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

[Weluvourreptiles]

Update, well at least I tried....

This is a copy of the email that he sent me in response......


HEY THERE, YOUNG LADY;
I SENT YOUR E-MAIL OVER TO A BREEDER FRIEND OF OURS, AND HERE'S HIS RESPONSE...Sorry about the capital letters, I forgot the button was pushed. Oh, that old age thing again....what will I do.......
Have a great, awesome evening!
Randy





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At the American Federation of Aviculture Convention this summer where I spoke, I met the vet incharge of animal care for Petco. I will get him in the loop.

 

[vickson420]

Oh thats good news Thank you so much hopefully we can speed up our snail paced progress :mrgreen: Feel free to have him email me as well if needed.

 

[ratpacklasvegas]

If you are concerned with the way dragons are kept at Petco, the man in charge of animal care is Dr.Thomas M. Edling DMV. I recently spoke at the American Federation of Aviculture convention in St. Louis, MO and met him. He is very concerned with how the animals are kept, and he is very open to comments and complaints. Unfortunately, I lost his business card, but I am sure you can contact him through the web site. You can do the most good by pointing out issues to the local staff. When I walk into my local Petco, they scatter, but conditions have greatly improved.

 

[vickson420]

Thank you for that information maybe he has an email I can locate to ask him if he would be will ing to speak with us.

 

[Weluvourreptiles]

Thanks again Mark, I appreciate your help in this matter. I hope to meet you in person at the snake shop!

 

[MorbidEclipse]

It seems as if some of the higher ups are starting to change a bit (literally, new people at Petco). I have had better success at work with the new people. Unfortunately it's going to be regional as to what you can get away with and things like that. Our store used to get in trouble whenever I would switch the sand to repti-carpet. Now We don't cause I kept on complaining, and FINALLY the new animal coordinator agrees with me.

So it really is just persistence ...constant, persistence. Now I await our new habitats

 

[vickson420]

Well we have a very small victory.They have updated the online care sheet(as they promised they would) to include paper towel and repticarpet as suitable substrate although they still have the calcisand as a recommendation as well.Its a start :silent:
As follows:

Substrate – Calcium based sand is recommended; Silica based sand may be ingested and
cause impaction; repti-carpet or unbleached paper towels are also recommended substrates
for bearded dragons.

Not great but small steps.

 

[leann]

by ratpacklasvegas on Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:00 pm

If you are concerned with the way dragons are kept at Petco, the man in charge of animal care is Dr.Thomas M. Edling DMV. I recently spoke at the American Federation of Aviculture convention in St. Louis, MO and met him. He is very concerned with how the animals are kept, and he is very open to comments and complaints. Unfortunately, I lost his business card, but I am sure you can contact him through the web site. You can do the most good by pointing out issues to the local staff. When I walk into my local Petco, they scatter, but conditions have greatly improved.

Ratpacklasvegas......Do you live in the area? I live in House Springs, about 30 miles SW of St. Louis. So, are the Petcos in this area improving? Just curious because here lately I HAVE to go to Petco to get crix, I go to the one in Gravois Bluffs @ 141 & 30 in Fenton, it's the closest and it is absolutely TERRIBLE. The beardie cage is right there at the door when you walk in so it's hard to avoid and their living conditions are pretty bad. I've tried to point things out to a few employees but it dosen't seem to do anygood there. Just recently started ordering things on line for a couple different reasons, one of them being just to avoid the store totally.

 

[Weluvourreptiles]

Ratpack lives in Las Vegas, however he mentioned that he spoke in St. Louis and that is where he met the vet in charge at Petco. He was responding to an email that was sent to him on behalf of me to try to raise the awareness outside of this forum. Like MorbidEclipse said, unfortunately it is going to take lots and lots of persistance in order for a change to take place. Make your feelings known, people at the local PetSmart and Petco's think I am insane, but I don't care... if I see something wrong I tell them.... everytime.

 

[leann]

Thanks Danielle for clearing that up for me, I guess I just scanned thru the post to fast & got excited. :roll:

 

[ratpacklasvegas]

Yes, I live in las vegas and was asked to speak at the convention. I stopped every day on the way home from work and ran the staff ragged for about 3 weeks. I spoke to him at the convention and he explained that they have strict standards, and that it is hard to enforce. They do visit stores but there are so many they are hard to get to, so if there were issues he offered his card to contact him directly, and about 20 people. He was speaking on behalf of their bird policies, but I did bring up reptiles. Being horrible pets, why do they sell iguanas. Told him my beardie tail as well.

 

[Chubz]

I just signed your petition. I hope you only the best in your noble crusade.

May the way of the beardie guide you.

lol this made me think of star wars for some reason, but i signed it too

 

[vickson420]

Yes I think you may be correct.I do sense a little Jedi there :wink: Love It!!!

 

[puppytoes72]

*bump*

 

[vickson420]

Update on the petition count.
We are up to 300 sigs
Anyone care to be 301? :wink:
Keep it going folks :mrgreen: