Ch. 5 KPIX investigative report, are pets abused at Petco

[Guest guest]

" Kelle Kacmarcik "

San Francisco, Ch. 5 KPIX showed an investigative report last night on the

11:00pm news and will have a follow-up tonight. No mention of PETA's long-term

campaign (http://www.petcosucks.com/).

 

 

 

Are pets abused at Petco:

 

http://beta.kpix.com/news/local/2002/09/23/5_Investigates%3A_Are_Pets_Abused_at_\

Petco%3F.html

 

 

 

5 Investigates: Are Pets Abused at Petco?

 

Hank Plante

 

Petco is the largest pet store chain in the country -- with 590 stores

nationwide.

 

 

 

But being big doesn't necessarily mean better care for the animals. Our 5

Investigates unit looked into the treatment of animals at Petco.

 

 

 

We talked to people who said they bought a sick guinea pig from Petco in the El

Paso de Saratoga Shopping Center in San Jose, and found four sick lovebirds from

the Redwood City store. One was Romeo. He died from beak and feather, a slow,

debilitating disease that vets liken to AIDS.

 

 

 

" I buried Romeo in my backyard, " said Anita Simoni. " I cried my heart out when

he died. "

 

 

 

" It takes only a few moments to bond with a pet, " said veterinarian Pat Latas.

" People who lose these animals -- whose animals die because they're ill -- are

devastated. "

 

 

 

Latas specialized in birds and reptiles. She says she's been aware of problems

at Petco stores in the South Bay since the mid-1990s.

 

 

 

" I became interested in the problems that were arising at Petco because private

clients brought me animals purchased from those stores who were desperately

ill, " Latas said.

 

 

 

We wanted to find out how big a problem sick animals are at Petco stores. So a 5

Investigates producer and photographer went shopping armed with hidden cameras.

We visited three South Bay Petco stores and one on the Peninsula at least three

times over a period of several weeks.

 

 

 

We bought a lovebird at the Petco on Meridian Avenue in San Jose. When we asked

if we'd chosen the correct food, the clerk approved. But that was the wrong

advice, according to veterinarian Munir Kureshi, and might have contributed to

the animal's obesity.

 

 

 

" The seed ... is about the same as what we consider a hamburger and pizza and a

milkshake, " Kureshi said. " It is not a balanced diet. "

 

What's more, the vet said, the bird Petco sold us had a minor infection and was

mutilated.

 

 

 

" On his right food, he has two toenails missing, " he said.

 

Kureshi says that means the animal will live the rest of his life with

sensitive, painful toes.

 

 

 

But the bird was not the only unhealthy animal we saw at Petco stores. In fact,

time after time, on visit after visit, we found animals that were sick or living

in conditions that can make them sick.

 

 

 

One Anole lizard was so thin that a vet who happened to see him in the store

told us that he'd likely die within a day. There were fish on sale, but buyer

beware. Nearly every tank we saw had dead fish, sometimes bare skeletons. Fish

from tanks with dead fish may be contaminated. Baby guinea pigs are normally

very active, but we saw one that wasn't moving.

 

 

 

We went back the next morning to buy the guinea pig and take it to a vet.

 

 

 

We were too late. He had died the night before.

 

 

 

Our hidden cameras also captured living conditions that cause disease -- like

cages filled with feces, birdseed left on cage bottoms so long the seeds had

sprouted, and frogs crowded in soiled water.

 

 

 

" Their skin is very permeable, " said Latas. " Bacteria can easily go from the

bath water with feces into their system. "

 

 

 

We saw turtles eating from bowls filled with feces, filthy drinking water, and

animals with no water at all. We showed our tape to Latas.

 

 

 

" I think the animals have inadequate care, " she said. " I think it could be

easily remedied. "

 

 

 

We also showed our tape to a team from Petco. Sally Stork is Vice President of

Operations on the West Coast.

 

 

 

" Certainly I'm surprised by some of the problems we've reviewed on these tapes, "

Stork said. " I plan to take action immediately. "

 

 

Still, Stork insists that the kinds of problems we saw repeatedly are

exceptions.

 

 

" These shots are not typical of Petco, " she said. " These are not things I see on

my store visitations... We are a successful company, and our customers truly do

love us. "

 

 

 

Maybe some customers do, but not Tiffany King, who bought Max the guinea pig.

 

 

 

" He should have been healthy, " she said. " He should have been sold as a healthy

animal. "

 

 

Anita Simoni feels the same way, after she was unable to save Romeo from beak

and feather disease.

 

 

 

" He was very sweet, " she said. " He didn't deserve what he got. "

 

King said, " I'm just really angry. I don't think they should sell the sick

animals. I don't think they should be treated the way they are there. "

 

Petco has no full-time vet on staff at any of its stores. They use consulting

vets in different regions, and they did pick up some of the vet bills for the

sick animals. The bird we bought has been adopted, and is doing fine.

 

 

 

» 09-23-2002

 

 

 

 

 

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