okiron wrote:
gentle giants wrote:
I just want to add a note of caution to this. Yes, the videos were very disturbing, and I don't doubt that that sort of thing happens, probably a lot more than we think.
BUT. PETA is notorious for exagerating and even plain out lying about any breeder, petstore, etc that they happen to take an interest in. Just because you see the video-doesn't always make it true. Also, one other thing to keep in mind, and I think it really says it all. If PETA acheived all it's goals, no one would be allowed to own any pets whatsoever! This means all your bunnies, your rats, cats, dogs, birds, etc, PETA wants them all to be "free". This is the group that breaks into labs and sets free the lab rats and rabbits "into the wild."
That being said, I will get off my :soapbox.
I trust nothing PETA says, nothing. After researching them a few years ago I want nothing to do with them. I didlots of research too. I will not watch the video because I don't want to cry but having worked for a PetSmart as a manager I think the company overall cares for the animals in its care. Bad things happen and if there is a problem with this Banfield vet then he/she should be taken to court by the rabbit's owner. I am sure bad things happen at every vet just as humans die while under doctor's care. That said, I will repeat that the rabbit's owner should sue the vet.
I recently had a issue with my new ferret, she was given the wrong distemper shot. Ferrets can have a VERY bad reaction to distemper shots and my girl could have died. The vet I was given did not know ferrets - he was a large animal vet. I was clear about the shot she needed and clear that I wanted to see the exotic animal vet. He just made a mistake, he should have never even entered my exam room since he knew nothing about ferrets. Now, am I going to make a video of my girl being sick for 3 days afterwards with vomiting from the allergic reaction - no. I took the issue up with the Animal Hospital I visited, wrote a clear letter and I am happy with the response. There is no reason to show a video of a bad vet to the world - sue him and get his licence taken away. Do not blame the Banfield chain, the vet was not following their policy, he was breaking everyone's rules. (The Animal hospital I took my ferret to was not Banfield).
As to answer PETA's PetSmart page - the Pet Care Manager was not following the company's policy for caring for the sick animals. All sick animals at PetSmart are required to see the vet. When I was Pet Care Manager at my store every animal that was ill was taken to the in store Banfield - and the vet was amazing. (She even reconstructed a Guinea Pig's broken leg for me). On more than one occasion I ended up driving to an emergency vet at midnight to take a sick hamster from the store in and then nursing it at home overnight. My store manager NEVER questioned any animal I took to the vet, I felt that the animals at my store received the same care that I would give my own personal pets. I even took two cockatiels to an Avian vet because we found a dead bird in the cage when the store opened. Those birds were given every test possible and a necropsy was preformed on the dead one. The bill totaled over $4000. It also looked like the "undercover" PETA person was hired as a Pet Care Associate and if he/she had done her job to PetSmart policy the animals would not have been in such horrible conditions.
Anyway, what I am saying is please if you are at PetSmart or any store tell the Store Manager about sick animals - if employees are not following company policy then they need to be fired. The world is not perfect and bad things happen and people are lazy and don't care - report them, do not take out wrath on a chain of stores that I feel is doing a good job with animal care. I shop at PetSmart and I will buy animals from PetSmart.
I'll get off my soap box now and prepare for the flame war.
