A few years ago I was at the mall and I happened to pass their pet store (which, at the time, was called Pet Stop). By that time I had already been fully educated about the abhorrent conditions of pet store animals, the unfair treatment, the illnesses, the breeding mills they purchase wholesale from, etc. They had a large, plexi-glass display in the front filled with baby rabbits. They were cute and small, so I know they placed them right up front to lure in potential customers (especially parents with their children).
Out of morbid curiosity I stopped in to see the conditions of the animals being kept. Unlike your large chain stores, this store sold (and continues to sell) supposedly pure-blood, registered puppies to the tune of $500+. As if the conditions of the kennels the puppies and kittens were living in weren't bad enough, I happened to wander to the back of the store where there were several 10 gallon glass aquariums which were housing an assortment of small animals. Everything from cavies to hamsters to fancy rats and gerbils and even some exotic reptiles. In one glass aquarium there were two cavies with no bedding, no food or water and they were separated by a piece of cardboard placed in the middle. The for-sale sign said one was a male and one was a female.
I stopped a store clerk, who had his hands full with a mom and her kids screaming at her to buy them a kitten, and asked if I could speak with the manager. He asked me if I was inquiring about purchasing an animal. I said, "no" and he all but told me to bug off.
Now they have been bought out and are operating under the name The Pet Company, which is apparently a "popular" franchise and are usually found in malls. Earlier today I began thinking about this store and began reading some of the consumer complaints at
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/pet_company.htm.
Apparently the deplorable conditions, the selling of sick animals for top dollar and lack of any sort of customer care or compassion for the animals they sell remains. I want to be able to do something about this, so I had a few questions:
1. Consumer Affairs lists The Pet Company under PetCo. Are they owned by the same company, or did the name simply confuse consumers so they posted their grievances under PetCo? I was under the impression they were two separate companies.
2. Since I tend to have more patience with animals than ignorant people and because I do have a husband and small child who depend upon me, I'm not sure that being on the front-lines would be right for me (picketing outside the store, handing out flyers, etc. I'd probably be one of those people you see on the news chanting protest slogans as they were being carried off in handcuffs.) What can I do from home where I won't have to run the risk of losing my cool, but could still help animals in need?
3. I have heard that the requirements for selling animals can be pretty lax. If they're being fed regularly and are not being beaten or tortured, there is little than can be done. Is this true? If so, how can I help spread awareness about not supporting these stores financially? Even if they are not violating any local laws or codes, what they are doing is appalling and people need to know what their $2000 for a Sharpei puppy are supporting.
09-19-08, 12:20 am
