Just discovered the most disgusting pet shop ever.

So I've been looking for a LFS within walking distance ever since I moved, since I don't want to have to drive 30 minutes every time I want fish. The good news is, I found one. The bad news is, I wouldn't buy fish there even if you paid me. It was so disgusting in there, I think I almost threw up.

They had one wall of tanks, with a lot of feeder fish and goldfish, and just a few tropicals. The glass was so grimy, it looked like if hadn't been cleaned in a month, and the floor was really dirty too. And the fish! There was at least one dead fish in every single tank. In one labeled "butterfly koi" there must've been at least 20 dead ones. They were all floating belly up, so many of them that you couldn't even see the surface of the water. There was only one live fish in that tank.

In the other tanks, the fish that were alive looked really sickly. Most were lying on the bottom, or gasping at the surface, or simply hovering in place and not swimming around. Many bore signs of ick, fin rot, and bloat. There were lots of deformed fish, for example a red-eye tetra who had the exact body shape as a molly, and really inflamed gills. Like, what the heck??

The rest if the shop wasn't better. In the reptile section, there was a tank that said it contained a "fat tailed gecko", but I'd just have to take their word for it, because the glass was so dirty you couldn't even see in. And they sold puppies and kittens! I thought we didn't do that anymore! There was a poor boxer puppy just sitting there, in a cage much too small for it. I left the store, because I couldn't look any longer.

When I got home I did a little Internet research, and found that the place had been charged with animal cruelty in the past. Apparently they got some kittens which got sick and they didn't bother taking them to the vet, and they all died. But no mention of the fish! There must've been fifty dead fish in that store, and I expect that happens on a weekly basis.

Well, I've found where I'm not going to buy fish from. I'm not even sure if I want to buy supplies there, since I'd be supporting the place. But seriously, aren't there laws and stuff that pet stores should be in at least relitavely good condition, and not be dirty and full of dead fish and sick animals?

<end of rant>

 

file a complaint and look at the law suit against them. I'm sure you can surface the lawsuit again for additional charges

 

Please please report them please!!!!

 

I don't think I can necessarily take legal action against them, seeing as I'm only a teenager. I might send an email to the SPCA though. Although if the article I read was correct, the SPCA has received numerous complaints about this place before.

I can't find anything online about reporting cruelty against fish. It seems people think fish's lives aren't worth anything. Since "they don't live very long".

 

Cruelty again the dogs and cats.

 

Even though I hate them with a passion I always find a local PETA chapter and send them a E-mail with details when I run into a place like that. Those wacko's live to make pet shops like that suffer... Government run agencies tend to take a LONG time if they respond at all.

 

Have you tried the local police department website? They may not pursue criminal charges, but they can (and usually will) plug in applicable govt agencies

 

You might consider calling your City or Town Hall, and ask to be directed to the By-Law enforcement office. Your being a teen has no bearing on your ability to file a complaint.
You might also obtain the e-mail addys of all Town/City council members, and paper them with e-mails., and if you can bear another trip, include photos of the worst they have on display.---rick
As you suggested, the SPCA would also be great to contact, as they likely have an existing file.

 

I would most certainly report them, as well as post the name of the shop and how disgusting they are all over the Internet. Even make a Facebook or other social media page. Just because you're a teen doesn't mean you can't at least spread the word to the right people!

 

Its good to know that some teens have a responsible attitude to life,
and you must try to do the right thing by these animals and fish some how

 

I would report them but I wouldn't place anything on Facebook have you told your Mother about the issue and what are her views on it.

 

I can contact the SPCA and the police but really I can't get anything done. I can't prove that the dogs and cats were from puppy/kitten mills, even though they are very likely to be, since no responsible breeder would knowingly send their animals to such conditions as that pet store. I'm also not sure what state the cages were in and what health the animals were in, because I left too quickly (having had enough of the place). As for the reptiles, I have no idea what state they were in because the cages were too dirty to see into, so I'd have to go back to the store to get proof of cruelty toward them.

There was plenty of obvious examples of cruelty toward the fish, but fish aren't protected by the law. I guess since we eat them, and fish for them. The best thing I can think of is contacting the owner of the store and urging them to step up the maintenance on the fish tanks, since every fish that dies becomes unsellable, and looses the store money.

I don't want to make a big fuss about it (making a Facebook page, etc) so the best I'll do is send a few emails. And see what happens. But seeing as I am a teenager, I don't want to get overly involved in this, or I could get in some trouble.

 

That is worse than horrible! What pet shop is that if you don't mind me asking?

 

I can contact the SPCA and the police but really I can't get anything done. I can't prove that the dogs and cats were from puppy/kitten mills, even though they are very likely to be, since no responsible breeder would knowingly send their animals to such conditions as that pet store. I'm also not sure what state the cages were in and what health the animals were in, because I left too quickly (having had enough of the place). As for the reptiles, I have no idea what state they were in because the cages were too dirty to see into, so I'd have to go back to the store to get proof of cruelty toward them.

There was plenty of obvious examples of cruelty toward the fish, but fish aren't protected by the law. I guess since we eat them, and fish for them. The best thing I can think of is contacting the owner of the store and urging them to step up the maintenance on the fish tanks, since every fish that dies becomes unsellable, and looses the store money.

I don't want to make a big fuss about it (making a Facebook page, etc) so the best I'll do is send a few emails. And see what happens. But seeing as I am a teenager, I don't want to get overly involved in this, or I could get in some trouble.

You will never change the world with that attitude.

Go and sit out the front with signs. Tell passers by what a disgrace the place is. Do not be violent. Simply state your case. If you're outside of the store, what's the worst that can happen? Your parents embarrassed? You're a teenager, that's your job. You can be charged with being a public nuisance or be physically removed. Again, do not resist, but don't move either. If some one other than a police officer touches you (while arresting you), it's assault! As a minor, you'll get a slap on the wrist. It'd be worth the publicity. Some of the people you hang around with will probably think you're the coolest person in the world.

In my day, teenagers had attitude and rebellion oozing out of them.

Caveat: You have to live with the consequences of your actions so it's up to you.

 

That is worse than horrible! What pet shop is that if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not sure I'm allowed to say here...but it's a small, low-quality chain in southwestern Ontario.

 

Oh nevermind then. Thanks.

 

Do you have a Better Buisness Bureau?

 

Just because you're a teenager doesn't mean you can't report them. Just describe what you saw. They were obviously being neglectful to at least some of the animals. You could call the local SPCA, or animal control, which also takes reports of animal abuse and neglect. If you're not sure where to call, try calling your local animal shelter. They can certainly advise you. And the more complaints against a person or place that's neglecting an animal, the more likely the authorities are to do something about it.

 

I have a feeling I know of this chain. If you're uncomfortable handling the reporting yourself, you can always hand your tips to anyone else who can take actions further.

At some point the place has to deal with health and safety inspectors, I'd think. If SPCA or similar gets in on it, you may not have to go back for much proof-hunting at all. There's quite the possibility they'll go sniffing themselves. Especially if there's multiple complaints piling up all pointing the finger at the same location.