nozzl_wmn asked this question on 4/17/2000:

I am a Firefighter in the LA area of California. I am an avid African Dwarf Frog Lover. There is an issue regarding this Pet Chain that I have never noticed before and it concerns me. While shopping in this store 2 weeks ago I noticed reptiles under hot lamps without water and the fish tanks had many dead fish floating in them. When I got to the aquatic frog tank there were many (9 to be exact) floating in this tank. I called an employee over and asked what was going on. He did not know. I took it upon myself to check the pH in the tank and it was way to high. I explained this to the manager and he told me that they had sold enough to make up for the cost of the frogs and that he did not care. I explained that if he received another shipment of frogs they would die within a day or two. He told me that he would not receive any more until the problem was solved. So I walked out of there with 5 frogs that were very ill. (2 died anyway) Guess what? I returned 2 days later and another shipment had arrived the day before. They were all floaters except 2. I bought them. Remembering that my friends daughter had worked there until a month or so before. I contacted her and what I found was some very alarming news. That manager was known to put live animals in the freezer if he thought they would not sell instead of receiving Veterinary attention. Sometimes for very simple problems. She told me that he would rather freeze the animals than sell them for a discount. I guess that they can receive a refund for the price they paid if they freeze them and send them back to the seller.Today I went to another local pet store and the young man who helped me stated that he worked for PetCo and that all of the things I listed are true.The list of bad things goes on. Can you guide me as to what to do or how to handle this? I worked for a veterinarian for 6 yrs out here and discovered that reporting this to Animal regulation would be useless. I did some checking on the internet and found that this is common with PetCo all over the U.S. If you want to view complaints go to (www.peta-online.org/petco/index.html) Thank You

Paul157 gave this response on 4/17/2000:

I would guess that this is a bigger problem in the bigger cities. I don't think pet owners in "small town USA" would allow it and force the store to change or put them out of business.

I would start by contacting the Humane Society. I would assume that they would help you from A to Z. I mean they SHOULD walk you throught the steps in this matter.

If that does not work get written statements from those people you know that have the facts and present them to the police department. (Include all names, address' and phone numbers of the peolpe filling out statements. Also make sure that they are willing to talk with the police.) You may be asked to fill out a complaint at the police department. The complaint is "cruelty to animals". I don't know a thing about frogs but I know that freezing live animals is criminal. I don't care if they have cancer.

If that does not help, see your local prosecutors office with the facts.

If that does not help see your local newspaper reporter.

If that does not work write your own editorial in the newspaper.

You gave the store owner/manager a chance to change store policy and he failed correct? As long as you gave them an opportunity to change and they did not, proceed!!!

Best wishes and have a great week.

The average rating for this answer is 3.

nozzl_wmn rated this answer a 3.