Petco-- when will they learn...

[invadermike]

Well i was at petco yesterday and i was buying crickets i know i'm supporting an evil company that can't keep any animal correctly, but i need crickets, while i was in there i took at look at the reptiles section, where the T's are, They had Rosehair and a Pink toe, i never saw a pink toe at my petco, but i did now, and it was kept as a terrestrial, it as so horrible it was a little curved piece of bark or wood like a terrestrial hide, and the spider was in it with a little web, i couldn't stand it, so i decide to rescue it, i didn't own a pink toe and i thought, if i'm going to get one, i should get this one and save it from these ungodly conditions. I know it's helping petco because they get $$$ but it doesn't really matter because petco can't be stoped, but hopefully they can be reformed. Well i saved the pinktoe just thought i'd share. Hopefully i can change my local petco's conditions, I know some people did this, any tips? Let me know what i need to tell them, i have a basic idea, but maybe someone could help. Thanks
Mike

 

[Pyrdacor]

The best thing is, that's what i did, go to a local nature or animal protecting society, they will maybe handle the problem. You should maybe find some reptile expert or anything goind in there with them. If everything goes straight ahaid the get the animals out and the shop has to pay a certain amount of money. That unit might teach them to care for their animals in a better way.

 

[Lycanthrope]

so i decide to rescue it,

yeah guess what, store policy if that tarantula sold, they'll get two next order. try talking to the specialist. other than that there is nothing you can do. petco is a giant monster that cant be brought down. i cant wait until i find another job. you put pressure on them, or reason with them to fix things, they will. where you can see them. the second youve put all your energy into fixing one thing, the last thing you fixed topples over. i know i sound like a bitch here, but corporate petstores really do suck.

 

[slice9]

send them an e-mail from www.petco.com under the "contact us" link. I did that and I got a call on my cell phone from the manager the next day. They got rid of the bark chips substrate and now they are using soil. Things looked a little better the next time I went in.

 

[SoCalKyle]

I dont wanna sound like im on the petco band wagon, but i recently (about 2 months ago) got a wonderful B. EMilia from my local petco for a reasonable price to boot. It's a subadult 3.5-4in female. I would like to say im so glad i rescued her though. My local petco now has a Pinktoe, and a rosey. But the girl that helped me was really kool and seemed to know her stuff about T's especially Brachy's, she even gave me a caresheet, but it was for a Rosehair though:}

 

[skinheaddave]

Was the only problem that it was being kept as a terrestrial? Did it have a water dish? Proper substrate? As much as avics are climbers, it sounds to me like the setup was probably adequate, thought not superb. There is nothing to say that this species can't walk on the ground.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[invadermike]

good news i am getting in touch with the store manager and they said they will definatly try to change things, so i'm waiting for a call from him. Thanks for the help.

Skinheaddave, Keeping it as a terrestrial wasn't the only problem, They had a water dish with a sponge, im sure it works but they dont need sponges and the substrate was bark chips or what ever that stuff is, and there was very little climbing space, only about 4-6 inches.Then they gave it to me to take home in a paper bag, i said, uh isn't that unsafe? the bag could just go crunch, not lieki would let that happen but come on, they could use deli-cups, or something, it's not a candy bar, don' put it in a paper bag.

I don't hate petco, i just think they need to do a little more research so they can keep the animals correctly. Hopefully i will get my petco changed and people who see thier petco needs reform can get thier it too. I know it can't be perfect, but it can definatly be better. Thanks for the advice.
Mike

 

[D-Man]

Make some noise, not purchases

I agree with SHD and Slice 9. Although, you were vague on the details, if it was truly poor conditions, submit a compliant instead of rewarding them with sales. Your purchase gave the appearance of succesful display and marketing. Get on their website and complain - get the store location number so they know which regional manager can help you.

Your intention is great, but I think you could have approached the situation differently for the results you want. Well, you've just inspired me to take a trip to my locat petco to check things out, thanks !

Good luck.

 

[invadermike]

Hey, well i let them know why i was buying it, it was kind of funny, i went up to the lady and i said, "hey i want to buy this pinktoe you guys have it in not so great conditions and i have to save it from you", and then i said "well not you, but petco these conditions aren't great" and she was just like, "really? omg i hate spiders" Then she called some guy to get it, i told them i was saving it, so they know it wasn't in great display, Any way i started my changing with them, waiting for a call back, hope they call back and we can get things rolling, not just for the T's, for all thier animals, I have alot of free to offer them, so this should work out nicely, i hope. Good luck with your petco!
Mike