I worked at PetSmart as a "Pet Care Team Member" in 2022-2023. Most people who have stepped foot inside a PetSmart for essential pet supplies have observed that the animals being sold there are often in bad health and live in horrible conditions. Many end up believing it's because the workers don't care. But most employees who are in charge of the animals' health and set-up have no control and little to no training over what to do about it. It is Corporate who enforces every aspect of this- from not giving their workers nearly enough training, to forcing them to set-up enclosures in a manner that is harmful to the animals, and if employees do not follow this, they could lose their job & livelihood.

Animals shipped to PetSmart to be sold often come with infectious diseases, like ringworm, that under-qualified "Pet Care" staff are in charge of identifying & treating. Then they're put into horrible enclosures- solitary reptiles are stacked on top of one another in teeny terrariums with bacteria-festering "carpet". Tens of Budgerigar Parakeets are shoved into little cages with no opportunity to be socialized with or room to stretch their wings. Forget about their parrots receiving proper nutrition. Guinea pigs live in their own filth with soiled bedding & poop built up over weeks. Betta fish live in CUPS that are never washed with inadequate water conditions that force Betta to slowly die from the moment they're stocked  unless they're lucky enough to be bought.

Customers shop at PetSmart for necessary pet supplies that can be hard to find at other places or in short notice. They should not be forced to financially support the animal abuse Corporate forces all of it's PetSmart stores to inflict onto the animals they sell. Buying these dying animals out of empathy only gives PetSmart's Corporate, who know nothing about the care needed for the animals they sell, the money to put another poor animal in it's place.

The time for change was years ago- the second best time for change is NOW! 

PetSmart needs:

• required comprehensive training for "Pet Care" employees about the multitude of species they sell, including: information on identifying common zoological diseases & up-to-date information on how to take care of these animals at home for "Pet Parents" and adequate in-store care
• at least one "Pet Care" employee who's responsibilities are designated strictly to caring for the animals, to allow them the time in their work day to properly assess & care for all the animals being sold in the store without being interrupted by customer service or register tasks
• up-to-date proper nutrition for all animals
• up-to-date improved enclosures for birds, small mammals, reptiles, & betta, such as: bigger enclosures, proper bedding, proper heating & humidity elements, proper perches, adequate enrichment, stopping the enforcement of millet being inside bird cages 24/7 to improve health & future training by a "Pet Parent"
• require live plants for PetSmart aquariums: saves employee's time cleaning plastic decor, improves water quality, is better for fish, models proper aquarium care for "Pet Parents", and would advertise PetSmart's Live Aquatic Plants & fertilizers
• updated, comprehensive care packets with accurate information on all birds, small mammals, reptiles, & betta that are required to be given to "Pet Parents" who buy animals in order to avoid animals being mistakenly taken into inadequate at-home care
• tanks for Bettas that have adequate water quality, heating, lighting, enrichment, & food
• allow Pet Care employees additional time to socialize animals to prevent animal depression, aggression, & returns from "Pet Parents"

If we can force PetSmart's corporate to improve their standards of animal care, we can save thousands of animals across the country both in-stores and at home from abuse, neglect, sickness, & death. No more dying, sickly, depressed animals wasting away in enclosures. Reduce the amount of customers who welcome a new member of the family into their home only to have their pet die, get sick, or need to be returned only days later. Save the animals.