Something Must Be Done!

[gbird]

I am so upset right now. I know most of you know I used to work at Petco, thats where I got Pita, and were Bee got Bella. Anyway...several months ago , long after I quit they got in a Gold Cap Rosella....which first of all they shouldn't have gotten in at all, since it's more of an Aviary bird...well a few weeks ago I called to check on him, and he was found dead in his cage from a bacterial infection. Apparently the water bowls hadn't been being cleaned well enough. Since that, they have bleached & repainted and completely cleaned the bird room & cages. Then they got in 2 P'Lets....one kept his head tilted to the left, and Peggy took him in and it turns out he had lead poisoning. She has since taken him home, named him Lefty, and he is doing fine. I took Pita in to visit with a few people about a week ago, and when I looked in the bird room, the 2nd little P'Let was on the bottom of the cage all puffed up. I asked Peggy "why is he on the bottom of the cage?" She said, "I'm taking him back to the vet tomorrow.

Well I just called to see how he was, and talked to one of the assistant managers. Poor little guy didn'ty make it, another bacterial infection. Then he said that just last week they got in 2 new baby GC Conures, that they are hand feeding....he even said, "we shouldn't have gotten them in because of all the problems we've had with the other birds"

I just want to cry! Why can't they see there is a problem?

I think I told you guys that I had called and expressed my concerns a while ago. Well, when I went in, I found out that it was brought up to the manager, and they were making changes......APPARENTLT NOT QUICK ENOUGH!!

I am not coming down on all Petco's, just the one I worked at.
Please say a prayer for the little animal baby's in there.

[catschair]

how about calling local SPCA or even public health? Can't be good for folks to adopt birds who are sick, and you might get a quicker response with human health concern?

[gbird]

That's an idea, but I think because they are a huge chain Company....any one called would probably not get past corporate.

Don't worry I'm thinking.....I have tons of things on them from when I worked there. It's one of the reasons I quit. Couldn't handle being there and not being able to do anything.

[lullabylady]

PETA has investigated several Petco stores. Contact PETA for more information. If anyone visits a Petco store, they should check on the conditions as apparently Petco has been reprimanded several times but they continue to abuse the rules about maintaning baby birds. In my opinion, its licence to sell livestock should be revoked. They should be allowed to sell only pet supplies.

[gbird]

I agree, thank you.

[parrotntn]

Our Petco here locally is deplorable. I wouldn't buy a candybar from them. Dead fish floating, birds look pitiful and no, not well cared for. It is a HUGE store. You walk in the door and it reeks of ferret odor, among other nasty stuff.
Our Petsmart is fantastic. It's the best I've ever been in. Hard to see why one chain is soooo bad and the other is soooo good. Same business; just, apparantly GLOBALLY, mismanaged. And the animals have to suffer.
Mark

[Rach]

I personally hate going into Petco. My job requires me travel around so I've been in a couple of different one. Just a few weeks ago I took a break during work and went into one that was right next-door. Turned out in their aviary one of the parakeets was wedged between to pieces of glass (were the doors open) and could not get out! I immediately went and got someone. As I was watching this parakeet to make sure it was ok, which it was, I noticed another one that was standing one the bottom not moving - turned out that the parakeet’s vent was blocked and the parakeet wasn't able to go.

The week after that - a different Petco. Same thing - very tiny budgie on the bottom of the aviary, blocked vent and this time one of the eyes were completely closed. When I commented to the employee he just kind of shrugged it off. I stood there and would NOT go away. The gentleman was trying to sell one of the other parakeets. I just kept asking him what he was going to do about this one!! He did take it out to put it in quarantine in the back - another employee that took the bird reassured me that a vet would check it out.

Needless to say both these incidents broke my heart! I just hope that my finding them will hopeful save them.

PetSmart - never seen any problems!

[Ponyfeathers]

we went into petco the other day to get female bettas (where i work we dont normally get a lot of females in) and all their fish in the tanks had ick! Some of the lights were off cause they had anchor worm, but other tanks had lights on, and their fish obviously were covered in ick, it was so noticable, i mean who cant notice white dots all over them??

then one of their conures had one of its eyes closed..bleh

petsmart is better- except their fish people dont know very much. he tried telling me my betta would kill any fish i put in with it. then he acted like he wouldnt sell me a molly since i was putting it with a betta. When i asked him then why is my male betta not shredding all theo ther fish in my tank he was like 'you got a rare one'. We have bettas in select tanks at work- they're fine.

[lullabylady]

PETA had a banner posted which read PETCO-WHERE PETS GO TO DIE! I think it's outrageous after all the publicity this store has received that it is still in business.

Petsmart is quite different. I don't know anything about fish but the few birds they have for sale are maintained very well. Fresh bedding, food and water. Glad to see that the babies are weaned on pellets! They do not sell cats or dogs based on the principle that there are enough homeless ones already. The one here in Whitby has an adoption centre which is linked to the Humane Society.

[sowilu]

So Petsmart and Petco are not the same chain??