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

[Jennie]

I signed! After many trips to the local Petco, I have always left less than satisfied with the bearded dragons living conditions. There have been quite a few times I have had to report a sick or dead dragon. Things need to be improved dramatically.

 

[vickson420]

I have not posted the count in a while so I thought I would.
Todays count:312

 

[3beardies1cup]

Hi guys
As some of you know I am working on getting a petition together to send to PETCO to get them to change their ways.I would like you guys to look it over and offer suggestions.

Also per some very wise advice I am looking to be able to use some current references to use to strengthen our case so if any of you know of any good reference material,books or if any of you know of any breeders,vets,sites or something like that I can use(legally of course) please let me know and of course please sign it. :wink:

Thanks guys,
Vicky
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petcosbadbeardiecare/

add petland aswell as petco o.o they're just as bad on beardies, i just came from one, no food bowl, no water bowl, dead crickets in cage, sick looking beardies

 

[vickson420]

Yes your right pretty much all the major chains tend to be lacking in proper care in one way or the other sometimes.One step at a time

 

[Dragons of the Deep]

Hi everyone! Just an update, someone contacted me about signing the petition because of my sig. Show your support today!
(You don't really have to make a new sig just because I feel pushy today)

 

[boxers]

I was just discussing conditions of the reptiles today with my Pet Care Manager (at Petsmart). She mentioned how an old associate had always had his own opinion of how to do things, most of the time said opinion went against P&P regulation and she told him so. I said, "Well, I see where he's coming from, P&P does a lot of things... wrong"
She looked confused for a second, and I continued with a couple specifics: no uvb rays for the reptiles, no conditioning salt for the fish, overcrowded tanks in all pet sections.
She said that little things that she can sneak against, she does, because she sees my point. (Example: adding the conditioning salt to the fish sump every so often; it makes them much healthier when she does! She asked me to do it today, showed me where she hides the salt and everything. :lol: ) But that big major things, such as giving the reptiles larger tanks, or separating the fish up a bit more, she can't do. Putting in UVB lights twice the size of the current little uva & red heat lights (and that's the ****ty coil uvbs too!), she can't do. Because there is no allotted room for her to do so. And I see her point. There really is nothing she can do.

Which is why it's necessary for petitions like these... Because they get taken/sent to the bigger parts of corporate, who are able to change things.
I'll read & sign it. And maybe print it to show to my manager too, see what she has to say.

 

[mazzie]

Signed!

 

[vickson420]

Hey Guys
Todays count is 319
Thanks guys!

 

[vickson420]

Well folks I just got an email from one of the Petco reps and there have been some positive results so I want to share the email with you:
Hi,



I am pleased to inform you that we have new care sheets posted on PETCO.com that include the different options for substrate. When stores re-order care sheets for their store they will receive the new version. It states the following:



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.


In the future we will be allowing stores to use sand or the repti-carpet. I would appreciate you posting this on your site and sending me the link to your site. When we last talked you had agreed to post that we were working on alternatives and I did not see that posted.

So as you can see changes have been made. I was wondering if you were able to get those veterinarian vet records on the bearded dragons for my review.



Not perfect their still pushing calcium sand but at least now there is an opportunity for the individual managers to make their own choices based on their own findings. :mrgreen:

 

[diamc]

Good that they responded and starting to make some changes. That's great news, thanks for sharing it Vicky. :wink:

 

[vickson420]

Thanks Diane
I know its not exactly what we were hoping for but it is at least a step forward.By the way everyone I still need your vet recommendations in regards to calcisand and partical substrates so if you have them please share them.

 

[atreyu917]

I work at a Petco and will tell you that we really have gotten the option of reptile carpet, so she isn't just saying they are!

 

[vickson420]

I work at a Petco and will tell you that we really have gotten the option of reptile carpet, so she isn't just saying they are!

Thank you it does help to have people validate this.It will help us educate locally and make the individual stores realize the correct way to care for these and all reptiles

 

[dolphinsilversea01]

Vicki,

I just wanted to say THANK YOU!!!
Like stated above, there are some things still needing to be changed, but all of your hard work (everyone) has payed off in such a big way!
I posted this same info in another discussion, but this past Thursday when I deep cleaned reptiles they got carpet!!

Recently they had a meeting (the higher up's) and carpet was okay'd!! I have been trying to get carpet since joining this group and it is finally in with the beardies! Then, a few days ago we had a "walk through" by I believe our district manager who commented about the beardies being on carpet. He stated that he really didn't mind himself, but that we have to be sure to follow P&P. My GM told him about how I pointed out to her that it states on the store use bag of sand that it is not to be used with juvenille's.

And, as it states above, the caresheet has been changed!
http://www.petco.com/caresheets/lizards/Dragon_Bearded.pdf
I can't believe it! I always hated showing it to customers before because I would contradict at least 1/2 the stuff that was on it. Now, I disagree with just a few things. The first thing I didn't like is the comment about this animal not needing to be cuddled or touched - I think we all know our beardies luv us giving them attention. I think they should of added that a beardie will need at least a 40 breeder! Instead they just state: "Size – Appropriate size and shape habitat to accommodate normal behaviors and exercise" Also, they should add about soaking or batheing procedures, instead of: "Give dragon a light misting shower every other week to keep skin humidified and easy to shed; the tank,
however, should never be damp". Everything else (besides the sand still being on their period) seems pretty ok. One last thing I would add would be in the health issues about impaction. Oh, yes I would also add a little info on brumation. The impaction and brumation are two subjects that many people don't know about.

But, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
I really appreciate what you have done and will continue to accomplish. Please keep up the hard work, for it is not going unappreciated!

 

[vickson420]

Thank you Dolphins
I really appreciate the praise but I want to thank you and everyone else because nothing would have been accomplished without all you guys.Yes I agree the caresheet is miles better then it was but there are definately some things that need to be accompished on it.I will make sure to mention those points during my next conversation with PETCO.Also there is a study being done by them I believe through the univ. of Florida in regards to calcisand which I am sure wont end well for the calcisand so I hope that pushes them over to solid substrate but this is a pretty darn good start .