Why NOT to support Petco.

[Pareeeee]

Petco in Texas throws a LIVE baby iguana in the dumpster. Disgusting.

I know I've mentioned this before but I HATE PET STORES
(most of them anyway, every once and a while you find a good one with caring owners...)

Warning for some bad language in the video, the guy was very upset, understandable.

q_p969U0eSA

it's not showing up for me so here's a secondary link in case it's not working for anyone else: Petco Throws LIVE Baby Iguana in Dumspter!! - YouTube (http://youtu.be/q_p969U0eSA)

[MDT]

Man....this is horrible. I get that "things get tossed" in a business environment. Like he said, an aquarium, maybe other "durable" items. But jeez, you do not throw out a living creature.

[mark24]

That just brakes my heart I never nor will I ever support PETCO that's crap

[shaunyboy]

i love the guy who made the video's attitude,even when one of the employee's spouses threaten him in a comment,he asks for a time to meet him in the petco car park.....

imo every city,town,etc,should have a guy like that guy living there,world would be a better place for it :)

cheers shaun

[infernalis]

I have been talking to him, please spread the link everywhere you can.

Visit his facebbok page.

This guy runs a bonafide rescue, it's not a stunt, 100% real.

[TheBoogieDown]

i love the guy who made the video's attitude,even when one of the employee's spouses threaten him in a comment,he asks for a time to meet him in the petco car park.....

imo every city,town,etc,should have a guy like that guy living there,world would be a better place for it :)

cheers shaun

Agreed. I'd be so pissed off I'd have to leave else I'd strangle someone. But, there is only one problem (and I'm not sure how things work in corporate America, but I was victim to this all the time)... Someone would come running up to me (officer or chief) and just start screaming at me because of something someone below me was doing. I had no idea they were doing it, but I still got the brunt of it. What I learned was this: ignorance of what your people are doing, at a management level, is no excuse. You need to be paying attention to what each and every employee is doing, this is why you get paid more money, you have more responsibility.

[shaunyboy]

I have been talking to him, please spread the link everywhere you can.

Visit his facebbok page.

This guy runs a bonafide rescue, it's not a stunt, 100% real.

i just put it in the lizard and also the snake section,on that crazy UK forum Wayne...

you know the one i'm talking about,they should go a tad crazy and spread it around,you know how VOCAL that forum can be mate ;):laugh:

cheers shaun

[TheBoogieDown]

I have been talking to him, please spread the link everywhere you can.

Visit his facebbok page.

This guy runs a bonafide rescue, it's not a stunt, 100% real.

Sweet. I shall be visiting his page shortly... Ever since I joined this forum I've been getting more proactive in things with reptiles... This goes along with Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups.

[infernalis]

i just put it in the lizard and also the snake section,on that crazy UK forum Wayne...

you know the one i'm talking about,they should go a tad crazy and spread it around,you know how VOCAL that forum can be mate ;):laugh:

cheers shaun


I just replied to your post there Shaun.

you da man!

[infernalis]

almost forgot, Robyn posted this on the front page of the Reptile Report.

The reptile community when united can make some noise when needed.

[rmfsnakes32]

I saw this video last week it makes me sick that PETCO is so careless!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alessia55]

That's disgusting.

[MDT]

You know....running a business is tough. You have to watch every single margin (and expense). I would imagine that a pet store is even tougher.... How many neon tetras do you have to sell to cover payroll? You would think that (even tho they're a HUGE chain), every little bit helps. Every green iguana they sell in GOOD CONDITION is profit and it would likely keep that customer coming back for husbandry items (continued revenue stream)... maybe I'm being naive, but it just blows my mind that really happens. I mean, who does that?!?!?. Not only are they losing dollars (business side), but the lost revenue from bad press can't be great....but throwing away a LIVING ANIMAL IN THE TRASH?!?!?!? Man....just man.

[charlesc84]

Wow there's just no excuse for that. I think with pet stores it really comes down to the employees. I've been to non chain pet stores that are filthy. The Petlands and Petcos around me actually aren't that bad. While I don't expect much from the employees, the stores are clean. I don't think they would do something like this... But then again, who knows?

[Gregg M]

Back in the day I was an assistant manager at a chain pet store. It was actually a good operation where one of the criteria to be hired was that you were a pet enthusiest and had to know your stuff. This chain actually did care for the live animals.

Anyway, we would get shipments in once a week. Every week it seemed we would be short on reptiles. They would be on the invoice, but not in the cages. Turns out that one of the employees who was in charge of unboxing the reptile orders (that was my job before I became assistant manager) was taking animals out of the boxes, re box what he wanted to take that week, and put it in the dumpster in the back of the store and then collect the box from the dumpster after we closed. It just looked like the wearhouse just shorted us for the longest time until the manager got smart to the whole thing and waited by the store one night after closing. Turns out the dude was selling the reptiles for a fraction of what the store had them for.

What I am saying, and I am not defending PETCO at all (I would personally never even step foot in one of those stores), is that it could have been an employee trying to get that iguana without having to pay for it. OR, the store is just filled with idiots. I guess it can go either way.

i just put it in the lizard and also the snake section,on that crazy UK forum Wayne...

you know the one i'm talking about,they should go a tad crazy and spread it around,you know how VOCAL that forum can be mate ;):laugh:

cheers shaun

Besides this place, that is one of my favorite sites. Love you crazy Europeans. LOL

[rmfsnakes32]

I shared this on facebook I have 93 likes/shares so far will let you know the tally in the morning! Thinking about sending this to my local news channels!

[Kingsnakechris]

Makes me sick! This video WILL be shared! This is the only forum in belong to, but I have ALOT of personal contacts and THEY will help spread this like wildfire! I never supported petco, it was to the point where I was driving almost an hour to a different pet store to avoid petco 10 minutes away, thankfully a little mom and pop store opened up and they take much better care of their animals.

[Kingsnakechris]

I wrote petco, there is a link to give feedback, I suggest all of us do so, let them know exactly how many of us know about this incident, WHY ARE THEY NOT FACING CRIMINAL ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES?

[h3h]

I am not a Petco fan, and I am not defending them, but is there any chance at all that someone bought this animal then threw it away? A parent that had just bought it for a child -then the child acted up, and the parent tried to make a statement by throwing it out. Obviously I don't agree with this, and it makes me sick, but I need tangible proof of neglect before I can make accusations.



I love the passion in this statement, regardless of his choice of words.

"You're going to tell me you're not incompetent? we have a live baby iguana which has been thrown in a dumpster out here, and it is gosh darn about a hundred and farkin 2 farkin degrees out here, and you're going to tell me that this stores staff is not incompetent? Bull hockey!" -

- h3

[Kingsnakechris]

I am not a Petco fan, and I am not defending them, but is there any chance at all that someone bought this animal then threw it away? A parent that had just bought it for a child -then the child acted up, and the parent tried to make a statement by throwing it out. Obviously I don't agree with this, and it makes me sick, but I need tangible proof of neglect before I can make accusations.



I love the passion in this statement, regardless of his choice of words.

"You're going to tell me you're not incompetent? we have a live baby iguana which has been thrown in a dumpster out here, and it is gosh darn about a hundred and farkin 2 farkin degrees out here, and you're going to tell me that this stores staff is not incompetent? Bull hockey!" -

- h3

The fact that he's been in the store and complained about the neglect, the fact that this animal was still in the netting they are shipped in, the same box that they come in, I doubt a parent went as far as getting the packing materials and the little boxes to put in the big boxes to make a statement. It is way more likely that they "overlooked" this animal and that's why he ended up in the dumpster. just my opinion.

[Zoo Nanny]

I did a very short stint at Petco in MA, 3 months and then quit. This guy has it nailed on the head. From managers on down they are clueless and abusive to the animals. I would have gotten fired if I hadn't quit first. The manager got pissed at me because I wouldn't sell a large live rat to a kid to feed to a baby ball python, nor would I sell a bird to a hoarder. She already had killed two birds and nearly a third. I tried doing some teaching to the staff but was told I didn't need to because their bird, reptile and small animal specialist had taken the classes and were certified. What a joke I took the bird specialist class. It's 5 booklets that you read and take a test in the back of. Once you complete all the booklets you're deemed a specialist! They also won't hire OT when they have baby birds in the store expecting untrained people to feed them. The assistant manager killed one bird while I was there because the jerk fed the baby first burning the crop with formula that was too hot. To add insult to injury he continued feeding it without monitoring the temp and the formula got too cold impacting in the crop. I never worked anywhere that I hated so much.

[Kingsnakechris]

Yeah, I used to school their "specialists". They were a joke! Telling me a BP can live out it's life in a 10 gal, and stupid things like that, the public goes to these people and trust what they are being told by the "specialist" and that in itself is VERY unfortunate for these animals

[Kettennatter]

After looking at this I still don't understand why somebody would throw away an animal like that.

[shaunyboy]

After looking at this I still don't understand why somebody would throw away an animal like that.

if i'm being honest i think it was thrown out by mistake,someone did'nt check after taking all the others out their boxes and that one box thought to be empty,got tossed by mistake...

that still does NOT excuse the sloppiness on petco staffs part and all the other horror stories though

cheers shaun

[exwizard]

Yeah I see this whole thing as a PR disaster for Petco and the majority of the fallout is still yet to happen. It'll be interesting to see where all this goes.

[h3h]

The fact that he's been in the store and complained about the neglect, the fact that this animal was still in the netting they are shipped in, the same box that they come in, I doubt a parent went as far as getting the packing materials and the little boxes to put in the big boxes to make a statement. It is way more likely that they "overlooked" this animal and that's why he ended up in the dumpster. just my opinion.


Yeah I tend to agree with you 100%. I just like to think of some other excuse, because something like this is heinous. It's hard to imagine that someone could do this, let alone people who "specialize" in animals. I don't think firing the GM or the employees is enough. I think they should have to shut down the entire operation, especially if this is not a first offense.

- h3

[Slcburm]

I call bullshit on this guy. Really he just goes looking through garbage and "happens" to find this, or its all staged because he has nothing better to do. he doesnt sound like rescue at all. He sounds like a bum or a bully


Sorry folks but I dont buy it at all

[Zoo Nanny]

About 8 years ago PETA went after Petco and Petsmart, due to the lack of proper care and education to not only their staff but to their customers concerning parrots. Both stores did eventually sign agreements with PETA that they would no longer sell big birds and would only sell birds conure sized and down. I'm not a PETA advocate considering their increased averages on euthanasia in the rescues they run. It could be an excellent organization if run properly. I wonder if this guy will contact them. They do bring a lot of weight.

[infernalis]

I call bullshit on this guy. Really he just goes looking through garbage and "happens" to find this, or its all staged because he has nothing better to do. he doesnt sound like rescue at all. He sounds like a bum or a bully


Sorry folks but I dont buy it at all

Please call B.S. On ME here....

I witnessed an employee at our local petco throw a sick animal in the trash while I was there, in front of my wife and kids.

No attempt was made to even hide it, The refund was issued, the box went straight into the trash next to the register.

My facebook messages are private, so I will not open them up here just to please you. I talk to this guy every day, this is real, he is real, no hoax.

I have also spoken with people on other forums who have worked for petco in the past, this is not a one off incident, it's a repeated thing.

I too carry my camera with me everywhere I go, that's how I get pictures of deer on the side of the road, waterfalls, snakes under rocks, etc...

A true photo enthusiast will never leave home without a camera, AND in today's technology age, every cell phone has a camera, both video and stills.

So what exactly would he gain by lying??

Does he have a problem with corporate America? Highly doubt it. Is he seeking your "donations" , NO.

[DeesBalls]

I call bullshit on this guy. Really he just goes looking through garbage and "happens" to find this, or its all staged because he has nothing better to do. he doesnt sound like rescue at all. He sounds like a bum or a bully


Sorry folks but I dont buy it at all

did you even check out his facebook page? looks pretty legit to me.

[exwizard]

You know what? I find it odd that I find myself on the same side as animal right extremists like PETA but in this case I need to set aside my political differences with them. Truth is this video was shocking to see and I don't shock easily. What I find even more shocking is that this sort of thing happens a lot. Im still at a loss to this whole thing. Does that sound naive? Maybe but my eyes have been opened up to this now.

[DeesBalls]

Its hard for me... the PetCo i go to is awesome... there is also another pet store in the same town, and its pathetic (bps on sand) and they hate when i go in. lol

so for me it is hard for me not to support them, since it the only place around me with decent animals, and decent prices...

by any means, this is rediculous, and kuddos to the guy who rescured it.

[infernalis]

I support breeders, and buy my bedding online or at wal mart.

Chain pet stores are over priced, and I usually go mental on them and make a scene, so it's best I don't go in at all.

[StudentoReptile]

I support breeders, and buy my bedding online or at wal mart.

Chain pet stores are over priced, and I usually go mental on them and make a scene, so it's best I don't go in at all.

Ditto.

I keep telling folks...there is nothing in a pet store you cannot get elsewhere.

[DeesBalls]

I support breeders, and buy my bedding online or at wal mart.

Chain pet stores are over priced, and I usually go mental on them and make a scene, so it's best I don't go in at all.

i get crickets and water dished/dog food there... where do you get your bedding offline at?

[DeesBalls]

Ditto.

I keep telling folks...there is nothing in a pet store you cannot get elsewhere.

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

[Kingsnakechris]

Kingsnake dot com is a favorite for me. Mostly breeders and private sellers. Go into the classifieds and look around.

[Tango]

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

I can get everything on your list at reptile shows. Ohio has some good shows - I dont know if any are near you, though.

[StudentoReptile]

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

let me know where to get crickets, aspen, cypress multch, and cheap water dishes at and i will no longer support them... i just cant find anything.

Crickets = there are many online vendors you can order from. Set up a tub or box, and you can start have 1000s of crickets delivered right to your doorstep. This is what the petstores do! You think they breed crickets? You're basically cutting out the middle man and getting feeder insects in bulk, cheaper per insect, and you don't have to drive to the store and wonder if they're going to be out of the right size crickets. Or you can breed your own roaches or mealworms, or whatever suits your fancy and basically raise your own free insects.

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

Cypress Mulch = Lowe's or Home Depot....or again, online

Cheap Water dishes? = please. I like the little plastic crock bowls you get at walmart. I mean, I don't know exactly what animals you;re looking for, but seriously, nearly ANYTHING can be used for a water bowl. Now, if you want the decorative, rock-like bowls.....[wait for it]....you guessed it! Go online!

-----

True story...so the wife and I are preparing to get a beardie for our son, right? We're researching and price-comparing cages and tanks, and we both agreed we really like the Exo-Terra terrariums with front-door access. Amazon had it the cheapest, even with shipping. I had a 36x18x12 glass terrarium shipped straight to my door. I didn't have to blow my evening loading the wife and 2 babies into the car to drive 35 minutes to the nearest petstore and pay full retail price for the thing, and load it myself into the car (if it would even fit). My wife or I didn't have to lift a finger.

With Amazon Prime, I can have light bulbs, heat pads, temp guns, etc...shipped to my door in 2 days. Light fixtures can be had at the hardware or home supply store.

If you have internet access and a credit card, there is no reason for you to ever walk into a petstore ever again.

[MoreliAddict]

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

I like to buy aspen from pet stores, so you know the stuff is manufactured for animals.

Some people complain about aspen being "too dusty", which makes me question where they are getting it...

[infernalis]

Don't laugh....

I get all kinds of water bowls at the salvation army thrift store.

Saves money and supports charity, win, win, win...

For small baby snakes, a glass ash tray (washed) makes an awesome water dish.

Crockery soup bowls with flat bottoms, dog food dishes (double as hides) list goes on.

[infernalis]

pet store = Expensive...

http://www.varanid.us/products/ripoff.jpg

Department store, dollar store, wal mart = CHEAP

http://www.varanid.us/products/vania.jpg

Better product, better service, lower price.. what's not to like?

[StudentoReptile]

I like to buy aspen from pet stores, so you know the stuff is manufactured for animals.

Some people complain about aspen being "too dusty", which makes me question where they are getting it...

What do you think the stuff from Tractor supply is for? I agree though...everyone has their own preferences. I like the stuff from Walmart; I just wish it came in bigger bags!

I hear ya, Wayne! I love rooting around at Salvation Army, Goodwills, etc. ...like I said, a LOT of stuff can be used for herps with a little imagination and creative.

I swear, one of these days I'm going to write a How-To sheet on setting up a beginner herp for less than $50. It can be done. People gotta learn that just because it doesn't have a picture of an iguana on the packaging doesn't mean it can't be used for a reptile!

[DeesBalls]

the bags of aspen at wal mart suck. they are smalll bits and dust as hell...

as for everything else, guess i could look online, just dont like buying and waiting..

[Kingsnakechris]

Don't laugh....

I get all kinds of water bowls at the salvation army thrift store.

Saves money and supports charity, win, win, win...

For small baby snakes, a glass ash tray (washed) makes an awesome water dish.

Crockery soup bowls with flat bottoms, dog food dishes (double as hides) list goes on.


Good will is another good one, but yes the salvation army thrift store has almost everything!!! The other stuff I get online in BULK, wholesale is the way to go IMO

[StudentoReptile]

the bags of aspen at wal mart suck. they are smalll bits and dust as hell...

Well, I dunno what to tell ya, dude. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have not found the aspen at Walmart to be any less dustier than aspen sold by Hagen, Zoomed, Super-Pet, etc...I've bough aspen from a variety of venues. To each his own, I suppose. I don't see a difference in my snakes' behavior, I don't see a difference when I clean the cages out...[shrugs] if there's no difference, I'm going to go for the cheaper route!

as for everything else, guess i could look online, just dont like buying and waiting..

I'm tellin' ya, dude. Get an Amazon Prime Account. It WILL save you time and money in the long run. Nearly anything you need (bulbs, heat pads, thermometers, etc.) can wait 2 days.

And it's freakin' Amazon...its not like there's just pet stuff on there. Think of anything else you normally can get...the millions of little things in life that pop up that we suddenly need. Before you run off to Walmart or Target...check Amazon first. Betcha it'd be cheaper....

[infernalis]

Good will is another good one, but yes the salvation army thrift store has almost everything!!! The other stuff I get online in BULK, wholesale is the way to go IMO

Yes! and while I was there getting water bowls once, I picked up a Yamaha graphite shaft 5 iron with hand wrapped leather handle for $2:eek:

I don't golf, I keep it by the front door.:cool:

[Falconeer999]

I have Amazon Prime and it is definitely worth it. Not only for pet stuff but just normal day to day living stuff too. Plus if you are a student (or have one in your family and set the account up through them), you get Prime for free.

I will admit to going to PetCo last week though because they are having a $1 per gallon aquarium sale (think it goes on through the end of this week). Those are hard to stay away from.

[Gungirl]

I don't like people so I do 95% of all my shopping online. I save tons of money ( gas, time) I wouldn't want it any other way. The only time I actually go to a store is to buy food. I don't like the idea of someone else picking out my food for me.

[brooksy]

I too buy most of my purchases online. Only thing I don't is my fruits, veggies, grains, dairy & meat products. Or when I am able to support a local business, like getting my frozen feeders and repashy products from local breeders.

[DeesBalls]

I do get some stuff off of there. i dont have a prime account though. all i was sayingis my Petco isnt bad... didnt mean to start all of this....i guess i will look into amazon and see

i want to start getting crickets in bulk/breeding, but i kill off 90 percent of them everytime i get a bunch... not sure what im doing wrong...

and i want to buy a bulk of plastic deli cups, but cant find a good deal....

[Gungirl]

Your petco might be ok but if you support 1 store it helps the whole company. We need to avoid ALL of their stores even the "good" ones.

[StudentoReptile]

Ditto.

There are some good ones and some bad ones. Most fall in the middle. They ALL need to be good.

But still, even if they're great, retail prices suck big time. There is simply no way I could afford to keep the 4 tortoises and 1 snake I have if I was totally reliant on retail petstores for all my feeders and supplies. I don't see how some people can. Maybe its because they still genuinely think it's the only option and are not aware of other venues, like the ones we have mentioned.

I'm just trying to help folks keep their pets AND save money. It's not that I'm diametrically opposed to shopping in a pet store, but hey, we're all hurtin' in the finances dept to some degree. Every lil way we can save is appreciated, I'm sure.

[infernalis]

I don't like people.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^:cool:

[DeesBalls]

Your petco might be ok but if you support 1 store it helps the whole company. We need to avoid ALL of their stores even the "good" ones.

never thought of it that way... forgot it was a chain and they are ALL together....

that thought never even crossed my mind.

[Pareeeee]

I wish my Wal-Mart sold Aspen bedding...lucky you guys. I was in there today looking for some actually and all they have are two varieties of cedar, some pine, and some cedar-pine mixture. Great stuff for your pets! Not... o_o

I guess I will have to get my aspen from a local pet store for an overly inflated price...

[Gungirl]

Do you have any farm feed stores near you Pareeeee? Most of them will carry aspen in large bags for a great price.

[Pareeeee]

Not nearby that I know of, but maybe I can ask around if there's one closer. Aspen from a farm store is an ok grade for snakes?

[StudentoReptile]

Is there no online venue you can order from?

[Gungirl]

Yup that is where I get mine.. I have no issues with it at all. It isn't dusty or super fine but on the other side its not really chunky either. I pay $6.99 for 2500cu. inches/41 liters.

[mark24]

The only reason why i support my local petsmart, is because I can't find 24 live crickets, or frozen mice/rats for cheap. On mice/rats I'm spending over $60 just for shipping.

[ballpython1717]

petsmart and petco are good places to get food and acessories for your pet and terrarium, but the animals kept there are neglected and unhealthy, and the staff have no idea what they are talking about!

[Kingsnakechris]

Yes! and while I was there getting water bowls once, I picked up a Yamaha graphite shaft 5 iron with hand wrapped leather handle for $2:eek:

I don't golf, I keep it by the front door.:cool:

I make snake hooks outta the cheap metal ones. Real simple.
Lol thats awesome, you keep yours bh the door, next time your there, pick up a putter lol more reliable LOL

[DeesBalls]

Crickets = there are many online vendors you can order from. Set up a tub or box, and you can start have 1000s of crickets delivered right to your doorstep. This is what the petstores do! You think they breed crickets? You're basically cutting out the middle man and getting feeder insects in bulk, cheaper per insect, and you don't have to drive to the store and wonder if they're going to be out of the right size crickets. Or you can breed your own roaches or mealworms, or whatever suits your fancy and basically raise your own free insects.

Aspen = small bags can be had at Walmart. Large bag at Tractor Supply Co for $10. Of course, like most anything, you can order it from any number of places online.

Cypress Mulch = Lowe's or Home Depot....or again, online

Cheap Water dishes? = please. I like the little plastic crock bowls you get at walmart. I mean, I don't know exactly what animals you;re looking for, but seriously, nearly ANYTHING can be used for a water bowl. Now, if you want the decorative, rock-like bowls.....[wait for it]....you guessed it! Go online!

-----

True story...so the wife and I are preparing to get a beardie for our son, right? We're researching and price-comparing cages and tanks, and we both agreed we really like the Exo-Terra terrariums with front-door access. Amazon had it the cheapest, even with shipping. I had a 36x18x12 glass terrarium shipped straight to my door. I didn't have to blow my evening loading the wife and 2 babies into the car to drive 35 minutes to the nearest petstore and pay full retail price for the thing, and load it myself into the car (if it would even fit). My wife or I didn't have to lift a finger.

With Amazon Prime, I can have light bulbs, heat pads, temp guns, etc...shipped to my door in 2 days. Light fixtures can be had at the hardware or home supply store.

If you have internet access and a credit card, there is no reason for you to ever walk into a petstore ever again.

this is all helpfull, thanks!! 1st of all-

and i thought that cypress from those places were bad? or else i would of done that ALONG time ago....

Trust me, ive tried several times to keep 1000 crickets at one time.... they all always die, no matter what i do to keep them:(

trust me- i dont like pet stores in any way- like i said, i go there because its okay, and i can get crickets when i need them... if i could skip them, i would... take for example, frozen rats when i am in between shows and need some i run in there to get some, i am not going to pay rodent pro $75 JUST for shipping to get some mice/rats, ill wait to meet them at the show, so sometime i just have to go there....dont want to, but need to....

[infernalis]

so why not support a little mom pop store?

[Aaron_S]

this is all helpfull, thanks!! 1st of all-

and i thought that cypress from those places were bad? or else i would of done that ALONG time ago....

Trust me, ive tried several times to keep 1000 crickets at one time.... they all always die, no matter what i do to keep them:(

trust me- i dont like pet stores in any way- like i said, i go there because its okay, and i can get crickets when i need them... if i could skip them, i would... take for example, frozen rats when i am in between shows and need some i run in there to get some, i am not going to pay rodent pro $75 JUST for shipping to get some mice/rats, ill wait to meet them at the show, so sometime i just have to go there....dont want to, but need to....


Buy a larger freezer and stock up more. They won't go bad...if they get freezer burn do you think your snakes care about the taste?

[DeesBalls]

Buy a larger freezer and stock up more. They won't go bad...if they get freezer burn do you think your snakes care about the taste?

lol i doubt it..... but yea, i have a freezer just for them. right now i have about 300 or so assorted, but i was just saying in general "if" it would happen... a hypothetical scenario if you will.

[DeesBalls]

so why not support a little mom pop store?

none around me:( there was one in the city i USE to live in, it was awesome, would NOT house anything together, except baby corns (usually 3) and they had around 4 hides, and 2 water dished and you could just tell it was a nice set up for them, and they would tell people not to house anything together. I was a regular there, but since then i moved way away and miss them.

[moshirimon]

here in canada we don't have petco i don't think. but we've got lots of petsmarts, and although i do NOT support them one bit, they really have improved over the years. their animals have sufficiant space, food, and hygene compared to a few years ago when i was seeing leopard geckos with veggie dishes. I have gone off multiple times about the care etc..


There is a petstore in my area and i'm not sure if they have it any where else called the "urban zoo". I usually don't like naming things but i am going to anyway because their animals and the way they care for them, SICKENS ME to the point where i've been asked to leave for correcting the employees. They have chameleons in 10 gallon fish tanks with tried up tails they can't even curl up anymore, they have bearded dragons on the verge of death, MULTIPLE baby savannah monitors in one tiny tank, water dragons in FULL WATER enclosures, etc, etc.. One time i saw a baby bearded dragon laying on the flooro of the cage practically dead. Face and head still fully active but it seemed almost paralyzed, other than the tips of it's fingers twitching. it was really bugging me so i asked the guy why he's doing that and he tried telling me its normal it's what they do blahblahblahbssss. another time i asked why the leopard geckos were in a tank that was SPRAYED down to the point where there were water droplets on the glass and the guy told me it's becuase they are from tropical areas. WOW. I know i typed alot but just thinking of it gets me MAD... sorry guys lol

[Pareeeee]

moshirimom, that place sounds horrible! There is only one 'good' pet store around here (where I got Boaz) but it's about 40 minutes away. They sell rescues, drop-offs, etc. The lady that owns it seems genuinely concerned about the well-being of her animals. Granted, I've seen mistakes there before, but they didn't get upset when I voiced my opinion, and actually wrote down the info I gave them :)

The lady that owns the store was showing me a Crested Gecko that came in as a drop-off the other day, its jaw is crooked and its tail is limp. She was very upset about the person who brought it in, saying he most likely was not using calcium. She went into this little rant about people who buy pets from her, she tells them the needs of the animal etc, then about a month they come back asking why their pet is sick. "Did you do what I told you" she asks them and they always say "no". She sighed saying how tired she is of people who simply don't research animals before buying them.

This is the only 'mom & pop' store I support out of all the ones in the area.

PS: Also, others have mentioned 'cypress mulch', is it better than aspen? What's good/bad about it? (intruiged since apparently you can get it from Home Depot)

[Tango]

so why not support a little mom pop store?
There are a few of these in my area, which I unfortunately find to be just as bad.

I went into one not that long ago, just to browse. There was a tank on a shelf that said "ANOLES - $6.99". I looked in the tank and thought they must be sold out. I then looked closer and saw that they were all dead at the bottom of the tank. They were so petrified that they blended in perfectly with the bark at the bottom of the tank. The dried out water spots on the glass and empty water dish indicated to me that the workers actually forgot they were there.

[StudentoReptile]

I have been using the $3 bags (2 cu ft) of cypress mulch (undyed, organic) from Lowe's for about 4 years on various snakes and tortoises. I have yet to have any issues with it. It looks nicer and retains humidity a little better than aspen bedding. True, it is not the ideal substrate for every species of herp, but it works well for me. It beats buying $12-$27 bags of repti-bark or Jungle mix or whatever at the pet store.

It also works well enough when you mix it with topsoil (plain ole dirt) or the coconut coir.

It should be noted that it is easier to obtain in the east. For some reason, people in the western U.S. have trouble finding it at their local Lowe's and Home Depots.

[Slcburm]

I just use papertowels for my bedding and its great. Maintains humidity pretty well, get perfect sheds and its way easier to clean then cypress, aspen etc

[iBaman]

It should be noted that it is easier to obtain in the east. For some reason, people in the western U.S. have trouble finding it at their local Lowe's and Home Depots.

The excuse I've been given as to why they don't carry it is because it's to dry here. I face palmed. Isn't that the POINT of cypress, to hold humidity?!

[StudentoReptile]

The excuse I've been given as to why they don't carry it is because it's to dry here. I face palmed. Isn't that the POINT of cypress, to hold humidity?!

Maybe because when it dries out, it doesn't look nice? This is from a landscaping perspective, as that is the target demographic for this stuff, not reptile keepers! I dunno...just venturing a guess.

[MoreliAddict]

The snakes at the Petco by me all seem fine, aside from the Ball Pythons, which are kept at 30% humidity.

[Snickers]

I saw that iguana video posted on a respected reptile forum and everyone was saying that the guy in the video is a scam artist and planted that iguana in the dumpster.

[infernalis]

I saw that iguana video posted on a respected reptile forum and everyone was saying that the guy in the video is a scam artist and planted that iguana in the dumpster.

RFUK right??

[Snickers]

RFUK right??

No, faunaclassifieds.

They even have a bad guy thread on him.

[infernalis]

oh I gotta go stir the pot....

Fauna Classifieds is where all the whiners go to slander others.

[StudentoReptile]

PM me the link to the thread, Wayne. I can always use some entertainment!

[infernalis]

as soon as I get over there..

[iBaman]

Maybe because when it dries out, it doesn't look nice? This is from a landscaping perspective, as that is the target demographic for this stuff, not reptile keepers! I dunno...just venturing a guess.

I dunno...hose it down and it looks nice again...;D

[WFReptileRescue]

I've gotten pretty cordial inquiries from Wayne since we have been speaking, so I figured I would drop in and clear up any questions here. I wouldn't be going to fauna, even if I weren't banned, because I think Rich is an unethical pud (self admitted releaser of unhealthy/poor genetic captive bred stock into the wild), and so are his minions of whiners, axe grinders, and other assorted malcontents. I wouldn't do a single thing to drive traffic to his site.

First of all, to Snikers..."they even have a bad guy thread on him"...

I guess that just settles the matter, doesn't it? LOL. Please tell me you aren't among the zombies over there who can't think for themselves, and are liable to the mumbling incantations and rumor that goes on over there, shoddily passing as "evidence"? What a joke that place is. They're a regular sewing circle over there.

I'm only going to address that this far in depth, because you opened the door here. And so what do we have over on that BOI in the form of complainer? We have exactly two morons who complain they paid me sums of money and then did not get their product or their money back? Nooo....

Do we have people complaining that they received substandard product from me, and did not receive a refund? Nooo......

So...what DO we have there in that "bad guy" thread that's even remotely backed up?

We have two malcontents bitching that I didn't like their attitude and I REFUNDED their money, PROMPTLY I might add, and I told them to go elsewhere. I think I was even kind enough to give them my competitors website. I usually do that when I decline a sale to anyone. I don't want their business, so I don't care if someone else gets it. Now how bad am I? LOL With all the people who have paid for high dollar herps and not gotten them, gotten sickly ones, and all the rest that has been complained about in the BOI...and here's this thread with two little puds whining that I refunded their money and wouldn't sell them feeders!!! And that's post worthy? Are you friggin kidding me? Grow a pair!

I see that nobody is posting their real names there in those threads anymore. What, Rich drastically change the rules AGAIN? Or is this just another of the many examples of fauna moderators selectively enforcing policy?

But, enough about those nitwits. I'm glad to see that everyone here is pretty well in agreement that you can find ways to do business other than in a pets store. I would like to redirect the focus of your attention though back to the matter of this iguana and his ordeal, and how cheaply they are treated in the industry as literally "throw aways".

A lot of people out there want to make this issue about me, and my way of dealing with people. It's my way. I'm a Texan, of Sicilian descent, and former US Army to boot. I don't sugar coat. I don't consider your feelings before stating facts. I don't bite my tongue when someone is wrong, and my general business attitude is that the customer is frequently wrong when they try to tell me something about my own niche, specialty, or business. That's not going to change. My detractors can pound sand, and I don't mind telling them so. However, this issue is not about me, and my disdain for people in general as an animal (primarily wildlife) rescuer.

That said, I'd be happy to clear up any misconceptions you may have or questions about the incident itself.

Mike
aka Mick (shortened from Micky, an Italian diminutive form of Michael)

[Pareeeee]

I've gotten pretty cordial inquiries from Wayne since we have been speaking, so I figured I would drop in and clear up any questions here. I wouldn't be going to fauna, even if I weren't banned, because I think Rich is an unethical pud (self admitted releaser of unhealthy/poor genetic captive bred stock into the wild), and so are his minions of whiners, axe grinders, and other assorted malcontents. I wouldn't do a single thing to drive traffic to his site.

First of all, to Snikers..."they even have a bad guy thread on him"...

I guess that just settles the matter, doesn't it? LOL. Please tell me you aren't among the zombies over there who can't think for themselves, and are liable to the mumbling incantations and rumor that goes on over there, shoddily passing as "evidence"? What a joke that place is. They're a regular sewing circle over there.

I'm only going to address that this far in depth, because you opened the door here. And so what do we have over on that BOI in the form of complainer? We have exactly two morons who complain they paid me sums of money and then did not get their product or their money back? Nooo....

Do we have people complaining that they received substandard product from me, and did not receive a refund? Nooo......

So...what DO we have there in that "bad guy" thread that's even remotely backed up?

We have two malcontents bitching that I didn't like their attitude and I REFUNDED their money, PROMPTLY I might add, and I told them to go elsewhere. I think I was even kind enough to give them my competitors website. I usually do that when I decline a sale to anyone. I don't want their business, so I don't care if someone else gets it. Now how bad am I? LOL With all the people who have paid for high dollar herps and not gotten them, gotten sickly ones, and all the rest that has been complained about in the BOI...and here's this thread with two little puds whining that I refunded their money and wouldn't sell them feeders!!! And that's post worthy? Are you friggin kidding me? Grow a pair!

I see that nobody is posting their real names there in those threads anymore. What, Rich drastically change the rules AGAIN? Or is this just another of the many examples of fauna moderators selectively enforcing policy?

But, enough about those nitwits. I'm glad to see that everyone here is pretty well in agreement that you can find ways to do business other than in a pets store. I would like to redirect the focus of your attention though back to the matter of this iguana and his ordeal, and how cheaply they are treated in the industry as literally "throw aways".

A lot of people out there want to make this issue about me, and my way of dealing with people. It's my way. I'm a Texan, of Sicilian descent, and former US Army to boot. I don't sugar coat. I don't consider your feelings before stating facts. I don't bite my tongue when someone is wrong, and my general business attitude is that the customer is frequently wrong when they try to tell me something about my own niche, specialty, or business. That's not going to change. My detractors can pound sand, and I don't mind telling them so. However, this issue is not about me, and my disdain for people in general as an animal (primarily wildlife) rescuer.

That said, I'd be happy to clear up any misconceptions you may have or questions about the incident itself.

Mike
aka Mick (shortened from Micky, an Italian diminutive form of Michael)

Sounds like that fauna forum is a place I won't be going to....lol

Anyway, I for one believe you were telling the truth in the video (hence why I posted it here), and agree with what you were saying. People need to be made aware of these things, and even if one store in the chain is 'doing it right', buying from that one store supports the whole chain.

I don't believe we have Petco here in Canada (I have never seen one) but we do have a big chain called 'Petsmart', which most likely is guilty of similar offences (maybe I need to do some digging...hmmm?). It doesn't matter the country, animal cruelty is NEVER right. Thank goodness Wal-mart stopped selling fish....(here anyway.)

I've noticed that anything that is fur-less and scaly seems to be treated as if it doesn't have the ability to feel pain or discomfort. Sick or even dead fish are often left in tanks without treatment, infecting the healthy fish stuck in the same tank. Lizards and snakes are often kept on sand, Ball Pythons in low-humidity environments, many reptiles often end up with MBD because of lack of calcium. People are often mislead by pet-store-worker's terrible advice.

[WFReptileRescue]

I appreciate the fact that most people here seemed to give the rescuer the benefit of the doubt and look at the evidence. I was not given similar fair treatment elsewhere, obviously. Some places just want to immediately cast negative aspersions and suspicion, and I will tell you, I've never seen a more conspiratorial prone bunch than I've seen on fauna. Other than the two posters who complained of my turning away their business, nothing anyone is saying on that thread is true, and I mean NOTHING, and they offer zero evidence.

But, the evidence in this case did come out. Texas is a one-party consent state for purposes of recording telephone conversations, and for my protection I recorded the phone call with Petco's VP, and got some pretty interesting admissions from her. My summation of that call is accurate, as if you look at the "likes" on that post on my facebook page, you will see "Marcie Whichard" among them, who is the Petco VP for animal care and education. I really doubt she would have liked my published note if it weren't an accurate representation.

This should settle the question, yet malcontents, up to and including people I refused to do business with, refused an adoption to, had a previous flame war with online, banned from my page or my yahoo group, and ex-girlfriends with axes to grind, have attempted to stir up trouble and raise accusations. Talk about throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks....

Petsmart is a very similar chain which is also common, though not quite as widely spread as Petco. Petco I would describe as the McDonalds of the pet stores down here in the US. I have seen similar issues at Petsmart, because anytime you get a chain this large the employee pool to draw from is going to include a lot of ignorant people who have never kept a herp before, and this is the wrong kind of person to have running such a department. The kind who got certified through the store as a specialist after taking some foolish workbook test. That's how they do it. I actually have a copy of Petco's training manual, obtained by my ex girlfriend when she worked there.