Can you report Pet Stores for poor husbandry?

[KrazyKat]

So I was fuming when I left a pet shop the other day. After over a week of visiting, the two baby ball pythons are STILL in shed - but the shed is stuck all over them in patches, almost exactly as it was a week ago. And I look over to the tank next to them to see a tiny baby beardie, missing it's front foot and the toes on it's hind foot - and in the same tank as an adult fat-tailed gecko!! Like, really?? Not to mention the thin, listless state of their other lizards their. This upset me so much. As I'm not confrontational by nature, I regret that I stormed out of the store without telling the staff off, like a coward:(. Instead I left them a LONG detailed message after hours pointing out my disgust with their poor husbandry, questioning if they even looked into the humidity bps need, how they should know better as pets are their business, how they should care about their health and well being etc... I also promised to be going back soon to see if changes have been made, and threatened to report them if they hadn't.

My question now is: CAN I actually follow through on my threat? Or is it all in vain? If I could, who would I be able to contact?

Thanks so much!

[TeaNinja]

if they are actually putting animals in danger you could report them to animal control i believe.

[Gungirl]

I'm not sure of how it works where you live.. but I have reported and got a store fined for not taking proper care of the animals. I took pics on several visits to prove out a time of bad care then called animal control and made a date to meet them at the location to go over my concerns.
I was happy to see that after this, the manager/Owner paid the fine then proceeded to ask if there was any way I was willing to help him get things how they should be for the animals. At the time I was 15 and said yes... the store still keeps all its animals in great shape, well fed and happy 13yrs later!!

Always speak up for them because they can't do it for them self!!

[stephanbakir]

Yes, you can. I've done it a few times :)

[KrazyKat]

Great!! Thanks so much guys, in that case, I'll definitely be calling animal control. I'll give these guys a little bit of time to see if they took my message to heart, but if it's obvious they haven't - NO mercy! IMO a pet store should be shut down if they don't care for their animals, that's equatable to abuse and neglect.


Always speak up for them because they can't do it for them self!!

And I couldn't agree more! Kudos for what you did BTW ;)

[KrazyKat]

Yes, you can. I've done it a few times :)

That's great Stephan! I'm curious (as usual) which pet stores were these deadbeats that you reported?

[stephanbakir]

Le salon du chien used to have 6 RTBs in the same viv, with a heat mat the size of a dinner plate. They were also fed live, together so they were covered in scars from the rats and from each-other.
cant remember the branch for the second company.

[forza_inter]

that would rattle me as well....makes me sick

which pet store was it?

So I was fuming when I left a pet shop the other day. After over a week of visiting, the two baby ball pythons are STILL in shed - but the shed is stuck all over them in patches, almost exactly as it was a week ago. And I look over to the tank next to them to see a tiny baby beardie, missing it's front foot and the toes on it's hind foot - and in the same tank as an adult fat-tailed gecko!! Like, really?? Not to mention the thin, listless state of their other lizards their. This upset me so much. As I'm not confrontational by nature, I regret that I stormed out of the store without telling the staff off, like a coward:(. Instead I left them a LONG detailed message after hours pointing out my disgust with their poor husbandry, questioning if they even looked into the humidity bps need, how they should know better as pets are their business, how they should care about their health and well being etc... I also promised to be going back soon to see if changes have been made, and threatened to report them if they hadn't.

My question now is: CAN I actually follow through on my threat? Or is it all in vain? If I could, who would I be able to contact?

Thanks so much!

[KrazyKat]

that would rattle me as well....makes me sick

which pet store was it?

Pet World in Carlingwood Mall, in Ottawa - do you know that place?

[stephanbakir]

Never been there.

[KrazyKat]

Le salon du chien used to have 6 RTBs in the same viv, with a heat mat the size of a dinner plate. They were also fed live, together so they were covered in scars from the rats and from each-other.
cant remember the branch for the second company.

Omg! That's so terrible!!:eek: That really makes me mad:mad: Do you know what happened after you reported them?

[stephanbakir]

They upped the conditions, duno if they got in trouble but they separated them and they looked better a few weeks later.

[infernalis]

Yes, you can. I've done it a few times :)

Me too, a local pet shop was forced to "clean it up" as a result.

[Lankyrob]

I reported one to the RSPCA and they closed it down, DO IT, A) it makes you feel better and B) it could just save the life of the animals.

[KrazyKat]

Thank you ALL!! :) You have all reaffirmed my feelings on this matter, and I will definitely make sure something is done about that pet store's husbandry. I'll keep you posted when I have news of the outcome.

[forza_inter]

No I don't...but you should definitely report them. Just because reptiles "aren't cute" like dogs or cats, gives them no right to refuse them the proper care they require and deserve. Pet stores need to stop hiring jerk offs and look into hiring people that know what their doing and care for ALL animals. They should just ban the sale of reptiles from all pet stores and leave it to professional breeders.

Pet World in Carlingwood Mall, in Ottawa - do you know that place?

[stephanbakir]

Who said they werent cute!

[forza_inter]

people that dont like snakes say that....i think they are adorable

...hence why i included "arent" in quotes

[DeesBalls]

I say do it, but I also want to say, not all pet stores are bad... the one where I use to live, is a great pet store!!!! Got 2 of mY corn snskes tthere and my beardie. But I agree, most of them suck!!!!

[stephanbakir]

Some of them also don't know that what they are doing is wrong, and when informed fix the issue.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

I find my local PetsMart to be in pretty decent shape as far as the reptiles go. (dont look at anything else) Besides the BP's cage's being to small they seem well taken care of, no stuck sheds, proper heat and humidity. I dont have a real complaint against them yet (doesnt go to say they wont **** something up) Ive noticed alot of people on here dont like the chain PetsMart.

[marionsclan]

We have a local pet store in town, been here for 36 years, but it is filthy. Dust everywhere, the puppies are kept in a small 9x9 room that holds several cages with multiple puppies in them and for a run it's a 8x10 area shared by garbage cans and consists mostly of cement and dirt. The aquariums have algae covering 60% of the tank and when confronted the owner said that algae is non-toxic and doesn't hurt the animals. And the amphibians and reptiles are not being housed in proper habitats.

I looked them up with the Better Business Bureau and they are listed as a good business because they complied with a customers request who reported him. However, the BBB made it clear that they only based their decision on customer service and not cleanliness and treatment of the animals.

He is borderline with the way he is running his business so it's hard to get him unless someone does some research and learn a lot about the different animals so that they have some leverage against him. I hate those kind of business owners.

[stephanbakir]

I find my local PetsMart to be in pretty decent shape as far as the reptiles go. (dont look at anything else) Besides the BP's cage's being to small they seem well taken care of, no stuck sheds, proper heat and humidity. I dont have a real complaint against them yet (doesnt go to say they wont **** something up) Ive noticed alot of people on here dont like the chain PetsMart.
I actually just applied to a regional job for Petsmart, I would be in charge of pet care in lots of their stores. At least thats my understanding, have another meeting with them in a week or so.
Haven't nailed the job but I'm doing well I think.

[Lankyrob]

The trouble with any chain store is that the whole chain carries the reputation but individual stores can be fantastic.

[infernalis]

The trouble with any chain store is that the whole chain carries the reputation but individual stores can be fantastic.

Agreed, our local PETCO used to be great, the guy who worked in the reptile section actually knew his herps.

[stephanbakir]

If I get the job, I'll be doing my best to improve husbandry :)

[KrazyKat]

Agreed, our local PETCO used to be great, the guy who worked in the reptile section actually knew his herps.

I really hope those good places get more business because of it! Just wish there were more of them around :(

[infernalis]

I really hope those good places get more business because of it! Just wish there were more of them around :(

He quit:confused: the manager (his boss) is a real tool:mad:

[KrazyKat]

He quit:confused: the manager (his boss) is a real tool:mad:

No way!! Now that's just not fair :( He should have been highly valued by his boss for his expertise! I really wish that they would pass a law requiring ALL pet store employees take some basic course that educates them about the animals they will be looking after, along will recurring training/teaching with every new type of animal the pet store caries. Education and testing should be mandatory, and FREE. Ottawa by-laws are so strict, I'm surprised the government hasn't implemented such a requirement. But of course, that would mean dipping into their own pockets to fund it so nevermind!!

[forza_inter]

like i said before, they should just stop all pet stores from selling reptiles....leave it to the professional breeders. the animals would be taken care of and it would prob weed out some of the idiots that buy them because its "cool" to have one, then lose interest after a month, from the people that actually want a reptile to care and provide for it

[stephanbakir]

like i said before, they should just stop all pet stores from selling reptiles....leave it to the professional breeders. the animals would be taken care of and it would prob weed out some of the idiots that buy them because its "cool" to have one, then lose interest after a month, from the people that actually want a reptile to care and provide for it
I have to disagree, while I do agree that they need educated people taking care of their herps, in my opinion the more exposure young children and people in general get with reptiles in general the better. I don't see some random mom+kid walking into a snake breeders home/facilities just to see, however lots of kids and people in general go into pet shops and look at all the fluffy/slithery aminals behind the glass barriers. If they educated staff more regarding the specific needs of the creatures in their possession that would solve allot of the problems we seam to be having.