Petco - Where the pets go??? A vent

[Sevaede]

I feel for ya Donna and everyone else with experiences like this.

I worked at a small, locally owned, pet shop for a while. People would come in and stick their fingers in the bird cages and wonder why they got bitten! They all seemed to love to stick their hands in the cages of the ones known to be a little, um, naughty. Rainbow Lory, for example.

They have these lock-type things on most of the cage tops. Sometimes people would come in and just pull mice (or other critter) out of the cage to pet and play with. Even when there were multiple signs to not touch animals or cages without assistance. It really aggravated me because these little babies can JUMP and RUN.

Hmm. This has to be a topper for the times that I worked at Pet Zone.

One time, I was working and I was literally locking the doors when these three little teenagers (1 girl, 2 boys) come in. They want to look at the mice and I point them to the cage. I was suspicious so I hung around on the other side of the area (yes, they could see me). I heard them talking about buying a mouse so they could set it loose inside of Burger King! I quickly told my asst manager and she told me not to sell anything to them but they decided not to, anyways.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I could never work in a pet store. I thought Petco and petsmart would be better than most, though. I guess not, because they're bigger.

I'd be horrible in a store like ThePetStore because everytime someone was interested in buying a puppy/kitten I'd be like "Did you know that pup probably came from a puppy mill? Yup, it'll have loads of health problems, too. You'd be better off with a mix from the pound. That's what I'd do."

Hey, maybe I should get a job there and use it as public awareness. For smarter dog owners.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Yesterday he made a mess of my doves cage and there where feathers all over, I got SO mad I broke into tears and my dad did NOT even give a flying fudge! my stupid little brother could have realy hurt my doves. Now I moved my doves on a higher spot where he can't reach them and my mom is going to put a lock on my room where all my pets are.

..

Wish I could do that as protection from my OLDER brother. But of course, Jen moves rooms, so it wouldn't work. But URG ! Does my brother abuse that dog... Locks her in her crate and jabs her face with sticks... Constantly screaming at her, stepping on her tail every chance he gets, PEEING IN HER WATER DISH

I bet you anything, ANYTHING that my (hem hem ) brother will be arrested for animal abuse someday. But I mustn't get my hopes up.

And he is supposed to set the example. I mean, a 4-year-old, sort of excusable... But a 15 YEAR OLD???

The most annoying part is, it's my dog, so if I report him to the OSPCA, I'll lose Jenny.

[Alysser]

I can just imagine what the little angel will be like when he gets older... People really need to stop thinking their children are perfect angels and pay attention.

Today, I was walking Sassy and waiting for my three friends to get off their elementry school bus and this 4th grader comes up to me and doesn't even ask to pet Sassy. She just does it! Sassy bites and can be very vicious if she feels crowded! Kids were getting off the bus and passing us in a crowd and Sassy was cowering in fear. I told the girl to stop and she ignored me. My 5th grade and 4th grade friends finally told her to stop and she left all fuming. Then, I notice these three triplets that live on my block. They were being so well behaved just standing there with their dad. It amazes me how someone can teach triplets not to go up to a strange dog yet someone cannot teach one kid to even listen..

[Daisy and Delilah]

Some parents are really hard to believe. And we wonder what's wrong with so many kids these days? If they live with these morons for parents, how else will they turn out?

Donna, you showed remarkable restraint in holding back from punching someone. I'm not so sure I could have held my cool so well.

I get this all the time at my job. Parents bring their kids to the library for entertainment. Entertainment, aka; expecting library staff to babysit for them. Witnessing the ignorance of some people never ceases to amaze me. The kids are out of control, while the parents completely ignore them and usually condone their bad behavior. Don't let us do or say anything to better the situation or a quick reprimand is sure to come. We usually end up calling the security guard to remove them from the building.

I'm glad you love your job and I hope you don't have any more experiences like that

[Laura's Babies]

My feeling is this.... If you want to let your kid act disrespectful to YOU, and you don't care how high he climbs, what he climbs on, or what he does that could result in injury or just act like a monster, while you are at home..... That is ONE THING! At home that is YOUR business!

But inflicting that on others in public is a whole new ball game, that MAKES it everybody's business! To disrespect animals and other people, if you can't keep your child in check... KEEP IT HOME and out of public!

That was one of mine and my friends biggest gripe, we'd go out to have a nice quiet, relaxing dinner to catch up and some kid would be running around screaming while the parents acted like nothing was happening...

[Giselle]

Wish I could do that as protection from my OLDER brother. But of course, Jen moves rooms, so it wouldn't work. But URG ! Does my brother abuse that dog... Locks her in her crate and jabs her face with sticks... Constantly screaming at her, stepping on her tail every chance he gets, PEEING IN HER WATER DISH

I bet you anything, ANYTHING that my (hem hem ) brother will be arrested for animal abuse someday. But I mustn't get my hopes up.

And he is supposed to set the example. I mean, a 4-year-old, sort of excusable... But a 15 YEAR OLD???

The most annoying part is, it's my dog, so if I report him to the OSPCA, I'll lose Jenny.

I hate brothers... Don't you?



Same.

Let me get this straight. Your fifteen-year-old brother:
1) locks Jenny up in the crate to jab at her with sticks
2) steps on her tail for amusement
3) urinates in her water dish
+ a plethora of emotional abuse

WOW.

If I knew your location, I would report you myself.

The SPCA's job is to prevent cruelty. If you acknowledge the fact that she would be taken away if they knew of the abuse that goes on in your house, you're acknowledging the fact that she is enduring intolerable ABUSE and that she does not need to live under your household. It's also worthy to note that animal abusers have a higher rate of domestic/human abuse.

Besides, my dear, you wouldn't report your brother to the OSPCA. You'd tell the authority figure - your parents. If the abuse doesn't immediately stop, then you'd better rehome Jenny before she undergoes more disgustingly horrid abuse.

If this is simply trolling, it's disturbing that you'd make up something this horrible. If this is your honest situation, you'd better stop the abuse.

[Vela]

What she said. Glad someone else found that as disturbing as I did. I didn't say anything because I was kind of lost for words, but you summed it up pretty well Giselle, thanks.

[Lady's Human]

Not to pile on.......but......


DO you think maybe the abuse you're writing about here might just maybe lead to the digestive problems the pup is having? Stress will do that. As would urine in water, etc.

Maybe rehoming the dog would be a good idea at this point.

[moosmom]

I mentioned the whole scenario to the manager Jeff, who is the one that hired me. He told me I handled it correctly and that if he were there, he would have escorted the whole damn family out of the store and told them not to come back.

The biggest thing in Petco is the animals. They come first PERIOD. There is a huge sign on the tanks that says "Loud noises scare us". Maybe we should put it in Spanish as well.

Buttercup,

The problem is the mother was standing right there doing absolutely NOTHING. She only became angry after I repeatedly told her kid to knock it off and took him down off the step stool. I just don't give a crap anymore to be honest with you. I was doing my job and am NOT going to feel the least bit guilty over these stupid people. It's not worth it.

BTW, are we calling a truce here?? Cuz I'd really like to if you would.

[Blue_Frog]

The biggest thing in Petco is the animals. They come first PERIOD. There is a huge sign on the tanks that says "Loud noises scare us". Maybe we should put it in Spanish as well.

Yes - what a great idea! That way theres no misunderstandings, or "oh, i didn't know" issues (especially if you're somewhere like florida or s.cali where theres a lot of spanish). At my old job we offered Spanish technical support for when people didn't speak the best english, and it was really helpful for the clients to understand what we were telling them.

[luvofallhorses]

What she said. Glad someone else found that as disturbing as I did. I didn't say anything because I was kind of lost for words, but you summed it up pretty well Giselle, thanks.

same here. something really bad could happen to Jenny if you don't do something about it now, Greyhoundgirl.