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Posted by Mr. D on February 10, 2001 at 00:33:02:
In Reply to: Petco Iguanas posted by Travis on February 09, 2001 at 21:45:25:
No flack here, Travis. I completely realize that there will always be MANY igs that end up dying a slow, sometimes painful death in captivity. Unfortunately, it's part of the pet trade. This is going to happen is all kinds of "mom and pop" shops and mall stores all over the country. However, when there are as many complaints as we are beginning to see voiced against ONE company that happens to be a national chain then I feel that something at least has to be said if not done.
Having had several conversations with both individual PetCompany store managers and their regional governing offices, I've come to the realization that there is a severe lack of communication and governing happening between local stores and the corporate ladder. Little things that a regional office may not be expected to keep track of. Like a Mali Uromastyx mysteriously showing up in a local store and being kept despite NO one in the store having any knowledge as to how to care for it.
In the case of the "PetCo iguana", the store manager is keeping it because he feels that it boosts sales of iguanas when people see what they can grow into. Now, even this I wouldn't have a problem with - IF the store was going to care for this ig properly and distribute accurate information with the sale of their igs. Obviously, the store can't be held responsible for what happens to the ig once it leaves the store. But if the new owner leaves the store with the correct care info then the store has done all that it can. We've all seen, however, that this is not going to happen - not with the PetCompany at least unless we attempt to let them know that we as consumers do not agree with their practices.
I'm not talking about trying to save every animal because it's wrong to have pets. I'm just trying to get someone to see that if you are going to be in the business of making money from the sale of animals then you should be conscious enough to supply the information necessary for your customer to take care of their new purchase. Personally, if I bought an animal from a pet shop, followed their directions for care, the animal died and I found out that it was because of the care that I gave it - the care based on the info that I was given when I purchased the animal from the pet store, I would be pretty ticked off. In fact, I'd probably see that as the store taking advantage of me. Now, obviously, these days it is MUCH easier to get information regarding pet care - that's what we're all out here doing. But before the advent of the internet when main sources of information were books and word of mouth it was MUCH easier to receive - and stick by - incorrect information. These days, there is little excuse for not being able to get the correct info. But there is absolutely NO excuse for providing what is known to be incorrect information. And that is the main thing that I think we should be trying to accomplish. Permitting ? Restricting sales of animals ? Maybe/maybe not. Educating John and Jane Q ? Absolutely !!! For if someone is given the wrong information to begin with I cannot find 100% fault with that person. But if someone is given the right information and chooses not to follow it then I have done my job and that individual is to blame for any harm, illness or death 1000%.
"Mom and Pops" will always be out there. Let the ones who need to suffer suffer there. Multi billion dollar corporate enterprises have no excuse to allow it. They have the capital to educate, they should be held responsible in disseminating the correct information regardless of which animals they choose to make a profit from. Should it be too much to ask ? I don't think so.... IS it too much to ask ? I guess we'll find out shortly....
