Other Turtle Discussion :: This is serious

[daredevilgirl013]

I went into Petland today and I was horrified. I knew they were getting turltes and last time they said the shipment was cancelled. I walk in today..there they are..in the worst conditions possible.

They labeled the sliders as yellow bellies..they only had one yellow belly. Each slider is at least 5 inches. They are in maybe a 40 gallon tank, and we have 7 turtles in this tank. One is dead. The one that is dead is crushed under a Fluval 2Plus filter that is laying down in the tank, that is the only filter. The water level is horrible. Not enough to cover the biggest one's shell. Their food, live goldfish. Their habitat, that dirty flithy water, pebbles as the bottom (and tons of it) which then slope up to form the basking platform..but there is no UVB light. Just your regular lightbulb.

I am writing a letter to the head of Petland and also to the Petland I visited. This is freakin sick and when I heard them speaking about the turtles they lost yesterday and how oh well they'll make money off the rest..this really jerked my chain. Also they do not sell everything you need for a healthy turtle, and these were already sick, I could tell from their shells that there was problems as they looked cave in (could it be the lack of UVB and REAL FOOD!!)

So needless to say I'm writing a letter and giving them this site to look at, as no animal should have to go through what they are going through. It literally made me wanna throw up.

[octpusgirl8]

Wow that's terrible, it makes me sick to see pet stores treat animals like that. You know that most of the people that buy them from a place like that have no idea how to take care of a turtle properly, and you know that the store's advice is going to be worthless. Those poor turtles probably have MBD and god knows what else. There are no Petlands in my area but if there were i would totally not shop there anymore. I'm glad you are writing a letter to the head of the company, hopefully the company does not condone that kind of neglect in its stores. Good luck and let us know if we need to start a letter writing campaign or petition or anything like that!

[daredevilgirl013]

I'm writing the letter as I type this (well paused really) and I'm going to offer them my services. I'll come in and set it up how it needs to be set up, but oh they're going to hate me. I put up the website link in the letter so that they can go here and see that oh crap we've really messed up, and I'm including pictures of my tank and turtle so that they can see that gee..we really are off a bit on what we need to do.

I told my parents there is no way I can go back into that store unless I have to because no one has the live food I need (only two stores have it..Petzone (who raises turtles really well and correctly) or Petland..whom..well..sucks.

[gameragirl]

Good for you for taking a stance and standing up for these poor turtles!! Hopefully the manager will be reasonable and cooperate. I wish you the best of luck. I guess you are a young person, and I have to say you are a credit to your generation. Good for you!

[daredevilgirl013]

If you would like to write here is the Corporate Office address

Petland, Inc. Corporate Office
250 Riverside Street
Chillicothe, OH 45601

Petland
1609 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd.
Marion, OH 43302

I'm sending both letters out tomorrow and in them I've offered to come in and set things up correctly. Hopefully this works.

And I'm not that young..I'm 22 well in about 8 days I'll be 22.

[adam85491]

I know this thread is about a week old, but I am seeing it for the first time. I know it sounds terrible, but it is just like the petstore fishtanks-they are overcrowded, it may be legal. My brother asked a petstore worker what type of filters they use and he said none really, just a sponge filter-type thing. He said it is classified as a temporary home for selling reasons so it is ok. He said that modern setups have a whole row of impressive filters underneath the wall of tanks. I don't know the truth behind this, but it could be that they simply don't have to provide the best care because they are only being housed temporarily and are going to be sold. Regardless, it doesn't make it right.

[DavidY]

I have seen pretty sophisticated filters on the fish tanks at Petco before and at some of the privately owned good pet stores. And then there are others...well when you see those bad stores you should just walk right out and not give them any business. I think some of them actually rely on "pity sales" where people come in and buy the animal in order to "rescue" it from the filthy conditions. The problem is that as long as that store stays in business, they will continue to get more animals and put them in those same filthy conditions for the next good samaritan who comes along.

[steve]

I'm not sure the major chains would go for "pity sales", especially since it could be a PR disaster. However, those who sell them illegally would stoop to that level..

[DavidY]

I was referring to the smaller privately owned pet stores as being the filthy ones. The big chains couldn't afford the negative PR, like you said. They keep their sick and dying animals in a back room out of sight.

[steve]

Ooops, I didn't read that throughly. Glad we're on the same page

[DavidY]

[pumpkinsherbet]

I have seen pretty sophisticated filters on the fish tanks at Petco before and at some of the privately owned good pet stores. And then there are others...well when you see those bad stores you should just walk right out and not give them any business. I think some of them actually rely on "pity sales" where people come in and buy the animal in order to "rescue" it from the filthy conditions. The problem is that as long as that store stays in business, they will continue to get more animals and put them in those same filthy conditions for the next good samaritan who comes along.

that's the answer, right there! if their attitude towards a turtle (who was killed through neglect as it would seem) being dead in the tank is ''oh well, we'll make up the profits with the others" then they probably won't care about the complaints made to them by a customer. i hate to say it, but chances are they're going to have a good laugh about it in the break room. contacting the corporate office was definitely a good step, and i sincerely hope they do something about it. i'd say your next step would be to contact PETA or the ASPCA and inform them of these conditions so proper action can be taken. preferably the ASPCA, as they've got a bit more clout, and the people will most likely take it seriously when they're hit with a collossal fine.

and to reiterate - don't shop there. period. a lot of people think they're being helpful by rescuing those turtles from the horrid conditions, but in reality all they're doing is giving the sellers the means to continue the cycle.

[mike&nikki]

i realize that it is a pet store and they should know how to take care of every animal that they house, but did you talk to the manager in charge so that those few living res would have a living chance because it is possible that they dont know how to take care of them. which is pretty scary ,think of the many pet stores that may be the same way.

[Blue Flamingo]

I'm sorry but I find no excuse for these people. A small child could tell that the setup is not right. C-mon these people are just lazy and don’t give a crap about there animals. There labeled yellow belly, same habitat, if they really cared they would look it up. In the age of free information I really find it hard to make excuses for stupidity and ignorance especially from adults. For example if you go out to eat the waitress better be able to count back change and what not, just as people that work at a pet store should be able to do there jobs. There is no excuse for dead/sick (of course there are exceptions) animals in a professional environment. It’s mostly all common sense when it comes to taking care of animals.

[DavidY]

Yup, I agree with you there, Blue!