Petco vs. Petsmart

[-=krissi=-]

Okay, this is going to turn into a huge rant and i KNOW it...so please bear with me.

Both of those corporations are ridiculous, neglectful, and just plain terrible (as a whole)...and 2/3 of the rest of pet shops that sell live animals are just as bad.
I worked at PetsMart for a month before i quit, PetCo for 2 years before i was fired (for finally flipping out on ignorant co-workers and managment) and countless smaller stores.

I've spent more time properly educating people and talking them out of their reptile, fish and small animal purcases than i did making sales ... ESPECIALLY at Petco.

I'll just speak on PetCo from here, since it was my longest and worst experience working at a pet store.
Most of the new hires to work with the animals have NO prior knowledge or experience with the animals they are put to work with. Most stores do not even offer education about the animals until you've been there for 6 months...already working with the animals and supposed to be helping customers with the animals.
The tests they give you at that time are pointless anyway because if you fail you don't even get fired or anything!!

I used to work with a kid who was always the "manager's pet" and never got in trouble.
He was there for a year longer than i was but was supposed to be more knowledgable and was the one that trained new hires in our department...HA!
According to him a neonate Columbian boa is supposed to be kept at 98 degrees with a 110 degree hot spot.
And Iguanas can be housed their whole lives in a 55 gallon tank with a diet of strictly romaine lettuce and just a UTH for heat.
Also...did you know thatyou can keep a ball python with a boa......and you can also house different species of tarantula together?
He even told someone once that a GTP would be a good first pet...for a 7 YEAR OLD!
For my last example...it is GOOD to feed crested geckos lettuce with occasion crickets as treats.....and month old balls and RTB's should be eating LARGE live mice or small rats??
Once again, according to this kid...that's all TRUTH.
This kid's ignorance was sickening...but even corporate did NOTHING.
All of this, in additon to never feeding the reptiles or fish in our care and leaving dead animals in enclosures and tank all the time!

Most of the Petco stores admittedly do not even seek vet care for animals that are in dire need of it. I know mine didn't. it was common practice for other employees to just drown sick animals or throw them in the freezer to die!
My friend and I used to just tell the manager we were taking them and getting them care with our own money and adopting them out ourselves or giving them to a rescue.

I used to complain to management and corporate higher-ups all the time and even went through the Petco Hotline ... and nothing was done. Or i should say "nothing to improve the quality of life for the animals" because i sure as heck was PUNISHED for complaining and trying to educate. Punished for caring about the animals. Imagine that!
I was a "certified reptile/fish/small animals specialist" because i took the easiest (and some parts VERY misinformed and incorrect) test ever. My manager even gave me answer sheets to the tests which apparently he has done with all of the employees there.

Not ALL Petco stores are as bad as the one i've worked in but it's still VERY typical of the company.

i only buy my animals, feeders, and supplies from private breeders, friends, or some of the many GOOD sites online.
Why support ANY pet stores when there are so many other good options out there????

	Green Tree Python Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis)

	Under Tank Heater Under Tank Heater

[EyeOfTheStorm]

These corporations are out for one particular thing, nothing else. And thats $$$. It costs money to train people to work with, or advise people on reptiles, so no one is trained. All corp sees, are numbers on paper. Corporations like this dont have "ethics", and the reptiles really dont have the support of the general public. Any one here would just about bend over backwards for a reptile, but sadly enough, we arent the majority. PETA would jump in front of a train over a furry animal, but often turns a cold shoulder to the reptiles. The most you can try to do is make people aware of the conditions of pets, and advice that one could get from a Petco/Petsmart, and stick to only getting SUPPLIES from these places.

[muzixman]

Originally Posted by EyeOfTheStorm

These corporations are out for one particular thing, nothing else. And thats $$$. It costs money to train people to work with, or advise people on reptiles, so no one is trained. All corp sees, are numbers on paper.

JMO. But I think they dont want anyone to take proper care of any animal they sell, I mean think about it your animal lives 10, 20, or 30 years that’s a long time before they have to come back and spend more money. So lets hire any people that are not that knowledgeable and lets give them the answers to the tests and keep our employees ignorant and let the one who know to much go and let the money roll in. I stay away from these places. Even though I did buy a boa from a chain once but didn’t know any better at the time. When I did find out I had mine tested for parasites and a check up. Remember this is just my opinion…..

[-=krissi=-]

most of the pet stores i worked in, you would be argued with if you brought improper husbandry or ANYTHING to the attention of managers or owners (or corporate big shots).
because THEY know you are wrong or their "vets" know better than you do.

in the case of my Petco store and 3 other smaller stores i worked in....the vet that was used by the store didn't even deal with reptiles and knew little to nothing about them.
how is that even legal?
i can tell you that i've reported almost every store in my area and all they were told was to "improve the condition of the animals and the knowledge of the people working with them".
half of the stores didn't even get checked up on after the warning as far as i know of.

is there some higher power i can go to to report these stores?
can anyone provide a link or even point me in the direction of finding someone that'll actually do something about these stores?
i wish there was a country-wide agency that would go in and smack these people up (or preferrably shoot these jerks) and rescue these and animals.

it's funny that someone mentioned PETA because i think they are very hypocritical and i kind of really despise them.
i know this isn't the thread for it but PETA sucks jsut as bad as these heartless, money-hungry pet stores.

[DeadIrishD]

I hate petco because my manager was a errr can't say the C word on here, but anyhow she fired me without even listening to my side of the story.... good manager eh?
sorry I didn't have a phone to call in when my grandma died