to clean up her act.

She told a friend, while we were there, that red footed toirtoises need only a 20 gallon while full grown, and she sat there feeding it "tegu bites"....when we asked if we could keep a beardie with it, she didn't say no...she thought about it for awhile and said "I don't think so, but you never know".

if her defence is that she is ignorant to their care... I am sorry but that's a load of bull. Even if she honestly doesn't know about reptile care wouldn't the multiple spca complaints give her a hint ? Not to mention the many dead and dying animals multiple people have found in the enclosures ? I am not even going to address the story about the parrot with the broken leg that was either posted here or on RC.

hey guys,

dont forget to send those photos to the various local media outlets. they probably wont know anything about reptiles, but even a 4 year old can see that this michelle lowlife is brutally abusing these animals.

further, go to the website of the edmonton newspaper. submit letters to the editor. also, look at the columnists. decide which writers focus is most relevant to this story. then make them aware of what is going on.

and for you michelle-do you know what karma is? does torturing those animals for a few bucks make you feel really important.

i almost threw up when i saw the photos of the savannahs....

Gino 'In Da Bronx' Beniquez