A horrible situation at PetCo....

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Posted by Aaron on January 02, 1999 at 21:30:45:

I realize that this doesn't have anything to do with reptiles, but I thought
that as pet owners, you might want to read of my experience at PetCo this
afternoon. The following letter has been sent to their corporate office
through their web site. I have deleted my address, etc. for obvious reasons.
Should you be so motovated to do so, please spread the word about PetCo and
post this note on other pet owner BBS's. Thanks!

I visited your location on (street address deleted) this afternoon (formally
a PetCare store) and I was both disappointed and disgusted with what I
witnessed. The weather here in the midwest has been bitterly cold the past few
days. As I entered the store, directly in line with the entrance door, about
20 feet into the store itself, there was a floor display with approximately
12 - 15 small songbird species of birds (I am not really sure since the
display was unlabled). All of the birds were huddled and looked about half
dead. They were obviously suffering from the cold drafts that were blowing
across thier container everytime the front door was opened. About 8 feet away,
an employee of PetCo was stocking an endcap. I mentioned that the birds were
freezing to death and at the very least, they should have a spotlight hooked
up and shining down on them so that they could gather under it for warmth. Her
reply was a grunted 'uh-huh' and she went on with hanging dog treats or
whatever on the endcap. As I checked out, I requested to see a manager. A few
minutes later, a young man approached and identified himself as such. I
explained the situation and he said that the birds had just been moved there
recently. I suggested the light, but he said that there were no clamp-on type
lights in the store and that even if they had them, they are not allowed to
use store products for such things. I commented that I guess the use of a
$5.00 light is more important that the lives of 15 birds. Plus, what kind of
pet store that sells reptiles doesn't have in stock the most basic of reptile
care goods - one of which would be a clamp-on spotlight lamp? I have several
animals in my care, none of which are birds, but any animal in your care
deserves nothing but the best care that is available. Anything less is not
acceptable. I will no longer be shopping at PetCo, will also advise as many
people as I can of this situation and will be posting this experience on the
Interent. On the several Interent BBS's that I participate on, PetCo is
routinely critisized in it's treatment of it's animals and though I have seen
some poor living conditions for the reptiles, this is the first experience I
have had with such a blantant disregard for an animals comfort and safety.
Employees at your stores that have such a low regard for the creatures they
are in charge of caring for have no business being employed by a company that
supposedly cares about animals. Of course, the name of the store is no longer
PetCare, so that might explain it. I also plan on notifying the local ASPCA
and Humane Society of this situation. At the very least, I hope this has
brought to your attention that there are people in this word that do give a
damn about the care and welfare of animals. It's a shame that none of them
work for your company.

Follow Ups:

Re: A horrible situation at PetCo.... cirsisue 1/03/99 (0)
Good for you! Go get um! NP Iguana03 1/02/99 (0)

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: I realize that this doesn't have anything to do with reptiles, but I thought : that as pet owners, you might want to read of my experience at PetCo this : afternoon. The following letter has been sent to their corporate office : through their web site. I have deleted my address, etc. for obvious reasons. : Should you be so motovated to do so, please spread the word about PetCo and : post this note on other pet owner BBS's. Thanks! : : I visited your location on (street address deleted) this afternoon (formally : a PetCare store) and I was both disappointed and disgusted with what I : witnessed. The weather here in the midwest has been bitterly cold the past few : days. As I entered the store, directly in line with the entrance door, about : 20 feet into the store itself, there was a floor display with approximately : 12 - 15 small songbird species of birds (I am not really sure since the : display was unlabled). All of the birds were huddled and looked about half : dead. They were obviously suffering from the cold drafts that were blowing : across thier container everytime the front door was opened. About 8 feet away, : an employee of PetCo was stocking an endcap. I mentioned that the birds were : freezing to death and at the very least, they should have a spotlight hooked : up and shining down on them so that they could gather under it for warmth. Her : reply was a grunted 'uh-huh' and she went on with hanging dog treats or : whatever on the endcap. As I checked out, I requested to see a manager. A few : minutes later, a young man approached and identified himself as such. I : explained the situation and he said that the birds had just been moved there : recently. I suggested the light, but he said that there were no clamp-on type : lights in the store and that even if they had them, they are not allowed to : use store products for such things. I commented that I guess the use of a : $5.00 light is more important that the lives of 15 birds. Plus, what kind of : pet store that sells reptiles doesn't have in stock the most basic of reptile : care goods - one of which would be a clamp-on spotlight lamp? I have several : animals in my care, none of which are birds, but any animal in your care : deserves nothing but the best care that is available. Anything less is not : acceptable. I will no longer be shopping at PetCo, will also advise as many : people as I can of this situation and will be posting this experience on the : Interent. On the several Interent BBS's that I participate on, PetCo is : routinely critisized in it's treatment of it's animals and though I have seen : some poor living conditions for the reptiles, this is the first experience I : have had with such a blantant disregard for an animals comfort and safety. : Employees at your stores that have such a low regard for the creatures they : are in charge of caring for have no business being employed by a company that : supposedly cares about animals. Of course, the name of the store is no longer : PetCare, so that might explain it. I also plan on notifying the local ASPCA : and Humane Society of this situation. At the very least, I hope this has : brought to your attention that there are people in this word that do give a : damn about the care and welfare of animals. It's a shame that none of them : work for your company.

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