Unbelievable!!

I can't believe what I saw today at what's supposed to be a reputable pet store in my nearby city. I was looking over the exotic pets they have and almost all of what they had looked dried up and underfed. I was sick when I saw a 10 gallon tank filled with anoles. There had to have been 50 in there and most were so scrawny, you could see their little ribs and the heads were all shrunken in. My husband and I counted 5 dead ones. One bright green one was beyond dead right in front. How could you even miss it?? Most of the smaller ones were underfed and extremely scrawny. GOD that makes me so angry! I bought blackworms from this place months ago and they lasted less than a week. I have been hounding them since then when they'd get more in. The owner said they're too hard to get ahold of and it's too hot to keep them. He's got a fridge there he's stored them in before!! AHHH! As far as the anoles, I'm so disgusted by the lack of care and for the overcrowded quarters they've given them. I don't think I can even complain about it to anyone there. I certainly can't take on that many anoles. And it's like I just read in other posts, all that does is encourage them go buy more. I almost offered them 50 cents for the scrawny, half dead ones but my husband gave me "the look" so that ended that idea

yeah it really sucks to see that. I have seen this in alot of small petshops. Complain to the people that own it or work there ,but i think that it would be better to take it on from the angle of "its not good advertising, and it drives customers away" angle i have complained like this and it has worked sometimes, with the offending petshop not getting anymore of the animals that died. The thing that makes me really mad is how since herps arent cute and cuddly ppl tend not to care much. This is coming from a person who has always been bitten by all sorts of small mamal pets ( i have had to get rabies shots, in the stomach) so i am very much anti mammals as far as my pets go.

See, it's cr*p like this that makes me simultaniously want to own a pet store and yet not own one. On the "own" side, I could assure others of the health and husbandry of animals, choosing reputable vendors, and educate customers to the needs of the species they are purchasing. On the "no own" side, I really don't want to peddle flesh, so to speak.

Of course, in a town that has one store specializing in small mammals and one specializing in aquaria, opening a third specializing in herps and amphibia is enticing.

damn bipeds.

(I just got back from buying bunny food at one of the major chains. Damn I hate that place.)

I've thought a lot about owning a petshop. Between the reply on the other "pet collectors" post and my personal knowledge, it would take a great deal of money to actually become a success in the pet industry.

Granted knowledgable people are willing to pay slightly more at a specialty shop but even the most knowing person usually has to watch their dollars. SO, you would have to have a store or two the size of PetsMart, Petco, etc, to be able to buy in bulk as they do to pass on the saving to your customers. HUGE advertising campaign to promote the fact that your store is better than theirs and offers comparable savings.

IF you could get a toe hold in a smallish town (no large chain petstore but growing) and blitz the town with advertising you would stand to be a success. My town is just ripe for something like that. We have one small mall several big stores (target, kmart, walmart, Ross, Factory to U, etc etc etc) but no superstore, like petsmart or petco. We are the hub for several other towns. In other words, people from those towns come HERE to buy their groceries, lumber and clothing.

IF I were to win the lottery I swear I would sink my money in to a venture like the one I described. First I would nail down all local breeder of birds and reptiles. Offer bottom dollar for bulk purchase of their animals. Allow THEM to set up their animals and I would buy the supportive items (tanks, bedding, lights etc.) Another idea would be to sell the animals on consignment. No money out of my pocket at all but I get a percentage of their selling price. Maybe host a "breeders auction" where specialty animals are bid on rather than offered at a set price via internet and walk in service.

I know several breeders out here. Two or three small bird breeders, two or three lizard breeders, several dog breeders and a cat breeder. I breed rabbits and am working on amphibs. There you go, all the major selling points in a petshop.

Dogs and cats would be on display and sold to anyone with the cash or credit available as long as they could provide 3 friendly references and a vet recommendation.

Sorry just dreaming here.

I am just sick about those anoles. That just really sucks. Meghan I don't know where you live, but in the US you can complain to the BBB and USDA.

Sharon

Not to sure if a store dedicated to tropical fish is unusual. We actually have a so call "local" store that does all the main stuff. For the most part, the stock is quite healthy, and the owner often himself is often present to talk with people about the store. Several of the employees are apparently related to him, too. Almost 3/5 of the floorspace is dedicated to tropical fish and supplies.

There are also a few smaller stores, but those are sometimes pretty bad too.

That's the bad thing. The owner was there when I stopped in. 5 guys working in a store, wouldn't you think you'd take the obviously dead ones out of the public's view?? Even if I wasn't "into" frogs salamanders, ect, just being a customer wandering in with my kids to look at the different animals they had, to the average person the anoles were obviously dead or underfed. I hate to squeal on these guys because they've been in business for a very long time. I can't help but think my complaint won't amount to a darn thing. Maybe it's caused them to become lax but there's still no excuse for that. DOWN SIZE your inventory if you can't keep up! What a waste!

Meghan there have actually been times I've shoved my kids back down an aisle because of disgusting sights like the one you described.

My kids are pretty hardy and enjoy things like watching a snake eat a mouse (EEWW) or handfeeding the frogs worms but they are also sensitive to cruelty and get upset (you can read that as angry!) about it. My oldest who is 9 is VERY outspoken. Fairly politic about his ideals (no smoking around him! ROTFL) but the last thing I need a fight or argument started by a 9 nine yr old in a store. He freely tells people your smoke is invading my space and it isn't healthy for me. (HIS WORDS I SWEAR!) He did tell a store employee once, "You are a bad person for not taking care of your animals." The employee didn't even acknowledge him.

Maybe talking to the manager or asking for the store owner would prompt better or more attention before you rat them out.

I hope you see a change soon.

Sharon

Sharon, I mean this in the best possible way, but for a 9 year old you've got one scary kid there (he sounds more like 19). Tell him he should be a lawyer.

Sharon- Send him to Erie PA....I'll take him to the pet shop!

LOL! We are pretty convinced he is going to be a politician or used car salesman. (NOTHING against those folks, but he does scare even us!) He is very good at shmoozing people, ladies in particular. He learned at an early age, telling his grandmothers friends, "OH! I like your hair!" Would earn him money and gifts!

Sharon

I was going to say politician, but he doesn't seem slimy enough!

Well, needless to say he is quite a handful in school. Its a good thing his aunt is a teacher there to help smooth the way for him! Still his openess and frankness are um, well, unusual for a child his age and we are often asked to explain or excuse his behaviour!

And Meghan! LMAO! I might take you up on that if you aren't careful! He spent the week with his grandmother and wore her out, two days home with me and I'M worn out!

Sharon

Dont excuse him! Especially if he's right! Start a national tour!

ROTFL!! This kid is already convinced he is best thing next to pre sliced bread!!! He does NOT need one whit of encouragement. His grandmother called to report on his doings while he was with her. Mind you grandma is NOT "McDonalds Savvy" <snicker> and got confused about where the line started, guess who speaks up??? You got it. "Hey! Excuse me!! But WHERE does the line start??" Yep complete with emphatic tones and all. Grandma is very thorough when describing the little genius' latest comments or acts. (kinda sarcastic here!)

No, he is a really smart and outspoken kid. It does go against him sometimes but for the most part I'm really happy he just as fearless as he is.

I don't ever discourage him or put him down for it, I do try to show him appropriate ways of expressing himself, or polite ways!!! But then again, he is 9 and frankly I'm afraid of the teen years!

Sharon

I was like that as a kid. Might wanna get him therapy now before he turns out like me! lol. You sound like a good mom (kids- and pets-wise). Looking to adopt a college student?

ROTFL! Yeah, I need "mothers' helper!" Or at least someone interesting enough to distract my kids maybe then I'd be able to go to the bathroom with out an escort! LOL!

Why are you interested in attending the U of A?
Sharon

no, I'm going into the Fisheries and Wildlife Ph.D. program at Michigan State. And I dont handle the 'hot' very well. Part of the reason I like caudates, I think! If you've got good AC and lot of "wildlife area", I am willing to reconsider, lol.

I agree HOT sucks!!! Our little valley is actually pretty nice though. Hence the ability of salamanders to live here. Nope haven't found any yet, but then again, I haven't gone looking.

I don't think the U of A has a good program for you anyway, although I don't know for sure, last I heard that program was offered at NAU, WAY up north, in the White mountains, BEAUTIFUL up there!!! Now there is somewhere I'd like to live!

I'm trying to convince hubby we need to move NORTH ward. Although we both have arthritis and the snow kills us! ROTFL!

Sharon

Over here, the thermometer is inching past 90 degrees

The smaller petshops are better than some of the chain stores because the owners at least know what to do most of the time...Like when I was in walmart they had tanks without pebbles or anywhere for the fish to hide and the ADF's were almost all missing at least one limbs.