Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I didn't use the pet care sheet from Petsmart because they didn't have one available when I bought my AFT, but yesterday I went to the store for crickets and noticed that the AFTs looked waaaay too skinny and the temps were really high (over 100*F)throughout the entire enclosure. I then asked for an AFT caresheet and the info on it was almost all wrong. No mention of a humidity hide, said to keep them on calci sand or desert sand, and said to keep daytime temps between 95* and 100* and night time temps between 65* and 75*. I mentioned this to the manager but he didn't give a crap. Also emailed their corporate office but got an automated "thanks for your comment!" email back. Any ideas of who to contact next? Really pisses me off...

Yes, I had the same problem with their Crested Gecko care sheet. The sheet said to keep cresteds at 85 with a 90 degree basking spot! I would like to know what steps to take (ie who to talk to) who can fix it as well.

I recently read that PETA was getting involved in a case against Petco because of their poor practices. I wonder if we contacted them, would they be able to point us in the right direction of who to complain to...or maybe they would take action themselves. It's ridiculous to have caresheets so wrong that they could result in the death of the animal, the average customer would just read the caresheet and assume it was accurate and then wonder why their pet died.

>>I recently read that PETA was getting involved in a case against Petco because of their poor practices. I wonder if we contacted them,

PeTA and HSUS have the goal of banning all pet ownership, even domestic dogs and cats. This would be another nail in the herpetoculture coffin.

Does PIJAC handle these issues?
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Ha wonder if all the movie stars who pose for PETA adds holding their cute little pets know that PETA doesn't want them to have pets at all. As for the HSUS, my mom worked for them a few years ago and she has a zoo at home...she informed me that it's the only the "fringe wackos" that want all pet ownership to be banned, so I looked at their website and they have links to pet adoption facilities, etc. so it doesn't seem like all of the HSUS wants pet ownership banned. The lizards at this particular Petsmart were in bad condition, but my mom said that she's not sure if HSUS deals with reptile complaints, they didn't when she worked there. I'm not sure if PIJAC deals with stuff like that or not. I wish I could've bought the rest of the fat tails that were there, they looked half dead, but at $60 each I couldn't afford to.

As for the HSUS, my mom worked for them a few years ago and she has a zoo at home...she informed me that it's the only the "fringe wackos" that want all pet ownership to be banned,

Well, the "fringe wackos" are the ones that are in charge of the organization and its money. Lots of people that donate to them are pet owners and have no idea that they're contributing to people so opposed to pet ownership.

so I looked at their website and they have links to pet adoption facilities, etc. so it doesn't seem like all of the HSUS wants pet ownership banned.

The adoption of existing domestic animals is a "necessary evil" in their eyes. Of course we can't just get rid of all existing pets, so adopting them out is an alternative. However, PeTA/HSUS don't want companion animals to be allowed to breed, and once all the existing animals die off, that will be the end of pet ownership.

HSUS is not to be confused with the American Humane Society, which actually runs shelters.

I wish I could've bought the rest of the fat tails that were there, they looked half dead, but at $60 each I couldn't afford to.

If you're paying money to "rescue" sickly animals from a pet store, you're not a "rescuer," you're a "customer." I know people who "rescue" animals in that manner, but they never pay the asking price (sometimes half that, or less). By paying full price, you'd just send the message that the pet store can keep the animals in deplorable conditions and they'll still have no problem selling them.

Pet stores usually don't ask your motives for buying their stock. The only times I have them ask is when I'm buying animals known to be feeders (rodents, goldfish, crickets, etc). I had one PetCo refuse to sell me anoles after they found out I was feeding them to my leopard lizards (Gambelia). However, they had no problem selling me feeder mice and fish!
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I offered to take the geckos off their hands for whatever they bought them from the breeder for (they laughed when I asked if I could have them for free) by telling them that if they sold them to a customer they'd probably end up dying and then the store would lose money because 1) their vet would have to treat the animal (they have a staff vet and clinic on site, obviously the vet doesn't know too much about reptile care) and 2) the customer would be entitled to their money back per Petsmart's guaruntee and might be so unsatisfied with their experience that they wouldn't come back for further purchases. They turned me down, of course, saying it was "against policy." I asked them what they suggested that I do, and I got the standard response that I've gotten from everyone I've called which was to notify corporate offices, which I've already tried. I think I'll call my veterinarian, he works at Zoo Atlanta and maybe he has access to resources that I don't have access to.

I believe that in some jurisdictions law enforcement investigates animal cruelty cases...you might want to call the Sheriff's Department for info or possibly to file a complaint.

Check out Melissa Kaplan's excellent website, there's lots of information about pet store abuses:

anapsid.org

>>I recently read that PETA was getting involved in a case against Petco because of their poor practices. I wonder if we contacted them, would they be able to point us in the right direction of who to complain to...or maybe they would take action themselves. It's ridiculous to have caresheets so wrong that they could result in the death of the animal, the average customer would just read the caresheet and assume it was accurate and then wonder why their pet died.
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Chris

1.0.1 Coleonyx variegatus
1.0.0 Gekko vittatus
1.0.0 Eublepharis macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Terrestrial? Who you calling terrestrial?!!

Their response was "well it's Petsmart, I'm sure they know more about pet care than you." I also called the division of the American Humane Society that runs the shelters here, and since they have "adoption days" at this particular store in which they are able to adopt out so many animals, they seemed uninterested in helping me. Atlanta doesn't have a division of the ASPCA, like NY does, or else I'd call them. The biggest themes no matter who I've contacted are that the complaint involves reptiles, which nobody seems to know anything about, and that the complaint doesn't involve something hideous, like stomping on the lizards or something. People just keep telling me to notify Petsmart corporate offices of the errors on their caresheets, but I already tried that and have gotten no response.