Do not buy from pets at home (uk) news article

[greenbeans]

Yes, I know, we are all aware pets at home is a bad place. But if we needed any more persuading, check out this news article in the sheffield star:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/D...its.3794454.jp

[QUOTE] Dead fish and unfed rabbits at pet shops By Amy Burns DEAD fish were left on display at two Sheffield pet shops where animals were not fed or cleaned correctly, according to a damning report. The Pets at Home store in Heeley Retail Park, off Chesterfield Road, had "dead and ill-looking" fish on display, flies were allowed to buzz around guinea pig cages, and rabbits were left without food. And the Drakehouse Retail Park branch of the same chain, on Drakehouse Way, also left dead fish in the display tanks and housed rabbits in unapproved accommodation with "sharp edges". Both stores were selling fish the same day they arrived in store, despite numerous warnings telling them this was against the Pet Shop Licence conditions, the report claims. The shocking findings were uncovered by an Animal Control and Enforcement Officer who was asked to inspect the premises after the shop owners applied for their licence to be renewed. Pet shop licences are only valid for 12 months and store owners have to apply for a new one every year to continue. Sheffield Council has conditions that must be adhered to for a pet shop licence, which include animals being given an 'acclimatization period' before being sold, and a policy that sick or injured animals must be isolated and receive appropriate care without delay. After the inspection, officers made recommendations that the pet shop licence should not be granted at either store. "Because of the ongoing concerns regarding the keeping of fish, and because of works needing to be done as listed, I recommend this establishment should not be approved at this store," said the report in both cases. Officers raised concerns about the shop after earlier inspections but claim management failed to act on their recommendations. At the Heeley Retail Park store in October, an officer said aquatic filters were not cleaned properly, fish looked ill and had not been isolated, and there was no food left out for rabbits or rats. A spokesman for Pets at Home said their relationship with the council was positive " and they were working with officers to establish a code of best practice. A decision on renewed licences for both stores will be made by Sheffield Council's licensing board tomorrow.

I know this is only 2 stores but I shall take it as a sign of their general low standards and never visit them. (not that I ever did). Those poor critters.

[Renshai117]

So what happened? Did they revoke the liscence?

[Sammy and Peanut]

Lucky me! There isn't even one near me! I don't think there is even one in my state!

[Astrantia]

Awful!

When Pets At Home used to be Petsmart I worked a couple of days there as a teenager. A few things shocked me 'behind the scenes'. Now compared to that article, where I worked ran a more humane store... but not by much. What shocked me was what happened to dead animals. Animals that came in were first quarantined in the rooms out the back of the store. It wasn't, apparently unusual for a good number of these animals to die. When they did die, I witnessed what they did with the animals. I saw dead fish, mice and hamsters thrown together in a ordinary looking plastic swing bin. I was horrified to say the lest. I didn't go back to work there again. I contacted the RSPCA about the situation, but apparently they were abidding by the law so nothing could be done.

But now what horrifies me is the ridiculous information I've heard their young staff dishing out to curious people enquiring about animals in store. I saw one girl cleaning out the guinea pigs while yammering over the fence to a non-staff friend of hers. She was carting a black stack around the cage, paying no notice of the pigs and put the black stack ON TOP of the guinea pigs! I ran over and said "Hey! Watch it, you've put the bag on the pigs!!!". She looked down, shrugged, snorted at me and went "Oops?" then moved the bag. When a customer was asking about their diet and she blurted out adding vitamins to their water I lost my rag and cut in saying WHY that's not necessary and WHY it's a bad idea to add vitamins to their water.