Re: What I did...

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Posted by Leslie on October 16, 2000 at 14:28:49:

In Reply to: On a SAD NOTE! -- Petsmart torture! posted by Leslie on October 16, 2000 at 10:12:07:

: I contacted Petsmart via e-mail.
Got a reply from the Banfield Medical Center
Here it is:

Thank you for writing Banfield pet hospital with your concerns. This is an all too common problem in the reptile retail industry and happens even in places that supposedly specialize in reptiles. In cases such as the one with this Petsmart, you are generally dealing with ignorance on the part of employees. Most are relatively young kids that really don't know how to care for some of these animals. The information on care is often inadequate and the animals end up suffering. I would suggest that you speak with the store director and the manager in charge of exotics at this store and express your concerns. You should also ask for the name of the regional manager and express your concerns to him/her in writing. Only through complaints such as yours and adequate follow trough will these problems get resolved. In addition to expressing your concerns, be prepared to offer some solutions for them. You can access care information on Russians through the Tortoise Trust website at www.tortoisetrust.org. I appreciate your concerns and it takes people like you to get necessary changes made. Thank you for using "ask the Vet".

Michael Christianson, DVM
Banfield pet hospital of Riverside, CA #128

ALSO: I did contact the store (by mail - should get there today or tomorrow - I am right up the street from this place) To give them the chance to make things right, and
I also contacted the Colorado Humane Society, just in case they don't, and
I contacted the Colorado Reptile Rescue.
Now All I can do is pray someone does something.
Wish me luck!
Leslie

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I saw the most horrible thing on Friday.
: After we took Aladar (my Russian) to the vet I stopped by PetsMart (the same one where I got Aladar)to get some supplies --
: and they had 4 Russians in one Aquarium (with only one hiding log) and one of them the shell was so bad, (he was pyramiding and the pieces looked as if they were going to come off)
: I am pretty sure that one won't make it.
: And there was one in the corner and it looked at me as if to say, please help me. I was so heartbroken, but I am under enough stress right now for 3 people, and I just... couldn't afford to take them home, Petsmart wasn't going to give them away, and I don't know if I could go through that again... (I am nursing one back right now, and that is taking up a lot of my energy and MONEY... They were obviously going to need wormed.
: But I just cannot afford it. Nor, do I have the room.
: I feel so sorry... and get this! there was one in an aquarium on the opposite side (one) all by himself.
: So how does that work. They crowd 4 and put one by itself?
: Too sad. I was thinking of writing the manager a letter. Do you think it would do any good?
: How bout a turtle rescue? Gosh, that is plain cruelty to animals!
: Can I turn them in? Humane Society! Too sad.... Why do they do that! And that poor one... He looked so bad, I know they were suffering. Weird, when I got Aladar, there were only 2 or 3 in a much larger enclosure than that. They were not crowded and they seemed to be in better shape. How can we stop this CAPTURE AND SELL! They should be left wild if they are wild. Aladar is a lucky one... He at least got someone willing to do the research and take him to the vets. If anything happens to him, it won't be because of lack of trying on my part...
: REALLY SAD!

Follow Ups:

Re: What I did... Jen 10/17/00 (1)
- Re. remedy for the above posts....there isn't one...more........ m chambers 10/17/00 (0)

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Comments:
: : I contacted Petsmart via e-mail. : Got a reply from the Banfield Medical Center : Here it is: : Thank you for writing Banfield pet hospital with your concerns. This is an all too common problem in the reptile retail industry and happens even in places that supposedly specialize in reptiles. In cases such as the one with this Petsmart, you are generally dealing with ignorance on the part of employees. Most are relatively young kids that really don't know how to care for some of these animals. The information on care is often inadequate and the animals end up suffering. I would suggest that you speak with the store director and the manager in charge of exotics at this store and express your concerns. You should also ask for the name of the regional manager and express your concerns to him/her in writing. Only through complaints such as yours and adequate follow trough will these problems get resolved. In addition to expressing your concerns, be prepared to offer some solutions for them. You can access care information on Russians through the Tortoise Trust website at www.tortoisetrust.org. I appreciate your concerns and it takes people like you to get necessary changes made. Thank you for using "ask the Vet". : Michael Christianson, DVM : Banfield pet hospital of Riverside, CA #128 : ALSO: I did contact the store (by mail - should get there today or tomorrow - I am right up the street from this place) To give them the chance to make things right, and : I also contacted the Colorado Humane Society, just in case they don't, and : I contacted the Colorado Reptile Rescue. : Now All I can do is pray someone does something. : Wish me luck! : Leslie : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : : I saw the most horrible thing on Friday. : : After we took Aladar (my Russian) to the vet I stopped by PetsMart (the same one where I got Aladar)to get some supplies -- : : and they had 4 Russians in one Aquarium (with only one hiding log) and one of them the shell was so bad, (he was pyramiding and the pieces looked as if they were going to come off) : : I am pretty sure that one won't make it. : : And there was one in the corner and it looked at me as if to say, please help me. I was so heartbroken, but I am under enough stress right now for 3 people, and I just... couldn't afford to take them home, Petsmart wasn't going to give them away, and I don't know if I could go through that again... (I am nursing one back right now, and that is taking up a lot of my energy and MONEY... They were obviously going to need wormed. : : But I just cannot afford it. Nor, do I have the room. : : I feel so sorry... and get this! there was one in an aquarium on the opposite side (one) all by himself. : : So how does that work. They crowd 4 and put one by itself? : : Too sad. I was thinking of writing the manager a letter. Do you think it would do any good? : : How bout a turtle rescue? Gosh, that is plain cruelty to animals! : : Can I turn them in? Humane Society! Too sad.... Why do they do that! And that poor one... He looked so bad, I know they were suffering. Weird, when I got Aladar, there were only 2 or 3 in a much larger enclosure than that. They were not crowded and they seemed to be in better shape. How can we stop this CAPTURE AND SELL! They should be left wild if they are wild. Aladar is a lucky one... He at least got someone willing to do the research and take him to the vets. If anything happens to him, it won't be because of lack of trying on my part... : : REALLY SAD!

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