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Posted by Traci on July 13, 1999 at 18:33:09:

In Reply to: I need your help......or maybe just advice. posted by Skinny on July 13, 1999 at 14:41:53:

It seems to me that the store doesn't have much to back them up on this. One, they GAVE you the animals because they were not willing to provide veterinary care for them. Two, YOU provided needed medical care, at your own expense. Make sure you have records of the vet visit as well as the vet's diagnosis and treatment recommendations for both animals. Tell PetSmart that if they want the animals back, they can reimburse you for the veterinary bills as well as the amount of time you've spent treating and caring for these animals (including feeding, medecines, extra electricity, etc) If they were unwilling to do it before they even know how much it was going to cost, you can damn sure bet they'll be unwilling to do it now. Let them know you mean business.

If they decide to push it, contact your local ASPCA and talk to them, let them know the situation. Offer to provide copies of veterinary records as proof of the condition the store allowed these animals to deteriorate to. Make it sound as bad as you can without lying....

In Richmond, we have a local news station that LOVES stories like these.. it's called 12 On Your Side where the big tv station sticks up for Joe Consumer and presents BOTH sides of the story on the evening news. BAD press for PetSmart. People LOVE animal stories, too. Helps ratings. You might see if something like that is available.

Last, see if you have a legal service that offers free legal advice over the phone.. those types that let you know if you have a case. Again, make sure you can present veterinary bills as well as added expenses. Depending upon the amount of bills, they might be interested. With this option, be prepared to make a lot of calls.. lawyers tend to be uninterested in anything that won't make them money (comes from a year's experience of living with one :>)

If I were you, I'd refuse to give the animals back. Make them take YOU to court.. you have no idea how much that will cost them. If they're unwilling to spend $200 on vet bills, then you can bet corporate will laugh at the store for trying to spend thousands to take you to court to return 'their' property. Taking you to court will cost the, too. The 'average' attorney charges upwards of $150 per HOUR and something like this would probably run them close to a grand. That's on your side as well..

Just some random thoughts. Think about it and I'll see if I can come up with others. I'll also ask my resident lawyer how much you have in the way of rights (keep in mind, it will be based on Virginia law and will differ where you are). It's a start, and it's free.

Traci

: As you all know, I have recently obtained two new reptiles from the PetSmart that I JUST officially quit today. They want their reptiles back. They told me that the cost to take them to the vet, was far too much, and the animals would simply DIE. i wouldn't have that, and they let me take them home. But you guys already know that. I took the collared lizard to the vet, and he is looking better every time I looka at him. His hand is almost back to normal, but he does need to be medicated for about another three weeks. That won't get done at PetSmart. The Basilisks mouth rot is also looking better. He won't get treated at the petsmart either. If I take them back, they will both die. Period. So I obviously have decided NOT to take them back to the petstore. What I want to know is........how much trouble can I get in for this? I would be glad to go sit in jail for their lives, if it came to that, but I don't think that it would go that far. But than again, I don't really know?

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: It seems to me that the store doesn't have much to back them up on this. One, they GAVE you the animals because they were not willing to provide veterinary care for them. Two, YOU provided needed medical care, at your own expense. Make sure you have records of the vet visit as well as the vet's diagnosis and treatment recommendations for both animals. Tell PetSmart that if they want the animals back, they can reimburse you for the veterinary bills as well as the amount of time you've spent treating and caring for these animals (including feeding, medecines, extra electricity, etc) If they were unwilling to do it before they even know how much it was going to cost, you can damn sure bet they'll be unwilling to do it now. Let them know you mean business. : If they decide to push it, contact your local ASPCA and talk to them, let them know the situation. Offer to provide copies of veterinary records as proof of the condition the store allowed these animals to deteriorate to. Make it sound as bad as you can without lying.... : In Richmond, we have a local news station that LOVES stories like these.. it's called 12 On Your Side where the big tv station sticks up for Joe Consumer and presents BOTH sides of the story on the evening news. BAD press for PetSmart. People LOVE animal stories, too. Helps ratings. You might see if something like that is available. : Last, see if you have a legal service that offers free legal advice over the phone.. those types that let you know if you have a case. Again, make sure you can present veterinary bills as well as added expenses. Depending upon the amount of bills, they might be interested. With this option, be prepared to make a lot of calls.. lawyers tend to be uninterested in anything that won't make them money (comes from a year's experience of living with one :>) : If I were you, I'd refuse to give the animals back. Make them take YOU to court.. you have no idea how much that will cost them. If they're unwilling to spend $200 on vet bills, then you can bet corporate will laugh at the store for trying to spend thousands to take you to court to return 'their' property. Taking you to court will cost the, too. The 'average' attorney charges upwards of $150 per HOUR and something like this would probably run them close to a grand. That's on your side as well.. : Just some random thoughts. Think about it and I'll see if I can come up with others. I'll also ask my resident lawyer how much you have in the way of rights (keep in mind, it will be based on Virginia law and will differ where you are). It's a start, and it's free. : Traci : : As you all know, I have recently obtained two new reptiles from the PetSmart that I JUST officially quit today. They want their reptiles back. They told me that the cost to take them to the vet, was far too much, and the animals would simply DIE. i wouldn't have that, and they let me take them home. But you guys already know that. I took the collared lizard to the vet, and he is looking better every time I looka at him. His hand is almost back to normal, but he does need to be medicated for about another three weeks. That won't get done at PetSmart. The Basilisks mouth rot is also looking better. He won't get treated at the petsmart either. If I take them back, they will both die. Period. So I obviously have decided NOT to take them back to the petstore. What I want to know is........how much trouble can I get in for this? I would be glad to go sit in jail for their lives, if it came to that, but I don't think that it would go that far. But than again, I don't really know?

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