| Author | Subject: PETCO |
| Marcia McGuiness - The Lizard Lady | Posted At 08:55:29 04/05/2001
I am among many who have had horrific experiences with Petco and the deplorable conditions in which they keep their reptiles, and the infected animals they are selling to the public. I have been in correspondence with someone at PetCORP who can help us with the PetCRAP that's being practiced, and if anyone has had dealings of this nature with Petco, I urge you to contact me immediately. |
| Corey Sawyer |
Re: PETCO
2250.html Posted At 13:10:49 04/05/2001 PEtsmart is just as bad. They both suck. |
| Jeff Miller |
Re: PETCO
2255.html Posted At 19:00:21 04/05/2001 I've been aware of the horrible husbandry and infected animals at Petco for several years now. But, we have to remember that the bulk of their customers that buy reptiles are guilty of impulse buying and are expecting disposable pets. That's what they are getting. Jeff |
| Marcia McGuiness |
Re: PETCO
2256.html Posted At 19:27:11 04/05/2001 Jeff, Regarding your response, although I agree with you in part, I still believe they must be accountable for the literally thousands of infected animals purchased and brought home that have in turn infected the existing colonies there. I personally know of several hobbyists and one breeder that lost their entire colony of Leo breeders to Crypto, caused by one infected baby from Petco. I realize that major retail pet chains see their stock of animals as just that... a stock of inventory. This practice MUST be stopped, and the large-scale breeders that are supplying these pitiful little animals must be reckoned with. This doesn't even touch the issue of inhumane treatment and cruelty! Some may not realize that many of the diseases and parasites from these infected lizards are transmittable to humans and other animals. Just look at the "hoof-in-mouth" and "mad cow disease" situation in Europe and South America. Bubonic Plague is transmitted by other living creatures, and so is E-boli. I know these are extreme comparisons, but I'm sure that if pet chains were selling dogs or cats with distemper or rabies, there would be hell to pay! On the flip side, nobody would even consider selling those infected animals. Thank you for your comments, Marcia McGuiness |
| Jason Swe!gart..Just Dum's/ Imports |
Re: PETCO
2257.html Posted At 19:46:32 04/05/2001 take a look at this site and youll understand why they dont care most of the animals many of these shops deal with come in like this a dime a dozen, not all are like this but some are so feel free to take a look http://members.tripod.com/noimports |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: PETCO
2261.html Posted At 23:36:20 04/05/2001 Pet Supplies Plus sucks equally to the other two.... |
| Tracy Willis - gexfiles |
Re: PETCO
2268.html Posted At 10:53:33 04/06/2001 PetSmart has at least taken the step to not sell iguanas and do not advocate puppy mills, they do animal adoptions with local humane societies instead. I have seen many PetSmarts who have EXCELLENT setups and kids who take pride in that, and some PetCos are also well done... however, this does not address the issue here people. Marcia's point is they are knowingly selling crypto infected leos to the public. They have been written letters, received phone calls, given vet bills proving this... they are NOT doing anything about it!!! Also, realize that a major supplier of captive bred quality animals, Gourmet Rodent to be exact, is selling them quality leopard geckos and they are getting infected as well due to them NOT disinfecting tanks or practicing proper quarantine. Not every person wants a disposable pet, these geckos have the capacity to live 20+ years and they aren't even living 6 months!!! That doesn't even include the casualties in shipping. Some of these victims to this whole MESS are devastated, heartbroken, etc. Please do not generalize, these people have names and emotions and so did the animals who were given an immediate death sentence just by being put into a tank. She is pleading for more info from others who have witnessed or experienced the same thing, not just general banter, that does nothing to help us!!! Absolutely nothing!!! Please people, if you want to help, please contact Marcia, or me. If not, please keep useless replies to yourself. We are very serious about this. Tracy Willis (aka Trace) from Gexfiles |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: PETCO
2425.html Posted At 09:02:52 04/09/2001 Keep your useless replies to yourself? Maybe they are not useless to everyone. You have a noble cause, but I question your methods. What do you accomplish by alienating fellow herpers? Thanks for the advice, but I'll make a useless reply anytime I feel like it. |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: PETCO
2427.html Posted At 09:13:03 04/09/2001 Sorry..forgot my email. |
| Marcia McGuiness - The Lizard Lady |
Re: PETCO
2428.html Posted At 09:54:12 04/09/2001 Pat, I hope your response wasn't directed at my original post... I am welcoming ALL replies in hopes to be able to glean some valuable information from others who have had horrible experiences with Petco. I am in no way trying to alienate other herpers, instead attempting to collectively join together for the upcoming media and legal battle with Petco regarding their deliberate and blatant disregard for the care, health and safety of the herps they are selling and the violations of the State Penal Codes for Animal Abuse. Trace's response to my post is no more or less valuable than anyone elses opinion, and shows her emotional passion regarding this critical subject. The LAST thing I want to accomplish is a verbal battle between those of us who love our reptiles, although I would hope that the opinions posted would be more in line with my original subject. I would like to thank those of you who have individually e-mailed me with their personal experiences with Petco, and who are willing to help take action to stop this abuse and not just post combative comments. |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: PETCO
2431.html Posted At 10:29:33 04/09/2001 Lizard Lady...as I just replied to you in email, I agree with you 100 percent. My post was not directed at your original post, but at the subsequent one "instructing" us to keep our "useless replies to ourselves" In my original post, I was merely pointing out that Pet Supplies Plus is just as bad as Petco. Last time I checked, alerting people to bad practices is what this BB is all about. I hardly consider it a "useless reply". You have a noble cause and my point was more for Tracy than you...why get into a p-ssing contest here with people that agree with you? I am fully willing to help out with this but I actually don't have any experience with Petco as I don't have one here locally. |
| Trace |
Re: PETCO
2450.html Posted At 10:07:24 04/10/2001 Pat, I apologize for my outburst, I am just frustrated over this whole thing, and it is truly a scenario of David VS. Goliath in a case like this, you know? I have said over the course of this whole thing with them "Words mean nothing" .... I hope you can forgive what I said, it's just we really need help with this. Trace |
| Pat DelTurco |
Re: PETCO
2457.html Posted At 13:41:18 04/10/2001 Trace...apology accepted. I thought about not posting a response originally and I probably should have stuck with that thought. I do understand what you are trying to do and the odds you face. I support your cause 100 percent and apologize for shooting off myself. |
| Tony Bedell |
Re: PETCO
2510.html Posted At 02:11:08 04/12/2001 This is how Petco and Petsmart break down their animal's. cheap sick animal + unexperienced person = profit this is the way they don't want it cheap sick animal + vet bill's = no profit understand. |
| Craig Sweeney |
Re: PETCO
2905.html Posted At 19:58:19 04/24/2001 Marsha,I've placed a couple of post's on kingsnake cham forum about CRUELTY TO REPTILE'S in pet store's and I have e-mailed many agencie's that havent responded.PETA is the only organization that has responded and I've been told that it would'nt do a cause good If PETA is involved.I believe that if the reptile's are cared for correctly from the onset that people will recieve healthy pet's and the torturous condition's need to stop and pet store's need to be held accountable.I'm going to copy and paste these post's and please tell me what you think.Thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted by craig on April 11, 2001 at 18:28:39: I've for several year's been upset with The way reptile's are treated in pet store's and over the past several month's reading people's account's of poor condition's and cruelty has sent me on a crusade to stop it.If a small dent can be made in it then it might be worthwhile.I'm hoping my crusade may get the national push from a group that I E-MAILED,The group, PETA.These folk's are very powerfull lobbyest's,in my home State recently they had milk add's removed from school's because they say cow's are treated cruelly.To do this in a dairy State(Vermont)Implies they have muscle to flex,and allthough I may not agree with all that they stand for I think that if an international organization take's an interest in this cause petstore's may find themselve's doing the right thing.I'm sorry for the length of this but I am interested in your opinion's.Here is the letter I wrote to PETA and the response I recieved today. I am a chameleon keeper and I spend alot of time on the internet on reptile forum's, Not a day goes by without a complaint of a pet store keeping and handleing animal's cruelly.Usually the animal's suffer a slow and agonizing death.I have seen myself the poorest of husbandry in the large chainstore's(petsmart,petco).Reptile's have become a multi-million dollar per year profit industry and at the pain and suffering of to many reptile's.I'm looking for a group that can regulate the humane treatment of reptile's.I'm hoping your it!USDA/APHIS only cover's warm blooded animal's,ASPCA will refer you to the humane society who will brush you off on reptile activist group's which generally don't exist in needed area's and don't have authority if they do.There are likely more reptile's suffering and dying in pet store's than there are abused animal's on movie set's(a major campaign of Peta).The problem is rampant and out of control,please help,and if not,at least please reply to my message.Thank you,Craig Sweeney. and today I recieved this reply from Peta. Thank you for contacting us about the pet trade industry's widespread mistreatment of reptile's.We share your concern and frustration with the few law's that are aimed at protecting the sale and handling of animal's in pet store's.Unfortunately,PETA has no legal authority over these or any other matters.We do however, try to increase awareness about abuse,and assist individual's in contacting local authorities when they spot animal neglect.Would you please send your mailing address to that I can address these issue's in greater detail? So that was the response,I did send my mailing address an I'm hoping that wasn't just to pacify me.I do think they have a long arm and if they will support this cause even if only on a incident by incident basis positive result's could occur for the housing,handling,caring and selling of reptile's.Again,I'm sorry for the legnth and all opinion's are very much appreciated.Thank you. Over a week has passed since I placed a post on the forum asking for opinion's on the subject of cruelty to reptile's. It recieved only a few comment's but each comment IMHO represent's many people that felt their view's and opinion's were represented vicariously through other's, And there would be those that read controversial issue's and have opinion's but chose not to be heard for whatever reason's and then there's those that truely don't care. It was more than just the general concensus that any affiliation with PETA would be very detrimental to any cause. I want to take this opportunity to express my thank's to all of those that did post your opinion's and after having researched your suggestion's I will post responses in hope that a better dialog could be reached for the basic goal of humane and ethical treatment of reptile's in pet store's and by breeder's. The area's I think that need to be addressed are for the most basic humane and ethical treatment of reptile's in petstore's are as follow's........ HOUSING: provide adequate space,with proper ventalation(as a species require's), no mixing of species , gender,or multiple housing's(as a species require's) and provide safety and security to the enclosed reptile's. Provide adequate furniture and substrate (as species require's.) TEMPERATURE :Proper temperature gradient and basking area(as species require's) LIGHTING: Proper lighting should be provided,artifitial and natural when possible. HUMIDITY AND HYDRATION: Proper humidity gradient per species requirement's as well as proper hydration devices operated effectivly per species requirement's. FOOD:Provide assorted healthy feeder insect's(gutloaded) and rodent's (as aspecies require) HOUSEKEEPING: Housing need's to be cleaned daily,and at this time animal's should be checked for injury and illness,and if these problem's are found the staff vet should be notified. VETERINARY SERVICES:Large pet store's should have staff vet's,smaller store's should have a retainer with a qualified vet. SEMINAR'S AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING:Staff member's should be trained in housing , handling and care requirement's of all species in they're charge.For care purpose's as well as for selling purpose's AFTER CARE ITEM'S:All item's needed for the careing of any reptile sold should be available at that store at the time of sale. CARESHEET'S AND INFORMATION:Current care sheet's for each species should be available to the customer as well as posted in an area safe to the reptile near the reptile's enclosure so that the customer can become fimiliar with the reptile's need's and have the opportunity to ask the trained qualified staff any question's before making a purchase.Also species related link's should be given to the buyer to smooth out there after care. Now to me these are thing's that should be common sense and just be done because it's right way to do business.But there obviously not being done and without some regulation's for captive reptile care in place reptile's will continue to endure torturous inhumane treatment in captivity as well as through collection of wild caught species imported for domestic sale. Now the crux of the problem, who is likely going to be effected by this and where a division between the law and the abuility to breed and sell with impunity come into play if the pet store's are actually legally held accountable for they're action's so then too would be the breeder's big and small. So here within lies the controversy,Nobody really want's reptile's to be abused,But we all know that they are ,It's just the nature of the business and we can turn a blind eye in that direction as long as it doesn't effect the way we breed and sell our reptile's or our right's to keep reptile's.It seem's that there is no middle ground.I'm quite clearly disturbed by this practice and I would like to find a way to remedy some of these issue's. I DON'T WANT TO PUT A BURDEN ON THE BREEDER'S, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE HERP LAW'S MORE LUDICROUS THAN THEY ALLREADY ARE, I ONLY WANT HUMANE TREATMENT OF CAPTIVE REPTILE'S. So for those of you that read this far I thank you for your patient's.I will be placing RE: post 's on the the issue's mentioned on the original post later. Thank you for your time. |
| Des Harmon |
Re: PETCO
4813.html Posted At 22:18:12 06/23/2001 I can't agree more about the terrible reptiles of Petco. Before I knew a whole lot about husbandry, I bought a savannah monitor from them. Somehow the savannah has become healthy, despite a totally clueless staff, bad caresheets, and outright lying. They told me my monitor was "CB" (at the time I didn't realize how unlikely it was that this would be true). Fortunately, I took my lizard to the vet, where I found out that I had a very young, very stressed, and (by the looks of things)wild-caught lizard. With treatment, the monitor is okay now, but a bald-faced misrepresentation like that is really bad. Even if I shouldn't have been so stupid as to believe it. I went back later to the same Petco for some supplies, and they were selling water dragons with obvious mouth-rot, and the savannah monitor they had to replace mine was so emaciated that his skeleton was showing. He just laid there miserably on the hot-rock(!), and I bet some family was sold on the idea that savannahs are "mellow"--"see? he just likes to hang out on his rock!" I didn't go in there looking for a disposable pet. I came there because I didn't know of another place to buy a lizard in my area, and buying animals sight-unseen over the internet scared me. I will never buy another animal of any sort from Petco, even though it was tempting to rescue the lizards for humanitarian reasons. |
| Des Harmon |
Re: PETCO
4814.html Posted At 22:20:16 06/23/2001 I just noticed that my email address for the above post is wrong. the real address is [email protected] Sorry. |
| Tony Bedell |
Re: PETCO
5072.html Posted At 18:24:23 07/01/2001 There is a Petco a few blocks from my house that has savanna's regularly. After going in there and realizing that alot of the employees have no real idea of what to do with them, IE care, feeding, and so forth, I started going in there every Tuesday, when the reptiles arrive, and checking out each one individually, most of the time they seem to be fine, but every now and then we run into a problem. If there is a problem, I either treat it on the spot, or tell the employees what to use to make the problem go away. I advise other herper's to do the same. It saves alot of animal's, and maybe Petco or Petsmart won't stop selling them, but if we as a group can at least try to help the animal's get well, then great. It only takes me about 1/2 an hour to go through their animal's, I just give the animal's a look at, and if they are parasite, mite free, I move onto the next. They know to call me when there is a problem, like mouth-rot, or one that isn't eating. I just would rather try to make these reptiles better, then let them die. But that is just me. |