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Friday, September 09, 2011

A Letter To The Editor 9-9-11

My husband and I took our granddaughters in to the Super Pet Store in Salisbury last night after eating at a nearby restaurant. They always enjoy looking at the pets. The store had more pets in cages than they normally do.......rabbits, cats, dogs, etc. It was extremely warm in the store - the front doors were left open, as they were several months ago when I was in there last....so I assume the A/C was not working. There was a small fan blowing air, but it in no way cooled the area. The conditions the dogs were exposed to were terrible. The cages were nasty, with over-turned bowls and feces in with the dogs. The odor was absolutely unbearable. While I know it must be difficult to keep areas like that clean at all times, seeing these dogs was heartbreaking. Aside from the horrible conditions of their cages, a few of the dogs were unresponsive. My husband went to the cage of the dachshund and could not rouse him at all. He was lying there on his side with his eyes wide open, breathing, but not moving. It was almost like he was ill or sedated. There was a yellow lab that I spoke to who seemed to have trouble getting his hind legs up to stand. He was just dragging himself around. After a few minutes, we had to take our granddaughters out of the store because of the heat and smell. When we got home, my husband even changed his clothes because he felt like he could smell the odor in his clothes. I felt extremely sick when I left the store......part because of the odor and part because of the conditions of the dogs.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really don't know how that store stays open - it has been like that for some time - the smell is just horrendous.

Anonymous said...

For years it's been obvious the owner of that store does not have a love for animals, only a love for money. I've never understood why that store has not been shut down. It's a disgrace to area and the strip center it is in.

Anonymous said...

you spoke to the yellow lab?

Anonymous said...

Did you report this to anyone..perhaps the Humane Society?

Anonymous said...

Do you mean the one in Twilley Center? If so, I have found the store to always be neat and clean, with energetic animals, and attentive staff.

Anonymous said...

I was there Wednesday night and other than it being warm I saw nothing inadequate. A young lady
was at the counter and I saw 2 to 3young men cleaning the hour or so I was there. As for as the smell what would you expect in a pet store. I can only imagine the smell at the Civic Center during
the evacuation.

Cathy said...

the only way to close this store down is to stop going there. don't even go to "look" at the cute animals. don't patronize them at all.

@10:17 it must have been a while since you've been in there. for as long as i can remember, this store has been dirty, over priced (on both accessories & especially dogs), and not very customer service oriented.

Anonymous said...

I was in over the weekend and it was hot in there. The poor girl working by the dogs was sweating. She said the twilley center controlled their ac and they were trying to conserve energy. Typically, that store is very clean and the employees are great. I take my daughter to visit them animals frequently and she loves it. The dogs were jumping playfully and playing with their food bowls over the weekend... If the bowls were overturned it's probably because they were excited. The only complaint I would have ( only because of the last time I went there) that YES it was a little warm, but if the Twilley Center controls the AC, I'm not sure what else they can do besides put the fans there.

Anonymous said...

If this is true (and I'm not doubting it), then why don't you report your concerns to Animal Control instead of writing a letter to a blog, where nothing will be done.

Anonymous said...

Reporting it to Animal Control, county or city, will be ineffective as well. They legally can do nothing as no laws are being broken. If you want these conditions to change, you must first change the rules.

Anonymous said...

If this is true , there is no sense in exposing animals & employees to the extreme heat!!
I go to get my dog groomed there & am always pleased with how clean the groomer keeps her area.
The Pet store almost always has an odor where the pets are---guess they don't have the help to keep the urine smell out & papers exchanged as they should.

You people must be made aware these pets come straight from Puppy Mills & when you buy from them you are keeping them in business----I don't care what you are told otherwise!!!! No Responsible Owner would Ever sell their pups to people they do not know or have referances on !!!!

I must commend Pet Smart for stopping the sale of puppies a long time ago in their store here!! I respect them highly for doing that for the animals & take my business to them instead.

Look up Puppy Mills on your computers---if you've the heart to-it's a horriffic life for the breeder dog. I work in Rescue---believe me-----I know about these Pet Stores!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The positive comments about this pet shop must be coming from the owner's family and friends, or people who think animals don't deserve to be treated humanely. If you want a pet, adopt an homeless one, there are many of them out there or go to a reputable breeder where you can see the mother and father and the breeder is more interested in protecting the breed than making money. The pet store buys puppies from disgusting puppy mills and then sells them for outrageous prices. The owner has no compassion for the animals.

Anonymous said...

to 9:50....yes, I speak to my yellow lab all the time. He may not talk to me with words, but he surely communicates with me.

Anonymous said...

Yes.....I spoke to the yellow lab. I don't know many dog owners who DON'T speak to their dogs. We have two dachshunds that we talk to all the time. There are some dogs who listen better and are smarter than some people!

Anonymous said...

I speak to both of my dogs every day...several times. They acknowledge my words by their wagging tails and loyalty!

Anonymous said...

Not a family member or anything & rarely visit any pet stores--

However, I was in there just last week to pick up something. Everything was very clean, animals seemed very happy & playful. I have no complaints...

Anonymous said...

I bought my Mako(jack russell) from there and love him dearly. I bought him in the evening and all the puppies were sleeping and when i asked the girl she said it was because they are awake all throughout the day and when the store is slow they take advantage and nap. And as for the smell...Really?!? Do you go in a bakery and say wow it smells like a bakery, or go to a farm and say hmmm must be farm animals somewhere. I find it hard to believe that a business that's been around so long would choose to not take care of their pets. If it is the Twilley Center they should be blamed. Super Pet has always been nice to me and my Mako