Disturbing Discoveries @ Pet Shop

[Nullvoid]

I remember seeing an old post about these guys and they seem to have a horrid track record with their animals and not until recently have I actually taken the time to count how many gross things I have seen, from dirty cages, ignorant staff and mangled/sick animals. And they are at it again.

It started earlier this year (a month ago) when I was in the market for two rats for pets, and the pet store had a new litter of dumbo rats. On close inspection the mother looked rather mangy. Her ears were scabby as all heck, they excused it as the babies chewing her ears. As well as the babies, who appeared to have some hair loss, where just rough housing too much. Well when we came back to check if they were ready for sale yet we are told they have cystic mites.I wasn't surprised given the condition of the litter. They have since all disappeared from the pet store, but needless to say we never bought them.

Now today me and my boyfriend stop in as usual to take a look around the place to see two very upsetting things. One was a Bird Eater Tarantula in a tiny cage and on the ground ( Bird eaters live up high) who had lost all of his hair and was limply laying in his own water dish, after probing the girl working there for answers she seemed rather ignorant to how to respect and care for them, I'm a tarantula enthusiast and as much as I can excuse small enclosures for a short time and also possible misinformation, I can't excuse the fact they don't even understand the basics. They feed these Tarantulas waaay too much, and use their keys to harass them. It should be common place that with each animal they get the workers know a bit more than what they do. Also when we tried to talk to the owner about the Tarantula and about possibly taking it for a cheaper price so we can revive it, he ignored us completely. (This near death creature is $234 by the way)
All the while waiting to get his attention I noticed a second upsetting thing, which I snapped a picture of, a pretty little fresh water ray. When I came up close to inspect this is what I saw...







This is seriously upsetting. In case you don't know what you are looking at.. that white gash is a deep cut in it's face that seems to have destroyed it's eye. Poor thing..
I typically realize most pet stores aren't always the best and I try to just go along and not create too much of a fuss. But this pet shop seems to be above and beyond the usual Petshop bullcr@#%. I really can't stand for it personally and we have decided to boycott them. I truly do not wish to support that. And I hope this may spread some awareness about petshops. Best place to buy is right here on castanet. Support the residents. <3 Or if you can't find one here there is the SPCA, certified breeders, and rescue centres. ^-^

[fvkasm2x]

Petshops in general are terrible.

We bought a ferret from a place in Prince George who was neglected and one from Vernon as well. The one from Vernon wasn't being let into the foot by his siblings. Poor guy was so malnourished you could see his bones sticking out of his body.

Sadly, it's a business and many of the owners and staff see it as a money maker. They aren't in it to help animals.

[Nullvoid]

Petshops in general are terrible.

We bought a ferret from a place in Prince George who was neglected and one from Vernon as well. The one from Vernon wasn't being let into the foot by his siblings. Poor guy was so malnourished you could see his bones sticking out of his body.

Sadly, it's a business and many of the owners and staff see it as a money maker. They aren't in it to help animals.

Sadly I realize that is all true. I just hope if neglected animals get purchased the owners puts tons of love and care into them and go out to get the proper care knowledge in the end.

Poor Ferret by the way. I hope he/she is doing better. :)

[Dayleen]

I'm sorry you feel the way you do! I have purchased 2 ferrets and 2 cats from there and they have all been very healthy. The staff has always been very helpful and careful when catching fish for me. I usually buy all my aquarium fish (cichlids etc) there and they have been good. The only other place in town I'd but fish from is Pet City in the Mission.

Now, since i am in the fish business myself and am one of the biggest Koi fish importers in Canada, I understand what is involved in transporting fish. It is possible the stingray was injured in transit or panicked in the tank and injured its self. With Koi, i actually give injections to fish that are in need of intervention but usually they can heal themselves just fine in good water quality. I'm also an avid scuba diver and dive with stingrays and Manta Rays all the time. They have a great ability to self heal and most likely, this guy will too. It's possible that they are waiting to see if the ray needs help, it's possible they wouldn't know what to do with it if it did need help. Don't jump to conclusion and assume they don't care about the animal.

If you're really worried about the way animals are treated, go take a look at the piles of dead fish floating around in the tanks at another pet store in town.

[Nullvoid]

Well he has a lot of "bad opinions" to contend with. Not just mine. And if you noticed what I wrote we actually did try to talk with him. But he kept avoiding us and ended up sending the same girl to us.

Yes most of the staff are really nice people, I never mentioned their attitude, just there knowledge on the animals.

I also mentioned I'm a Tarantula enthusiast and that creature without a doubt is something I know a lot about, much like your knowledge of this stingray. It's great to hear he will be fine. But it doesn't fix the numerous times animals have been in poor condition or simply neglected along with their cages.

As far as them selling animals who are just fine. It does happen. Our healthy little male cat is from there. The store wouldn't be around if every single animal was sick, I'm just saying the frequency of which that pet store has sick, injured or neglected animals upsets me.

So I apologize if this offended you but I'm not trying to be rude or close minded and I tried to make that clear in my original post. Hence to not using names like you just did.

[Libelle]

There is one pet store in town that you really have to watch what freshwater fish you buy from there. I have pointed out ich in a tank and they just removed the fish that showed signs of the disease. But the tank is infected, and if someone was to buy one of the fish from that tank and put that fish in their tank at home there is a good chance that their tank will become sick. Many of the tanks at the pet store in question are not kept up as they should be in my opinion. I have not and will not buy fish from there because of that fact.

[godfatherI]

May I add a comment to Dayleen's post. We also shop at the same pet shop and I have found them to be more than helpful. One of our fur-kids needed special food to settle his stomach after dental surgery. We went to another shop and did not find helpful staff and the price when I finally located the food myself, was a lot more than what had been advertised on the internet for this chain.

Shop local in this case was a very helpful clerk who had the food I needed at a LOWER cost than a big chain store (go figure) and she also told me that if I bought by the case, there was a further discount. Suffice to say, we have continued to supplement both our dog's food with a daily dish of the special stuff. It's a morning treat for them that they both enjoy.

Have never had any problems with this store and we will continue to buy from them. Always found the staff helpful and love their big gentle dog that patrols the front of the shop.

[Triple 6]

Don't jump to conclusion and assume they don't care about the animal.

I don't think she did, she posted concern.

If you're really worried about the way animals are treated, go take a look at the piles of dead fish floating around in the tanks at another pet store in town.!

What would that do and how does that help with this particular store?

[Triple 6]

Remember no names or locations for that matter! Thanks!