Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i walked into a pet store the other day and asked the manager if he had any job positions open. he said No so i just walked around the store looking at what all they had (my first and last time in that store). When i got to the dragons i couldnt believe what i saw. He had about 4 dragans, all in different tanks, but none of them had heat lamps. The substrate was litered w/ poop. There were still crickets in the tanks and none of the dragons were eating them. The dragons were extremely dark in color and were not very active at all. Overall, their housing was just terrible. The manager came back to me and asked if there was anything i was interested in. I said, "no, but you should hire me so somebody could give these dragons the proper care." Needless to say, he got a little upset. So, as i was leaving i took a book off the shelf called "The Guide to Owning a Bearded Dragon", handed it to the manager, and walked out. i wanted to buy a turantula but after i saw how he cares for his dragons, i didnt think i should contribute to his business. That was my first bad experience in a pet store that actually angered me. Now i know why most of you dont like pet stores. I think i'm gonna go back in a few days and see if he's made any changes.

He probably wont have, unfortunately i have seen many pet stores like that and complained many times and they never seem to care. Try contacting the local animal "police" in your area and telling them to go to the store, they might be able to make some changes. sorry you had to see that
-----
1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

>>>> Try contacting the local animal "police" in your area and telling them to go to the store, they might be able to make some changes. sorry you had to see that

Those animal "Police" have the exact same rights patrol cops do, only the use their time to fight the evil that's endangering animals all over the world.

I'm going to be a cop. If I chose to be an animal police officer I don't think I'd be able to do a good job. Because I'm so passionate about these animals and all other animals being treated right.

But if you call the police even they should be able to do something. If not then call the better business bureau.

If that doesn't work sneak a camera in there and try to get the store on the local news for the abuse of animals. That might either do 1 of 2 things:

1 get the place to go out of business perm.
2 might inspire or force the guy who owns it to make some severe changes.

I hope I'm not sounding like a btch but if that happened in my town that guy would be in jail right now.
-----
2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

DO NOT SNEAK !!!

Heck take a video camera in in plain sight for all to see.

the store can only do two things:

let you tape them.
tell you to leave.

if they do that keep the camera going and ask why ?
do they have something to hide?
and so on.

bets is to have two persons, one running the camera
the other in front doing the talking.

if they don't let you in and you film them kicking you out that's good as gold, take it to a local staion with your story and ask them to investigate.

bet that gets plenty of coverage and makes them look bad if they are follish enough to not let you in.
-----
This space reserved for future use...

That's a good idea. Only 4 people would work tons better then 2.

If they kick out the person with the visible video camera they'll be too sidetracked with them to stop the other 2 people with the hidden camera from filming their abused animals.
-----
2 mali uro's-Ares and Apollo
2 saharan uro's-Orion and Iris
2 bearded dragon-Hades and Draco
1 leo gecko-Kalypso
1 tokaye gecko-Sid Vicious
1 tarantula-Peter Parker
1 dog-cheeka
1 zebra finch-beeps
1 african gray parrot-keya
1 red headed parrot-pancho
And some fish

i work part time in a pet store and buy and care for the reptiles. i buy from quality distributors on the web. every animal must eat well before being sold. wild caught are de-wormed. i have 2 vets that donate their expertise for questions. they like seeing a store care. all heat & uv needs are reserched and meet. not bragging, just wanted to let you know that some stores care. i agree with everyone else, turn this guy in to the police or humane society in your area.

yeah, i'm gonna go back and sneak in my digital camera and take a few pictures. i'll post them here so you can judge for youself (so i know i'm not blowing this outta proportion). if you agree with me, i'll send the pictures to my local animal rights society. by my own admission, i'm no beardy expert, but i do know bad husbandry and care when i see it. i understand that there are a few good pet stores around, but this is not one of them. anybody living in the Council Bluffs, Iowa area...stay away from the bird cage!
-----
1.2 Bearded Dragons. Chong, Cheech, Unnamed
0.1 Anery Motley Corn. Cleopatra
1.1 Black Labs. Buddy, Booger
1.0 Room mate. Clayton - requires more clean up than my pets.

I work part-time in a pet store also and have to admit that sometimes I bang my head against the wall when I come in after being off a few days. I got to a point where a young "reptile" employee and myself make sure that one of us takes care of them. On the one day we are not there, it is sometimes better that they get no attention then what they were getting. (Too big crickets for baby beardies. Crickets in snake cages.) We clean the cages once a week (sooner if necessary)

I rescued three babies that were too small and woundn't last with the others. Two I have brought back, bigger, fatter and happy. The third is just not growing but is finally starting to eat better. I won't bring her back until she is ready. She would never have made it if I had left her there.

yeah, there were several crickets in a tank w/ a corn snake too. i just got a corn snake a few months, and agian i'm no expert, but it made me think "since when did corn snakes eat crickets?". i dont want to start any trouble w/ this pet store, but somethings gotta be done.
-----
1.2 Bearded Dragons. Chong, Cheech, Unnamed
0.1 Anery Motley Corn. Cleopatra
1.1 Black Labs. Buddy, Booger
1.0 Room mate. Clayton - requires more clean up than my pets.

corn snakes can eat crickets and fish, like guppies and rosies. Some are too small to eat pinkies.