Bad pet shop

[Welsh dragon]

For the last 3 weeks I been going into a reptile shop and have been concerned over their set ups and especially one adult beardie who is in a small viv cant be any bigger than 18 x 18 and its got no uv lighting and no heat lamp only a ordinary candle bulb , yesterday it looked sick lying flat on the floor and not raising its head, I called the shop assistent over and told him that that beardie had no uv lighting or heat lamp and that it looked ill and I had been going in for last 3 weeks and it had been like that, He tried fobbing me off telling me they switched lights over through out the day , which is a pack of lies as I have been in there different times and different days and its been exactly the same. They also keep baby beardies on wood chips So I came home and rang the RSPCA These poor reptiles cant talk so someone has to do it for them. The RSPCA are going to let me know of the outcome.
I know I am new to keeping beardies but I know these in the shop are not being looked after properly. They tell customers that beardies need uv lighting and heat lamps yet dont follow their own advice and care properly for animals in their care and its wrong.

[jools]

I'm afraid you will find a lot of pet shops fall short when it comes to reptile husbandry - just search the forum for all the threads. Well done for trying to do something about it. I think there is a sticky in General Herp Chat (or somewhere) about the best course of action to take - unfortunately the RSPCA are generally not much help - they would like to ban the sale of herps completely and actually have no legal powers. Your local council environmental health is the place that issues the licence, call them if you get no response from the RSPCA.

[leptophis]

it is true some shops fall well short of the mark, as it also true some keepers do, i think you have done the right thing,

pete

[Welsh dragon]

If fact it was the council Environmental health I rang first and some stupid girl told me she didnt know of any rules regarding animal welfare and to ring RSPCA. I asked if there was someone else who I could speak to and she said "no" . But I think I will try again monday.

[rbailey182]

Try and keep with the council approach mate. The R.S.P.C.A will probably only slap there wrists a little bit and leave it at that.

But good on you for trying to sort it out.

Richard.

[looby loo]

good on ya!! if everyone reported these ignorant shop keepers who have`nt got a clue the the world would be a much better place for us and the animals we love

[Welsh dragon]

I was gobsmacked with the RSPCA because after they took all the details ,they asked me would I like to make a donation of a £1 or more, so i just said a £1,... I know its not much but they get left loads of money and a lot goes on boss`s and office admins.

[jools]

Originally Posted by Welsh dragon

If fact it was the council Environmental health I rang first and some stupid girl told me she didnt know of any rules regarding animal welfare and to ring RSPCA. I asked if there was someone else who I could speak to and she said "no" . But I think I will try again monday.

You need to ask to speak to the officer responsible for issuing Pet Shop Licences (PSL). They are then duty bound to make an inspection. Only problem is that not many of them know much about the conditions that reps need. They may well only check basic things like availability of water, cleanliness and the pets shops records.

[Welsh dragon]

Thank you jools I will certainly do that on monday. Do you think it would be ok to ring them even though I have reported the shop to RSPCA?.

[Welsh dragon]

I remember a few years ago Focus D.I.Y were selling reptiles and they closed the pet dept due to the RSPC paying them visits because of the reptiles not being housed properly.