Traumatizing Pet Store - Venting

carolina

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
I was in Florida yesterday, and decided to stop at a pet store to get a couple of collars and tags for my neighbors kitties, which are inside/outside cats, with no id... Anyway, a lady in the restaurant told me: Ohhh... you should go to this amazing Pet store, they have a lot of exotic animals in there.... OH MY GOD - AWEFUL AWEFUL AWEFUL!
They had in these little filthy cages, with black water, a few spider monkeys that come from the rain forest from South America... They catch these little creatures by killing their mommies, so they fall from mom's backs, and are captured to be sold. It is aweful!!! They sell them for $6,000!!!
Beside that, they had a 3-fingered Sloth, also from South or Central America - these animals are endered now due to forest destruction... Not only that, but they have an EXTREMELY high mortality in captivity... AWEFUL!
So lets not talk about the macaws, and such... Lets try to ignore all that, ad get two things i needed: the cat collars, and the Stinky finder lamp.
Well, they had 3 - 3!!!!!! Collars storewide, so the smart pet advisor advised me to get FERRET collars, as they would be just as tiny! I mean.... doesn't she know we need safety collars for cats????
Then the manager came in, and proceed to tell me that portable UV lamps, battery charged just doesn't exist!!!

WOW - I lost my apetite and mood for the rest of the day!!! OH! So sad! SO FREAKING SAD!
Sorry - needed to vent!
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Turn them in. There are laws and very strict permits needed for certain animals - monkeys especially due to the diseases they can transfer to humans. Chances are that this store does not have them or that the papers are faked.
 

sakura

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
1,604
Purraise
3
Why would you give a store like that your business? I hope you didn't buy anything after seeing all of that.

In the last city I lived in, there was a pet/feed store that sold puppies and other animals. They claimed that they weren't puppy mill animals, but what reputable breeder is leaving puppies with a pet store?

As for this particular pet store in Florida...I would be surprised if that was legal. States usually have laws about exotic animals. Who does the animal control work in this town? Usually cities contract with local humane societies to do it. Find out who does this and make a report about what you saw.
 

babywukong

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Messages
3,050
Purraise
3
Oh that's extremely sad indeed. I feel sorry for those babies who had been cruelly wrenched from their moms' lifeless bodies, dumped in tiny crates to be transported over. Probably many others died on the way. Those who are alive now are going to wish they were dead because there is no way on earth any human could recreate the environment they were born to live in.

Call the authorities in on them! While the pet shop is not the root cause of this horrible problem, they are contributing to it in a big way.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I wonder why that store is not caught yet?
Because people are shocked and outraged at what they see, but not enough to take time out of their busy lives to do something about it. One of the flaws of society, things like this get ignored because many people don't want to stand out and upset others.

Its the same reason why someone can see another person stealing in a store and not go say anything to an employee.
 

addiebee

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
7,724
Purraise
17
Location
Michigan
I don't know what the laws are in Florida regarding exotics. But it is certainly worth a phone call to local authorities because even if it is "legal", if the animals are in unsanitary conditions, etc, THAT is not allowed.
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
Yes, if the law won't do something, then call a TV station and get them to do a story about these unconscionable conditions. Shame the store into at least treating them well, if not getting out of the business of exploiting them. Poor babies.
 

amberthe bobcat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Messages
4,829
Purraise
18
Location
In the Cougars den
Exotic animals are LEGAL in Florida, thank God for that and thank you Florida state legislature for allowing people to live with these animals
However, I do not support a store that can not take proper care of the animals they sell. If they do not care for them properly, they can not educate a possible owner on the proper care. So I myself, would not support them. Shame on them for taking horrible care of these animals

They catch these little creatures by killing their mommies, so they fall from mom's backs, and are captured to be sold
WRONG!! This is NOT true in the USA. All these animals come from captive breeders and are NOT taken out of the wild. It is ILLEGAL in this country (USA).
 

psjauntie

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
867
Purraise
1
Location
port st john fl
Is that store next to Old Time Pottery? I have thought about going in there on numerous occasions, glad I didn't now. Have you called the authorities?
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by AmberThe Bobcat

WRONG!! This is NOT true in the USA. All these animals come from captive breeders and are NOT taken out of the wild. It is ILLEGAL in this country (USA).
I would love to fully believe that, but when there is a way to get animals imported cheaply it's usually done. As I said, that wouldn't be legal - at least not for some exotics. I know some reptiles are still commonly crammed into old oil barrels or any old container and shipped in (green iguanas, monitors, tegus, etc)... Not all captive breeders are that great either, a breeder letting their animals go to a nasty pet store is a big sign that they're not committed to the breed/species. I know reptiles and birds can come from mill breeders - I'm not sure about monkeys, but it wouldn't surprise me.


There's a reptile pet store in OKC that makes me so mad, but unless I can catch them selling turtles under the federal size requirement there's not much I can do to shut them down. Animal control doesn't see improper size and type of food for reptiles, and temps being 5-10 degrees off as cruel. (both insure that the reptile will starve, though) Unfortunately here, it's pretty much "as long as you provide the necessities" as fair as the laws go.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

carolina

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Originally Posted by strange_wings

I would love to fully believe that, but when there is a way to get animals imported cheaply it's usually done. As I said, that wouldn't be legal - at least not for some exotics. I know some reptiles are still commonly crammed into old oil barrels or any old container and shipped in (green iguanas, monitors, tegus, etc)... Not all captive breeders are that great either, a breeder letting their animals go to a nasty pet store is a big sign that they're not committed to the breed/species. I know reptiles and birds can come from mill breeders - I'm not sure about monkeys, but it wouldn't surprise me.


There's a reptile pet store in OKC that makes me so mad, but unless I can catch them selling turtles under the federal size requirement there's not much I can do to shut them down. Animal control doesn't see improper size and type of food for reptiles, and temps being 5-10 degrees off as cruel. (both insure that the reptile will starve, though) Unfortunately here, it's pretty much "as long as you provide the necessities" as fair as the laws go.
100% Agreed - I am from Brazil, and I have personally seen plenty of times animals trafficking/selling taking place - yes, some get caught, but a lot don't!! There are a lot of these animals that do not breed in captivity. One analogy to Amber the bobcat's post: Cocaine, marijuana, drugs are illegal - it doesn't AT ALL mean people don't use drugs in the US. Using the same analogy, only a small percentage of who uses are caught... Same with wild animal trafficking.

My mom rescues spider monkeys and other wild animals in Brazil, and I am pretty sure I know very well what I am talking about.

I understand and admire you Amber, who loves, cares and rescues exotic Felines... However that is not the case for everybody - not the case at all at this store. I mean.... Let's get it simple: The ferret collar I was offered to my kitty could have killed her! That was not something difficult to figure out....

I got out of there sick to my stomach... You guys are right, I should Report them. Who do I talk to? Humane Society? SPCA?

Thanks!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

carolina

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Originally Posted by Sakura

Why would you give a store like that your business? I hope you didn't buy anything after seeing all of that.
Of course not!!! After seeing what was going on there, I quickly got out of there sick to my stomach... I was there long enough to inspect the animals water bowls, ask for pricing, see the tag of their species, etc... I bought the collars at a PetSmart - I refused to give them any $$!
 

babywukong

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Messages
3,050
Purraise
3
I'm not from the USA so I wouldn't know which authorities you should turn to. I'm quite sure there are others here who can advise you though. Good on you, for resolving to turn them in! I hope they close down for good with some sort of ban on the individuals so they can never operate a similar store again.

Agree with others who said that while it may be illegal to capture wild animals to be sold as pets, this cannot mean that it is not happening.

That is just the case in Singapore. On the surface of it, smuggling wild animals across the borders is illegal. A whole host of animals are banned as pets. But plenty of people are smuggling them in, and extremely easily too! In fact, Singapore is a hotbed of exotic pet smuggling activity!

Even if exotic pets come from captive breeders, like what strange_wings said, breeders come in many different shapes and sizes. If there are folks out there who indiscriminately breed cats and dogs in mills, what's to stop them from breeding exotics in the same way, especially if exotics are so much more expensive than your usual domestic animal??

Last point, where the heck do you think the captive breeders got their first stocks of animals from? Yep, guessed it right - the wild.

I stick by my stand that for each and every wild animal (regardless of species) sold into captivity, they are all being deprived of the chance to be themselves in their natural habitat. There is absolutely no way a human could provide for wild animals' complex needs - social hierarchy, prey food, natural roaming habitat and so on. Wild animals were born to be wild. Not to mention, if all the wild animals are allowed to stay in their natural environment, and we humans play our part in preserving their habitat, there won't be a problem of so many beautiful exotic animals going endangered or extinct.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Originally Posted by carolinalima

I got out of there sick to my stomach... You guys are right, I should Report them. Who do I talk to? Humane Society? SPCA?
Both - or whoever is in your city. Talk to them and see if they can help you or if you have to go directly to Animal Control yourself.

If nothing happens you may have to go to city hall or see if you can take it up with the mayor. A big pain, yes, but if you want it closed that's one way to do it. And as others suggested, if no one is listening you can contact the media.

Just to be clear with everyone. I have nothing against people owning exotics - captive breed exotics. I have problems with pet stores and people who only care about money.
 

arlyn

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
9,306
Purraise
50
Location
Needles, CA
Like dogs. cats and other animals, I always encourage people to adopt, or buy from reputable breeders, and that includes small animals, reptiles and exotics.
My remaining bird, a Hahn's macaw, was captive bred in Washington, close banded (which I've had removed) and fed and weaned by his parents and lovingly socialised by a 9 year old girl.

That is the way to have a well adjusted exotic (or any other pet).

OP: Do not be upset about them having Macaws (except that they were in horrid conditions and likely poorly bred) all but the Hyacinth have pretty fair representation here in the States and all birds sold must be closed banded with verifiable breeder's info stamped on them.
 

menagerie mama

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
Messages
4,720
Purraise
3
Location
Wisconsin
Please turn them in as soon as possible, before they sell those animals to people who don't know how to take care of them, and certainly before CHRISTMAS! That's one Christmas present that doesn't need to be bought!!!
 
Top