It's a classic, and Princess Cuteyface is so good you can't even tell she's acting.

Posted by: Mike Quinoa | May 30, 2008 03:06 PM

It would be a lot better if people started by boycotting all Petlands, because they not only get their small animals from mills and don't get them treated, they also sell puppy mill puppies (which Petsmart does NOT do. Petsmart works with local rescues)

But I do understand your point!

Posted by: kelly | May 30, 2008 03:53 PM

Cute video. Princess Cuteyface is adorable! Oh no! I all ready cut mine up into slivers!I agree with Kelly though Petland is one of the worst. They keep puppies in fish tanks! Birds are also treated dismally.

Posted by: Annalena | May 30, 2008 06:16 PM

Your kitty says, " who is he talking, to?!".

Posted by: Knena | May 30, 2008 08:14 PM

I was watching Oprah yesterday and they were doing the show based on Puppy Mills with Lisa Ling. I knew what Puppy Mills were and all but I had no idea they were anything like they were. I have recently adopted a puppy not because it was cute and all but he had a low chance of survival he had parvo and he was only 8wks. old when we got him and we took him to the vet to get his treatment but the vet said just go ahead and put him down to sleep he only had a 8% chance of survival but that one day that he spent with us told me that he was part of my family and he only had to be in the hospital for one day with electro lites and he could go home it was like a miracle had came upon us. Sorry I am telling to much about myself but I want to do something about the way animals are being treated in the mills and sheleters go to this link and you could watch the full episode on Oprah and trust me it will open your eyes to a whole new lite and make you want to do something immdeiatle. www.oprah.com please help the animals

Posted by: Kasey Fleming | May 30, 2008 08:54 PM

Um, you guys are nuts....

Posted by: David Andrews | May 30, 2008 11:03 PM

Loved it, Jack and PC! Nice!!
Princess Cuteyface, you are one laid back pussycat! Take that Petsmart!

Posted by: lynda downie | May 31, 2008 12:09 AM

It would be better to boycott all pet stores that sell live animals. Pet keeping supplies can usually be found in general purpose supermarkets. :)

Posted by: Rachel A | May 31, 2008 02:15 AM

hahahah that was epic!

Posted by: Dusty | May 31, 2008 09:12 AM

It has also been very disappointing to see some Petsmarts selling AKC branded merchandise like dog toys.

Since the AKC makes its money by registering puppy mill puppies and supporting and encouraging dog abuse, this AKC trash doesn't belong in Petsmart.

Posted by: kelly | May 31, 2008 12:21 PM

Petsmart SUCKS for animals! Boycott Petsmart

Posted by: John Carmody | May 31, 2008 01:09 PM

David Andrews:

"Um, you guys are nuts...."

It's tough to draw the line between being "fun" and entertaining, and being intellectual.

We can be both, but for instance, if we didn't do "fun" things like this, we wouldn't keep people interested (and get media attention to the issues, in other situations).

Yet, when people only see this side of it, it looks silly.

But it's generally a good balance. I think.

There should have been a but of discussion in the blog entry about the treatment of animals in the breeding centers, though.

Posted by: Mark Devries | May 31, 2008 06:42 PM

I threw that thing away a long time ago... When I asked at the store they didn't know how the program was going to work...heh.

*However* I could go sign up again...just to tear it up for Jack and Princess Cuteyface...

She's adorable, but keep her away from my birds...
;)

Posted by: Tamara | May 31, 2008 07:51 PM

....Huh. I'd always thought you had a British accent for some reason.

Weird.

Posted by: Jen | June 1, 2008 12:52 PM

Haahahaha. That was priceless. Your cat looked at you as you cut and was like, "what the?" Super cute.

Posted by: Tonia | June 1, 2008 07:33 PM

Rachel A--there are TONS of places online to buy pet supplies also.

With the price of gas now, it is actually just as cost effective to shop online. I don't think shipping fees are unreasonable at all. And once you get that stuff delivered to your door, you'll be hooked, believe me!

I have also found that the online places have more of a selection of creative, cuter toys for birds. I'm sure it's the same for dogs and cats.

And Jack, I take that back about Princess Cuteyface.

She's still adorable, but does that poor cat ever move? Are all cats like that pretty much? I could have a cat if all they do is lay about and look cute and furry. No worry about the birds... (you can tell I'm not a cat person...)

Posted by: Tamara | June 1, 2008 09:59 PM

Not all Petsmarts abuse animals. And you can still use your Petperks even if you cut up the card and keyring card. You just have to give them your telephone number, so you don't even need the card.

Posted by: Lisa | June 7, 2008 01:19 PM

well i say boycott petsmart the evil masterminds its so cruel if u disagree ur NUTS!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: holly | June 11, 2008 02:30 PM

boycott petsmart the horrible saddos

Posted by: beth | June 15, 2008 11:37 AM

I worked at a Petsmart for a year and know FULL well what goes on. At Petsmart, there was never a single expense spared when it came to getting sick animals to the vet. We took ALL of our reptiles, birds (from the smallest finch to the biggest exotic), guinea pigs, hamsters, EVERYTHING!! to the vet if it had even the slightest injury or sickness. We check on those animals in the 'back rooms, hidden from peoples sights' every hour on the hour! So to say the problem is with the company, I say bull! This is always the problem with PETA, whom I love and adore mind you but am still conscious enough to see the flaws; you always have to attack at everything all at once. How about going at the puppy mills? How about focusing on ridding the world of animal testing? Or even better, how about you go at the breeders like RWE? Your Petsmart cruelty cases have to do with the suppliers (for Petsmart AND Petco so how come its not called Petco cruelty too?) Petsmart has saved billions of homeless cats and dogs every single YEAR and the best you can come up with is attacking us. Do you PETA people even realize the mentality of the country in which you live? If you make drugs illegal, people find illegal, undercover ways to sell them? If pet stores stopped selling guinea pigs and hamsters, there's just going to be some sly way to get them out there still, either through the internet or some other insane thing. OVER A HAMSTER! How about before you go bashing the company as a general, you try getting the problem breeders solved. Don't try to take on the world, take on your street first and when you've accomplished that, move on the the next street. But going after each and every big and little thing all at once is never going to work. I love PETA for its work against animal testing, animal abuse and cleaning up the meat industry but seriously! I can't stand by as you nitpick at the small issues. That's my rant,I'm done.

Posted by: Tiffany | June 20, 2008 11:35 AM

Truth is I volunteer in no-kill shelter and Petsmart does help, they just need to stop buying animals from abusive breeders . It would be great if they would buy from shelters and save those already born and homeless rather than any breeder.

Posted by: LD | June 20, 2008 12:28 PM

I was in a petsmart about a month ago to get food or something for my cousins gerbal and when he was looking i went over to the animal section and noticed that one of the cages water got knocked over and the mice couldn't get to it so I went and told one of the employees to go fix it, it didn't happen. SO before i left i went over to the front of the line that had the most people and said, "Get yor ass over there and fix the damn water so the mice can actually drink something, it's been knocked over for like an hour now!" and the lady's like well i'll get someone on that right away. then i'm like "no, see YOU'RE going to do it and make these peole wait because those animals are being sold for our amusement and right now, they're more important than your line, and your job.

she fix it!
and people told me that was the right thing to do and i was being pretty brave, because i'm only 13

ps sorry it's kinda long but it made me feel happy to know that i helped the little mice :)

Posted by: Brittany | June 21, 2008 09:37 PM

Huh.

All the PetSmarts near me adopt out cats from the local Human Societies for the normal adoption fee.

So.

If you get your way on this one, you give these guys even LESS of a chance to get adopted.

Way to go.

Posted by: Tabitha | June 23, 2008 04:15 PM

No one's trying to get PetSmart shut down, Tabitha, we're just trying to get them to 1) take care of the animals they are selling, and even better 2) stop selling live animals. Think of how many PetSmarts there are in the country, and how many animals each carries (look at the number of fish alone!). Now, watch the video at Peta to see the size of the operation that supplies the animals to PetSmart, and look at the way the animals there are treated. No place that big, even if they wanted to, could adequately care for that many animals, and this place, Rainbow Exotics, doesn't even try.

PetSmart does a lot of good, but that DOESN'T excuse the bad that they do, and as their customers, we have the right to demand they change or let them know we're taking our business elsewhere.

Posted by: Terri | June 28, 2008 03:17 PM

I never got why instead of boycotting petsmart until they stopped selling animals, people don't just get them to change the conditions and buying habits of the company instead. Get them to regulate sales and to redesign enclosures and care efforts. never the less their stores suck, not as badly as some but with all of the animals that wind up getting sick or dying it's a redicules amount of profit loss for the amount of crulety in exchange.

Posted by: Comatose | July 11, 2008 02:46 AM

I don't understand something. Why are you guys attacking everything at once? It does no good when you attack Petsmart, Petco, and Petland all at the same time. Now, I love what PETA does and appreciate everything you guys represent, but start a little smaller then branch out. It makes no sense to take on the world, when we can't even take care of what is going on in our own cities and towns. And, by the way, Oprah is not God. Just because Oprah says that every pet store buys from puppy mills, and treats their animals horribly is not true. If you think so, then start with your local pet store and get the facts there. Don't blast them all because one store has a bad reputation, and because Oprah wants her daily ratings. Saving the world can't be done with a bob of the head and a wink, it takes time. So take the time to do some research and get the real facts, not the assumptions. I work at a pet store, and yes, we have animals. We take even the smallest little hamster to the vet for wet tail. We administer clavomax, doxy, panacur, and other medications on a daily basis. Our owner is even a licensed vet, and yes, we are a franchise of a larger store. Our animals are purchased from local breeders who are routinely checked for issues. Our animals are not shipped from states far away, everything is done locally. And of course, every now and then, something passes on, and when that happens, they are even sent to the vet to figure out why. We try our hardest to bring some positive light into the pet store name, and we have done a great job. Our customers are very loyal and even the local humane society pays a visit twice a week. Now, I am in no way asking PETA to completely give up their campaign, but get all the facts and stop believing everything you see on TV. Patience is the way to deal with an issue like this. Instead of bombarding these places with threats, how about informing and teaching the proper care of animals? Instead of being mean to an employee of a Petsmart or Petland, how about voicing your concern in a civil manner? Instead of assumptions, how about facts? Teach those who need to be taught. Listen to those who tell you about your local puppy mill, and act on that. Just because your PETA, doesn't mean you have to attack the big name stores. Just two days ago, a puppy mill was found with over 700 dogs and cats, including an assortment of small animals and birds as well. Their owner had been indicted on several charges or cruelty, and PETA was nowhere to be found. Instead of going after the "big dogs", concentrate on the little guys too! After all, isn't that where most places get their supposed "puppy mill" animals from anyway. If we get rid of them, wouldn't pet stores have a better reputation? All I am saying is start small and locally, then branch out. And use actual facts, not assumptions. You know what they say about the word "assume"? It makes and "a**" out of "u" and "me". Think about it.

Posted by: Jess | July 14, 2008 02:02 AM

Way to go, Jess.

Posted by: Tiffany | July 22, 2008 05:44 PM

Tiffany, you have a good point. Not all pet stores/petsmarts are bad and usually it's the breeders and dealers they buy from. They need to stop buying from them =/ and sometimes the employees are completely uninformed. They give out bull information that kind of ticks me off. But sometimes the employees are great, the animals are healthy and everyone is happy. And the cages they are kept in are small but they aren't meant to be permanent! The people who really tick me off are the ones who buy fish then put them in a teeny tiny bowl without knowing how big they'll get or what they need to live! Learn about an animal before you buy it.

Posted by: Kelsey | August 3, 2008 06:49 PM

I just wanted to say, I have worked at Petsmart for almost a year now, and I think we do a pretty good job taking care of our pets. I wish we had larger enclosures, and more staff to devote more time to them all. But for how many of us there are in Pet Care, we do a good job- we do checklists (food, water, mess, toys, active, etc.) every two hours, which is more than I think most people check on their pets at home. We waste SO much food :), giving everyone full fresh bowls twice a day. We add vitamins to their water, unhealthy or healthy. We take every animal acting less than its best to the vet, which is inside our store. We have multiple medicines on hand for upkeep after veterinary examination- in Pet care alone- and should we need another, we can get it from our in-store vet. Which, by the way, does not see Reptiles; and, being as such, we have a separate reptile doctor who checks on our pets weekly, or more often should we call him on any sort of emergency.

And we try, very hard, to educate our customers BEFORE they purchase a pet. When selling fish, I always ask about their tank size at home, their cleaning rituals, what types of fish, etc. to assess how the new fish will get along. We are allowed to deny sales if we feel the pet is in danger, and we do, ALL the time. And get verbally harrassed to the point of tears, but it is worth it, for the (often-unintentional) mistreatment we spared.
Just today even, I denied a family a turtle, as they were not willing to buy him a big enough cage or any reptile lights or filter. I spent half an hour with them, telling them all the requirements the turtle would need, immediately and through the span of his life.

ANYWAY. I felt a little upset, seeing my store get bashed. I don't think we do anything wrong.
I know little about our vendors. But I do know we just got a new fish vendor, from Florida, and our fish have been looking much more vibrant and healthy. Maybe soon we'll get a new small & furry vendor too, and steer clear of the Rainbow Exotics drama.

Posted by: Teneisha | September 15, 2008 03:02 AM

PETA, why can't you get Rainbow Exotics shut down? Surely, there are "animal police" in Hamilton, TX

Posted by: pplkao | September 24, 2008 02:54 AM

I have skimmed this page and I am hard-pressed to find comments defending all of the excellent petsmart employees. as one of these such employees I am apauled that such things went on, relived that they were remedied quickly, and insulted by this sites blanket statements based off of one bad encounter. The ill informed generalization i have read here about petsmart employees serves only to discredit your organization.

Posted by: anonymous | October 1, 2008 09:49 AM