actually, try this...my success with Petco complaint/concern

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Posted by shortydsm on March 15, 2003 at 19:08:31:

In Reply to: Boycotting PetCo posted by Georgia on March 15, 2003 at 18:28:53:

I had some bad issues with the Petco store in my area. Talk about animal abuse & neglect! from too many lizards in too small a tank, to very sick igs w/abcesses, to baby leos with open wounds, to dead lizards in the tanks... I had enough after so long. After adopting/rescuing some lizards & "complaining" to store employees every visit who never did anything, I went to the website to see who I could write to/call up to voice my concerns on the lack of reptile care being given. I found the part of the site where you can send a message to the appropriate department, so I wrote a really elaborate letter describing what I saw there & how inappropriate it was. (see the link below - then click on "animal inquiries & comments" to write/send a message... you'll need the store # which you can also find on the site by clicking on "Petco locator" or something.)

I didn't get a reply for 3 weeks, but the reply I did get was from the district manager, telling me "I just want to let you know that we took your concerns seriously and to give you an avenue to discuss any issues that you may have had.
We will continue to monitor the situation with visits and audits. You have my contact points if anything arises.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to correct the problem." -quote from Jim Fochs.

So I went in the store a few days later to see if anything new had happened, and to my surprise, it did! There was an employee there cleaning the tanks at that time, all the other tanks were very clean & kept with the proper accessories, the igs were gone (instead they put a hatchling water dragon in that huge hexagon tank, so I wrote back to the guy again & he said they will correct that.) and the animals I had concerns about were either gone or had their own tank.

So my point is that one person & a letter sent over the internet can make a difference. I feel better knowing my long letter got thru to someone that mattered & I know I might have saved some reptile's lives. There is no way they will ever stop selling reptiles, and there is no way people will boycott Petco completely. I wish I could, but the accessories & supplies I need are so cheap there! Anyway, you CAN help by writing a letter in the meantime. If everyone who reads this actually sends a letter to Pecto describing the poor reptile care, etc, things can happen. Perhaps they will get the point. Also, check out this part of MK's site for more info & letter templates: http://www.anapsid.org/pettrade/index.html

Petco

Follow Ups:

Re: actually, try this...my success with Petco complaint/concern Mr. D 03/16/03 (2)
- Re: actually, try this...my success with Petco complaint/concern Samcin 03/16/03 (1)
  - Re: actually, try this...my success with Petco complaint/concern jimsworld 03/16/03 (0)