Puppies sold at Petland raised in horrible conditions

[lucy42083]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27822309/

I've never been to Petland before but I think I've heard members here say it is a "good store" -- maybe not. One good thing about PetSmart (at least in my region) is they refuse to sell dogs and cats. Yet another reason to think of adopting or rescuing a pup rather than buying it at the pet store.

 

[petluvr]

Sad truth is most puppies sold in the big-box store are bred in puppy mills.

 

[powerkit]

so sad. Our petsmart has rescue cats available all the time, and has a special area where rescue societies can come advertise and bring animals that are up for adoption. They had off the track greyhounds there last week, it was wonderful to meet the dogs and see what they were like. They also do an extensive program with each dog to make sure they are fit to be adopted! I liked the greyhounds a lot, they seem so wonderful, even after all they went through, i would even consider one if i wasnt living in apartment. Any way, I dont see why some one would prefer a puppy over an already trained unwanted animal, who will most likely be a better pet because training puppies is really for some one who is verry consistant and has experience and training to do so. Lots of pets get so messed up by people who think they were cute and dont take the time to study how that animal should be treated, or whether or not they can handle the demands of that animal.

 

[Cheech]

that's horrible. But thank goodness they're not all bad...

If anyone wants to share bad stories of local LFS's, please don't mention the name of the establishment as it is against site rules. This thread is fine because it's linked to a story off a reputable news website.

Thank you..

 

[bettagurl]

My P. land and world both sell mill puppies. Sick.

My petco and petsmart are pretty cool though, healthy animals, and they take cat and dogs from shelters and put them up for adoption.

 

[excuzzzeme]

I do not trust any big box store when it comes to animal source and in-store care. Let's face it, they are not there to socialize an animal or to entertain them, they are there for one reason and that is to make a buck. The same can be said for many LFS and you can identify the stores that want to make money and those that take the hobby serious and want to make money at it.

Those of us in the hobby are far more sensitive to improper care than the average person on the street. When we run across what we consider to be inappropriate care we sound off on our forums and should instead be sounding off to the local enforcement agency that handles these claims. If you have not contacted an agency, you shouldn't complain here as you are not a part of the solution. Linking a found news item is not the same thing and I see no harm in it since it is a part of public information.

Don't get me wrong, I am as outraged as you are, yet I find action to speak louder than complaining. Please, take appropriate action and file according paperwork. If you don't want the involvement, then don't complain here either. 99% of the time there needs to be consistent legitimate complaints filed so an investigation can be started.One complaint may not get it done but repeated complaints by several will catch someone's attention. Never, never threaten the store with action, it just makes you look bad. Let investigators handle that.

 

[bettagurl]

I do not trust any big box store when it comes to animal source and in-store care. Let's face it, they are not there to socialize an animal or to entertain them, they are there for one reason and that is to make a buck. The same can be said for many LFS and you can identify the stores that want to make money and those that take the hobby serious and want to make money at it.

Those of us in the hobby are far more sensitive to improper care than the average person on the street. When we run across what we consider to be inappropriate care we sound off on our forums and should instead be sounding off to the local enforcement agency that handles these claims. If you have not contacted an agency, you shouldn't complain here as you are not a part of the solution. Linking a found news item is not the same thing and I see no harm in it since it is a part of public information.

Don't get me wrong, I am as outraged as you are, yet I find action to speak louder than complaining. Please, take appropriate action and file according paperwork. If you don't want the involvement, then don't complain here either. 99% of the time there needs to be consistent legitimate complaints filed so an investigation can be started.One complaint may not get it done but repeated complaints by several will catch someone's attention. Never, never threaten the store with action, it just makes you look bad. Let investigators handle that.

Yep, if everyone I have talked with around here that said they can't stand this pet shop would report the dead/dying/being eaten alive animals at P. world here it would likely not still be open.

 

[justahannah]

I work for PetSmart, and it's a company wide policy that floor space is donated to local humane society/rescue groups for cats and dogs, and those groups provide all the cats and dogs at our stores. We provide the care for the animals, but any potential adopters still have to go to the source of the animal (for our store, it's the local humane society) and go through that groups adoption procedures, pay that group any fees they charge, and bring the reciepts/paperwork back to our store to pick up the animal. We don't charge a dime for this service to the animals/community as well as providing many other charity services (http://www.petsmartcharities.org/about/vision-mission.php). All of our other pets (except fish) come from certified breeders (not wild caught) and go through a veternary assured process regarding the health of the parents, offspring, diet, and care. Granted, socialization is generally minimized to when we feed the animals and clean the cages (unless a customer wants to hold one), but the animals seem to come in well accostomed to handling from our sources. I've handled a lot of rats, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, and a large variety of lizards, tortoises, frogs, and birds, the only things that have attempted to bite me are the dwarf hamsters (notoriously viscious) and the parakeets, which aren't socialized at all by the breeders, leaving that pleasure to the new owners. Even the bettas have scheduled water changes a couple times a week. After all the horror stories I've heard about box stores, I can actually say I'm proud to work where I do...even if it's a minimum wage part time job to help me save up for college again. I've been officially brainwashed. The fish all come from the same big outfit somewhere back east, and we don't quarantine new fish...only sick fish, and that's something I'd like to see change, but realistically, we don't have the floor/tank space to quarantine all new fish arrivals.

 

[Eddiecorrea]

that's horrible. But thank goodness they're not all bad...

If anyone wants to share bad stories of local LFS's, please don't mention the name of the establishment as it is against site rules. This thread is fine because it's linked to a story off a reputable news website.

Thank you..

Thats a terrible rule. I thought we were here to help each other out. If someone has a bad a terrible experience with a LFS and wants to warn others why not allow them to do so? I think it should be allowed as we are here to protect our fellow hobbyists. Not allow them to go out to that same LFS and get taken advantage of.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[cam191919]

i hate my areas PL, its the closest LFS to my house by about 20 minutes and i still dont give them any business. i drive the distance to family run LFS, even to petsmart and petco, just to stay out of that horrible place