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.

Originally Posted by Gungirl

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]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

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?

Originally Posted by 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!

[KrazyKat]

Originally Posted by forza_inter

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

Omg! That's so terrible!! That really makes me 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]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

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.