Hello all, it has been a while since I've posted due to illness, But
whenever I see things concerning Petco and petstores in general..I have
to speak up.  I have been an animal specialist for Petco for a little
over 4 years and recently gave my 2 week notice because to put it
honestly, I am DISGUSTED with the animal care and the attitudes of
management and corporate.  I have been bitching for change since just
about day one of my joining Petco.
 
In my first store every cage was infested with flies...something that
management ignored and it remained that way for months, despite my trying
everything in my power to remove them.  Eventually the flies packed up
and moved.  We had animals constantly sick and dying from worms and a
staff that knew the bare minimum about the animals in their care.  When I
was moved, I thought the problems would end.  Boy, I could not have been
more wrong!  Same problems, staff with no knowledge of animals, most of
whom didn't really care either way.  Animaly cages, the list is a mile
long.  All the while I was going to everyone in the company, and getting
nowhere b/c they weren't really listening.
 
I finally ended up in the store where I am now.  Corporate made a big
fuss because it is a brand new store, everything had to be perfect,,,
at least it has to LOOK that way.  The store has been open for about 6
months now and the situation is actually worse than ever.  There is an
infirmary with no less than 30 animals on any day.  I am the ONLY one who
gets them to the vet when they need to go.  I have seen animals go days
without vet attention(this was when I had no car)  And even when they do
get to the vet, they are sent back with meds that unless I bust balls
about them getting it, they most of the time don't.  the current staff is
deplorable.  Except for one person other than me, the rest either don't
have animal knowledge or don't care at all, and I really stress don't
care!  Everything is a big joke.  But even management has a blind ey
 
I have voiced out for these animals for years, to the point where my job
was threatened if I did not shut my mouth, But they cannot speak for
themselves.  Although I worry about the animals in my store, I have to
get out of that company.  I am also a vet tech in an animal E.R so that
is where I will focus my energy.  I have placed many calls to the animal
welfare agencies in my area regarding my store and Petco in general.  I
have worked in other petstores also, and I really can't say many good
things about them and animal care either.  Retail stores do NOT belong
selling animals.  They are simply a replaceable dollar sign in the eye
of the corporate heads.  I am sure there are Petcos and other stores out
there that are really clean and the staff is good and the animals taken
care of, But believe me, that is not the norm.  I really wish it were,
for the animals sake.  My heart breaks for the animals and fish in my
store( and others) stuck in those cramped, most of the time filthy cy of
very incompetent people.  Sometimes we get people in that want to learn
how to properly care for the store animals and they are supposed to go to
a series of training classes and be taught hands on in the store as well.
In the last year or maybe more, NOT ONE new hire in my store has recieved
any training, This from a company who stresses daily that "Animals come
first" yeah right!
 
I personally have had it with Petco, I really have tried to get corporate
attention to really change things for the animals, to no avail.  No more
Petco for me, unless some miracle happens!
 
KATHY
[Posted in FML issue 4394]