Reptile & Amphibian Forums

On Tuesday I was in Huntsville, Texas at a pet shop called Pet Paradise and I was disgusted with how their iguanas were being treated. They had 6 iglets (hatchlings) that I counted in a very small cage, they were skin and bones and being fed lettuce and canned food I didnt even see an available water dish nor did they have proper heating and UVB lighting needed for proper digestion. I talked to one of the employees and she was very rude to me I even went as far as to ask for the manager and was told he was unavailable. I advised her on diet and proper housing for the animals and she said, "They dont stay in the tank for more than a couple days" I am outraged. The rest of the animals were just as unhealthy looking and the fish tanks were very very nasty. I dont know if you can help but I am asking that you do pop into the store and take a look around and possibly point me in a direction to help these igs and other animals. They need vet care BADLY! Please. This is heart-breaking for me and it is not right that they are allowed to keep animals in these conditions. I have reported it to the Police Department but I am not sure what else to do...

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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

Is this a chain store? Complain to the head office.
Do you have some animal shelters that you can call and see if they know whose department this is? Department of Agriculture? Health Department?
Complain to the Better business bureau?
Is there a herp society in the area? They'd know who to call.
Raising your voice for the voiceless is always the right thing~
Go gettem!!
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Lin & Marley

Maybe this lady can help...
RITA B. HUFF HUMANE SOCIETY
418 Bearkat Blvd. · Huntsville, Texas 77340 · 936-295-4666
ADOPT A FRIEND TODAY!
Dogs & Cats For Adoption · Lost & Found Reports · Shelter Homeless Animals · We investigate animal abuse cases and offer financial assistance for spay/neuter of pets to Walker County residents only. Volunteers Welcome!
___________________________
Investigates animal abuse!!
Now go gettem!!
Good luck! Let us know what happens~
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Lin & Marley

The e mail I posted was to miss huff I cant find the dept of ag in our area. the pet store is 75 miles away and i cant find it for their ar ea either!!! Thanks yall. I just have the jitters
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Heather, Vern, Andy, Router, April And OODLES of fish

Use your blue pages in the phone book! You should be able to find the regional office for the USDA - US Department of Agriculture - and the county/city animal control. Report this store to animal control (AC) and the USDA. Are they selling turtles under 4"? Then you can call the county health department and the regional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) office. All of these numbers should be in your blue pages. Are they selling leopard tortoises or sulcata tortoises? Again, we can have the USDA check to see if those torts are coming in with the required health certificates.

Look those up, and later today I'll send you the actual regs for many of these things, and instructions on how to report to AC.

A letter to the editor of a local newspaper might be a good idea, too.

Katrina

Call your Department of Agriculture in your area. They are
the body that investigates cruelty or neglect in Petstores.
I have done this 3 times in the past 1 1/2 years.

Good luck!

If any of the iguanas are clearly sick or injured, ask an employee who their veterinarian is and if they have provided vet care...If they don't have a vet or can't show proof that the animal in question was treated, locate the nearest Humane Society and report them. It's against the law in most states to fail to provide vet care to a sick or injured animal in your care. At the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society we have successfully prosecuted cases (including one involving uromastyx)where pet stores have been negligent..To find the local Humane Society you might try calling a vet in the area and asking them, or calling information..

Good luck.
SR

I unfortunately, found the same thing in a local pet store where I live. The juvenile iguanas had no UVB lighting, and the only food a saw was the end of a CELERY STALK, laying on the floor. The iglets were no better off. They were all in a 30 gallon aquarium, with no UVB lighting, and an overturned, empty jar of strained CARROT baby food. I told the clerk working there about the lighting and diet requirements of iguanas, but she was not interested in hearing me. I logged onto the PETA website, and they recommended contacting the local animal control. The animal control officer told me that the Department of Agriculture issues each pet store a permit to sell exotic animals, and that if evidence of abuse can be shown, the owners have to comply, or lose their permit. Only the loss of money will motivate these pet stores to spend the time and money to properly care for iguanas (and other pets).
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~