Horrors at PetsMart...PETA investigation reveals...

@mari61960 (4893)
United States
January 30, 2007 9:10pm CST
Over a three-month period in two different stores, a PETA undercover investigator documented sickening conditions for small, helpless animals—including hamsters, rats, lizards, chinchillas, and birds. Our investigator found that animals were deprived of adequate veterinary care and were slowly dying—out of customers' sight in back rooms. More than 118 animals died over the course of the investigation. For years, PetSmart has assured PETA that sick and injured animals in its 885 stores are given veterinary care when they need it. However, our investigation and reports from concerned customers at numerous other PetSmart stores have shown that PetSmart routinely sells sick and injured animals, including guinea pigs with eye and upper respiratory infections, sick and dying betta fish, and suffering birds. Among the birds PetSmart has sold are mite-infested parakeets, a cockatoo who was screaming and bobbing neurotically from stress, and a Jardin's parrot who was "very ill" in a "dirty cage with filthy water." And those are just the animals who customers can see. When PETA first alerted PetSmart's corporate headquarters about the animal suffering our investigator had uncovered in the Manchester, Connecticut, store's back room, the company responded that the store has an outstanding "pet care team" and an "exceptional pet care record." However, our undercover video and photos reveal a very different story. Here is a link to more information and a video of the undercover investigation....It sickens me. http://www.peta.org/feat-petsmart-video.asp
6 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
2 Feb 07
That is pathetic. A store that is reportedly about loving animals and doing right by animals allows this to happen. This goes to show the level to which greed will cause one to stoop. The almight bottom line, PROFIT, means more to them than seeking veterinary care and hiring enough staff that cages can be kept clean at all times. I so wish that they would be taken to court, mandated to close, and let us film them while they disassemble the store. As they carry out empty racks and load onto trucks to got to auction, (now this would be the corportate guys in their suits) I would love to stand and hold a sign that says, "Oh ThatSmarts. " In reference to their d@mned bottom line!!
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I know, it's terrible. I couldn't believe it when PETA sent me the email about it. I thought PetSmart was a better quality store than that.
• United States
31 Jan 07
I had no clue this was going on. The one here in Kentucky seemed to be on the up and up, but yeah some just don't give a crap about the animals and once those sick animals are sold it's no longer the stores problem unless returned in a certain amount of time, but it is harder than heck to prove to them that this animal was sick at the time of purchase, since many don't take the animals to a vet that very same day. That's probably why I have never gotten an animal anywhere other than from a trusted friend or the animal shelter. Some pet stores just make me so very mad.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
1 Feb 07
I was suprised myself. I don't buy pets from petstores. I do take in rescues from one of the local Petco's but I stick to breeders and shelters.
• United States
31 Jan 07
Oh my gosh, this is so terrible. It breaks my heart. Is there any animal places left in this world that ever cares about they animals instead of the almighty dollar. I don't want to shop there now. It's bad enough that people are not screened before purchasing animals. This is disgusting.
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
3 Feb 07
I know what you mean, I shop there frequently. I think I'm going to have to stick to my feed store and local pet shop. I like to buy things on clearance there but I don't think I should for now.
• United States
31 Jan 07
Thank you for the info. I copied it and sent it to 2 animal rescue oragnaiztion I am in contact with as they use Petsmart to show dogs availabe for adoption.
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
1 Feb 07
I knew this happened all the tiime, but I was suprised it was at PetSmart.
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
31 Jan 07
I don't want to read that link! If it sickens you it will sicken me. We are a temporary emergency center for abused animals and I have seen enough. Sorry I can't make a better reply to your post. These things need to be reported. I am glad that you made us aware of this problem.
1 person likes this
@Pekachu (1112)
• United States
2 Feb 07
its sad that these pet stores are out for the money and dont take care of these animals i always suggest people buy from breeders and not the stoes because you dont know what the animals have gone through to get to that store and then how they are cared for plus they raise the price of the pet for pure profit