Petsmart Cruelty

[skippysmom80817]

Dear members,
I recently purchsed a guinea from Petsmart, little did I know that he had come from a vile disgusting place called Rainbow Exotics. Petsmarts biggest client. the place where they get the animals they sell. I was absolutely disgusted by the video and website I saw on how Rainbow and Petsmart treat the animals. Please visit PetSmart Cruelty and you will be shocked at what you see. I did not know that Petsmart bought animals from places that do that, and I did not know that Petsmart themselves treat the animals just as bad. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. I am starting my owm campaign against Petsmart and I vow not to shop there anymore. Please let me know your comments after you watch the videos and the website itself. Together we can make a difference. You will be shocked at the pictures of guineas. It made me cry. From one guinea pig lover to others please help my cause. Thank You

[PigWooBus]

I just watched the video and I almost couldn't even finish it. I will never shop at Petsmart again. I typically don't, but on occasion if there is something I need that I don't know where else to find (usually a water bottle or food dish or some cage accessory type thing) I have gone there. I won't anymore. Two of my pigs probably came from Rainbow Exotics (maybe 3, depending on where Petco gets theirs). I can't believe any of them went through an environment like that. I didn't know anything about pet stores when I bought my guinea pigs (well, one of them my sister bought and I ended up caring for him... that's how I got started with guinea pigs... I got totally attached) but the other two I bought. I am about to adopt a guinea pig from the local rescue... it will be my first adoption. I'm so excited.

[skippysmom80817]

Thank you so much for your support. Please pass the message around that petsmart is bad. Thank you so much

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by skippysmom80817

Thank you so much for your support. Please pass the message around that petsmart is bad. Thank you so much

You are a bit late if you think that the majority of members don't already know that the petstores like PetStupid and PetNotSoSmart are bad along with countless other big chain and smaller mom and pop pet stores. Many of this sites members have been advocating to stop the sale of all animals in petstores for years. We also know that Rainbow Exotics supply a good amount of the animals to these stores.

There are countless threads in the kitchen forum section alone advocating against petstores.

It's great you want to help out and I hope you will make a difference.

[pig-in-paradise]

I think this is a thread worth repeating. Many newbies/guests come to a forum and just browse through the top pages looking for interesting threads and don't actually go searching for old topics.

If some newbie doesn't know petstores are a terrible place to get animals from, it wouldn't even occur to them to start a search.

Skippysmom, thanks for the link. I hope somebody who's just looking into guinea pigs online comes across it here and decides to do the right thing and rescue/adopt a piggie rather than buying one. If only one person does, you've already made a difference with this thread.

[PigWooBus]

pig-in-paradise is right. I have known for some time now since I got my piggers that pet stores are bad and have actively searched out other places to get my supplies. But I didn't know about Rainbow Exotics. For the past 24 hours I've been horrified to know that probably all 3 of my piggers came from those awful conditions. I passed the link on to my boyfriend, who does not have piggers, but he does have a dog and they buy her stuff (toys and dog food) at petsmart. We will have to start looking for other places to get his dog's stuff. I will have to find out what kind of food she eats and check if it's at the feed store (which does not sell animals) where I buy my guinea pigs' hay and pellets. Thanks for making a difference skippysmom, I'm trying to do the same now!

[Abbie]

Before saying what I have to say...I do not in any way shape or form advocate cruelty to animals...and before agreeing or disagreeing with the statements made here I must ask...has anyone done any research on Rainbow Exotics? This is a new one to me and trying to find something on them I cannot. So if anyone has any web links with information I would appreciate it if you could share them with me.
That being said I now must ask... for any of you with snakes or meat eating lizards what do you feed them? Would you consider the sale of feeder mice or rats cruel? Keep in perspective that there is a natural circle of life.
I myself do not have any and could not as I cannot feed a snake or lizard a critter of any sort. I do however have a photo of a cotton mouth eating a frog...as it happened in my yard. But this one topic raises in my mind these questions as I tend to see a bigger picture not just a tiny part of it. And before advocating or condemning any one thing be sure to research thoroughly and get all the facts straight.
Please, though, if any of you have that link to Rainbow Exotics or information on them I would love to read more about it as, like I said before, I have never heard of them. Thanks.

[Susan9608]

Abbie - there are a number of members here who feel like it's not appropriate to keep snakes and lizards and such as pets to begin with, as they are wild animals. Take a look at this thread: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...iles-pets.html . I think the issue of feeding live is addressed there as well.

There are other options to feeding live. Yes, snakes and lizards have to eat to live. However, feeding live mice and rats and such to the reptiles is dangerous to the reptile, not to mention cruel to the prey. There are humanely killed, frozen alternatives available. Voodoo, who has a *rescued* ball python snake, can direct you towards more information on the subject, should you care to pursue it.

As for Rainbow Exotics, PETA is one of the first and only to have gotten a true, insider glimpse of the agency and what they're really like. Do a search for yourself - see what you come up with. Then compare it to the video posted and decide for yourself.

[Abbie]

Susan9608 - I have tried looking for Rainbow Exotics and have found nothing...which is why I asked if anyone had any links they could direct me to for more information. Perhaps they are associated by another name. As I said previously this was the first I had heard of them and would greatly appreciate any information someone might have. Thank you.

As for feeding snakes and other meat eating reptiles I am fully aware of the dangers in feeding live critters to them....however you must still feed them meat which was once a living, breathing critter no matter how humanely they are killed. No I am not a vegan. I was just curious as to those who seem to be so against certain "cruelties" how they themselves feel about these other topics. Which then opens a new topic on whether or not they themselves are meat eaters. If you feel so strongly about certain cruelties and then it is my opinion that you stick true to your beliefs fully and not just on certain topics. For to not stand fully by your beliefs (and I am sure many people do) then you are nothing more than a hyprocrite. My posting of my statement was simply to make aware that there is a bigger picture and for more information on Rainbow Exotics as I would like to educate myself on that topic.

[Susan9608]

My point was that it's very difficult to find information on Rainbow Exotics - that's why PETA's undercover investigation was/is so ground-breaking.

[PigWooBus]

I was a vegetarian for 5 years and have to admit that I am no longer (long story) but I still believe that even if it's just going to be eaten, the animal ought to at least be raised and slaughtered HUMANELY. Rainbow Exotics does not take care of the animals. I'm sure you'll realize this if you watch the PETA video. Personally, I find PETA to be a little extreme (no offense as I do believe it's a good cause), but it's not like they can just make up the stuff that's in the video. It's real.

[pig-in-paradise]

Abbie, you're right, there isn't much info available on them. You may have seen Petsmart's response to this undercover video:

PetSmart | Press Room | The Facts

[Abbie]

Susan9608 - And my point is I cannot take one item or one persons opinions as the gospel truth. Though the video shown in the link provided by Skippysmom is very disturbing (and it was very good of Skippysmom to share this), how was I to know it is where and who PETA says. I like to research such allegations in depth before condemning any one person, place or thing. As I think everyone should do. This is why I asked for more information. So I can make an educated decision for myself.
PigWooBus - I too think PETA has made amazing progress in educating society on the cruelties to animals but can be a bit extreme.
Pig-in-paradise - I just saw their response and interesting indeed...thank you for aknowledging the lack of information regarding Rainbow World Exotics. And thank you for helpful link regarding Petsmart response as it does help to confirm certain questions brought to mind regarding these allegations.

[Susan9608]

I'm finding it almost impossible to find information on them, aside from news articles simply repeating everything that PETA discovered and PetsMart's response.

The Better Business Bureau has no record of them, and the HSUS has not mention of them on their website.

I've found them mentioned in a blog, in relation to some ferrets from them being dumped at a rescue - the Texas Ferret Rescue. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but here's the blog: Big Rescue in Dallas - The Houston Ferret Meetup Group (Houston, TX) - Meetup.com .

Then here's the link from the rescue itself, which mentions taking in the ferrets: http://www.txferretrescue.org/

It might just be that there's not a lot of information available yet. But now that people are starting to be aware of the kinds of things that are going on, more info might start trickling out from others who have dealt with Rainbow Exotics and had the same experiences.

[mommyoffive]

Originally Posted by pig-in-paradise

Abbie, you're right, there isn't much info available on them. You may have seen Petsmart's response to this undercover video:

PetSmart | Press Room | The Facts

Yes, this is what our main manager showed us and emphasied that everything in it was right...I rolled my eyes and walked away

[Abbie]

Susan - Thanks for the other links as I didn't even see those in my search. I will have to keep my eyes open and keep searching...hopefully more information will start flowing ... as I did see that Petco has gotten involved as well. Apparently Rainbow Exotics is their supplier as well. I am wondering if Rainbow Exotics supplies all these stores across the country or just in TX and surrounding States. Guess I will be asking more questions at my local stores here in Florida.
Mommyoffive - I would be doing more than rolling my eyes I'm afraid. As anyone ignorant enough to say Petsmart statement is completely true is either walking around with blinders on or really is a snake! It is obvious there is a problem and to their statements regarding their own investigations leads me to believe there is an enormous coverup going on. Maybe now things are being corrected...one can only hope. Never the less I will be looking into this more and asking questions locally. Thank Skippysmom for the insight, Susan for the debate and extra links, and piginparadise - for the press release link as well.