Sick, horrible pet store. Picture update!

[Jaguar]

I went in to my local pet store to pick up a few supplies and there were four rescue girls for sale - they were in a separate cage near the front and had some notes on their history posted.

I asked the manager if I could see the babies and he opened up the cage for me and as they ran up to greet me my heart sank as I saw the condition of these poor girls.

There was one black blazed and high white sided dumbo girl, who was the only healthy one.  She was hyper and skinny and nipped me when I tried to pet her.  There was another bareback fawn that was wheezing and gasping and all puffed up and appeared to have an abcess on her face.  There was a variegated or dalmation fawn that had odd eyes and was slow and lethargic, didn't get to see her close up because she wouldn't move and I didn't want to reach in and get bit.

But what concerned me was the sign said there was four of them... so I peeked in the tunnel and saw the fourth girl.

She was a fawn from what I could tell, variegated or spotted like the other one.  Her left eye was puffy, swollen shut and crusty, and she had a huge mammary tumor on her front that was ulcerating and preventing her from moving.  She was underweight and weak.

The manager could see my horror when I was looking at her and told me he was taking her to be euthanized tomorrow.  I was saddened and really wished I had never asked to look at them.  If I had the money I would have taken them all and given them proper vet care and fostered them until I could find them a new home but I'm broke after all of Miles' treatments.

How sad.  I apologized to them and said that I hope they find a home that will treat them how they deserve.  

EDIT MARCH 2

I went back to check on the girls today, and they're still there.  The one with the tumor died after my last visit, and one is still very sick.  The odd eyed girl was lethargic and weary to come near me, but the blazed one was very monkeyish and came right over when I approached the cage.  I took some photos with my phone, but I had to be pretty careful so I didn't get many.  I realized they are not fawn.  I think they are all grey.  Note the pine bedding.


The blazed dumbo


Grey capped girl.  Very puffy, lethargic, unresponsive, abscess was scabby.


Odd eyed variegated/dalmatian.  Seemed active but weary.


Odd eyed again (couldn't get a good picture of her red eye)

I offered to take them home for free, but they insisted they could get money for them.  

[Rattikus]

I cant even walk into pet stores anymore for this very reason.

[Jaguar]

I think neglecting them from vet care that they need is definitely not legal and they could get in trouble for it, but I'm unsure about how to do it?  If someone told me or there was an article about it somewhere that I could use I would be down for reporting them to the Humane Society or the SPCA or something...

I am in the Castlegar area Ema, the store is Total Pet, which is actually owned and operated by people from the Kelowna/Okanagan area.  There is one in Kelowna and a couple other areas like Vernon, Penticton and Prince George.

[Leesha]

Poor babies! At the pet store I rescued Nibbler from there were quiet a few sick rats. They just don't care about the health of the rats and mice because they're mostly being sold for feeders. I hope they find good homes and the girl who was really sick can be at peace. 

[ema-leigh]

Im not sure if there are any articles, but what I'd do is tell your local SPCA or Humane Society and Im sure they can take it from there and launch a full investigation. But you have to be quick, the pet store could move them off the property or worse... they could die. Then there would be no proof of anything. Or try take some pictures with your phone or something.

Wow the Total Pet in kelowna doesnt even sell pet rats, although I did accidently see some frozen in their freezer while I was looking for meal worms. Seen as the business is a franchise you could ask for the number for the head office and leave an official complaint. Threaten them that there will be ALOT of unwanted media attention if they dont sort the problem out pronto..... idk

[AMJ087]

thats awful!! I hope something can be done.

[rach913]

I don't really understand...Here in WI, I have NEVER encountered bad pet care in a pet store.  Even the place that breeds for feeders have turned out having some pretty decent pets!  I mean, tumors, yes, but never neglect in emergency care like that.  Where are you all from?  Why can't anywhere do something about it?  Is there a petition that could be created that could prevent this very thing, or is ASPCA the only chance that they got?  And what about the places that don't exactly have ASPCA nearby enough to help?  Sorry for all of the questions, but this is improper animal care to me.

You see, we have one adoption center around here, and they don't have the rights, apparently, to take poorly-cared-for pets from owners...I REALLY think there should be an animal cop in every fairly popular city, in every state around here, but I also don't think that politicians will care about a made petition like this.  I mean, yes, it'll give out more jobs (which is DEFINATELY needed here in WI for sure, not sure in other states...), but they probably would say that they have other things to worry about than proper animal care, like TAXING MUSIC?!?  I'd say, stop trying to give yourselves yearly raises just for BEING a politician and make an actual and rightful DIFFERENCE for once -_-  I'm not dissing the united states, I'm speaking on behalf of many animals out there, who don't deserve the care they receive, however.  You see it on the Animal Planet all the time.  Starving dogs with bones clearly visible, injuries that could have saved a limb due to neglected vet care (most claiming that they "can't afford it..."), puppy mills, you name it, you've seen it.  Makes me wanna cry.

[Jaguar]

I live in BC Canada - there's lots of animal right groups in my area and I could raise a huge fuss, I'm sure, if I wanted to and knew how to do it right.

I don't know if these girls were in this shape when they received them as a pet store as they were advertised as "rescues" which I think means someone brought them and dumped them in the pet store and ran.  Probably just another person who thought rats were disposable.

There are two SPCAs in my area, each about a 30 minute drive away.  There is not one in my particular town though.

[AMJ087]

rach, I too live in WI and Ive seen bad places. Petco no matter where you are is not good. Many small not chain stores house breeder rats in the back so you dont even see them. I really hope something gets done about this.

[Taurus]

I tried to avoid the pet stores as much as I can because I cannot stand to see animals in small cages and feeding them wrong diets. 

There is one store in my local. They do not sell pets but they sell PLENTY of healthy diets, toys, and else for pets. I love that store. I'll continue to shop there because they don't bred mice, rats, or other animals. That's good thing!

[rach913]

rach, I too live in WI and Ive seen bad places. Petco no matter where you are is not good. Many small not chain stores house breeder rats in the back so you dont even see them. I really hope something gets done about this.

Oh, ok  We're from Manitowoc.  The Petco there APPEARS to take good care of them, but like you said, there could be more hidden in the back.  I definitely believe it, though    [/color][/i]

[Jaguar]

Oh gosh... I just remembered that I have seen those girls in there before... Like a month ago!

The pet store is totally responsible for their health conditions.  They're just trying to make a profit off them.   

I don't know what to do. 

[rach913]

  That's just plain disgusting!   

[Rattikus]

Pet stores are sick, for the most part. From the fish to the dogs, no one gets proper care.
@ the petland here there was a dog with really bloody pee and no one even did anything about it.
There is one store here that only sells animals from the SPCA and a ton of good supplies, the animals I see there always have proper bedding, food, and housing, etc. I like it there.

[Taurus]

Oh gosh... I just remembered that I have seen those girls in there before... Like a month ago!

The pet store is totally responsible for their health conditions.  They're just trying to make a profit off them.   

I don't know what to do. 

I think Canada have some kind of law that allow to force the pet stores to get rid of their businesses for good IF they don't provide good quality care for any pets..

You'll have to talk to someone about it if you willing to waste your time on it.

A lot of people don't show their effort to go through the process to force the pet stores to close their businesses for good.

You'll still have chance as long you have evidence.. That means you'll have to take picture of the bad environment that animals are living in.