Need Help with PETCO petition ..UPDATE new problems!10/21/09

[Twobeardieguy]

BUMP! Come on and sign.

 

[HowlinGaleDragon]

Signed!

 

[sedecatur]

Two more signatures on the partition, (mine and my wife’s) Hope we aren’t to late.

I do have a question or two. Is it possible to have something mentioned about all the reptiles that they carry. I do agree that some Petco are better than others in the way they are cared for but all in all they have a long way to go and lots to learn. My local Petco has two baby chameleon's one doesn’t look to bad the other looks like death warmed over, eating micro mealworms covered in substrate adult crickets walking around with them that they just cant eat (way to big). There a new store and I have to say they keep everything clean but you can tell just by looking (or reading there stick on analog thermometers) that the temps aren’t right, basking spots are way to low, almost non existent, and its with all the reptiles, beardies, geckos, snakes, chameleon's, all of them. I don’t mean to take away from the beardies,, actually mine is a rescue from a larger pet store, and now he’s one of the family.

:idea: Maybe we should try to push to try to have them get some sort of actual reptile specialist to set a company wide training and certification for their employees to take before they are allowed to work with the different species (sorry not just reptiles, but specialists for birds, small mammals, freshwater fish, saltwater fish, hell all the different categories) now I know everyone is laughing their a**es off right now saying Yeah Right what an a** this guy is for thinking that could be done, but why not. Companies everywhere have training specialists and certifications for everything they do, why not the pet industries? It would not only better the quality of the animals lives but in turn would boost their sales, (healthier looking and acting animals will sell faster and sooner than sick looking ones), it would also protect their employees from catching and or spreading any type of disease to themselves, other employees, and even to their own families, and pets they may have at home. Their training could be done in store, regulated and devised by company species specialists, (sorry don’t know what else to call them) and not a Joe Smoe thinks he’s a dragon specialists, but someone that actually has, breeds, and has worked with the different species for several years, (ok so who certifies the specialists?? well my brains fried someone else think of that one)

I know this subject can get hot and heated but after all These are Living, Breathing, creatures and It’s really sad to see some of these animals wasting away, knowing they are on borrowed time, that there’s nothing that can be done with the current industry standards, knowing that they are nothing more to some than an attraction, and not even seen as a living breathing creature that deserves everything it can get to help it live a long happy, healthy life, after all none of them asked to be born, and mistreated, even if it is thru simple ignorance, and not intentional. I do believe that most of the people that deal with these animals at the bigger pet stores, Think and believe they are doing the right thing, and most are regulated by company policies, but if in deed that is the case the company needs to change their policies to help to better the pet trade, and better themselves as being the leader in the industry.
OK so now let the beatings begin I’ve said my piece, actually thinking out loud, guess I just wanted to vent. I don’t usually go into the bigger stores, just because I do feel sorry for all the animals, but had time to kill yesterday and made the mistake of stopping into a couple .

Maybe just Maybe if we all pull together we can change the quality of life for the animals involved, all for the better.
Ok everyone line up I’ve got broad shoulders I can take it. (just stay away from the face and groin LOL) :wink:

 

[vickson420]

Thanks for signing!
Sedecatur
I do agree all reptiles should be included.I am unsure that I can alter the content now since it has signatures on it but rest assured every time I am in contact with them I do include ALL animals in the topic of discussion.To answer your question in regards to them having a reptile specialist,they actually do! Of course these "specialist" are trained according to the company policy and that is where the problem lies.We need to get them to change the policies of care as well as their general over all opinion on small animal care.It isnt an easy thing to do with a coorporation as large as PetCo as they dont like to give up their profit margin.We will however keep trying and never give up.Also I would like to mention that aside from signing the petitions you should make it a point to complain directly to PetCo especially in regards to individual store issues so make sure you call up on that new store and keep doing so.