The new marketing campaign for "desktop pets" and its cardboard standee at Petco has many problems. This petition aims to show the company that the issues outweigh the benefits, and propose a potential solution.

The cardboard shipper has stores keep Pac-Man frogs and/or jumping spiders and tarantulas on a little shelf, rather than in a climate controlled environment with a key. Employees will be required by the corporation to put the animals on the shelf and are not permitted to house them elsewhere in the store. There are multiple issues with this policy:

1. lack of climate control will be stressful for the animals, especially in areas with variable temperature and humidity 
2. any use of cleaning products in the store near the display may negatively impact the sensitive respiratory systems of the animals 
3. risk of the animals falling off of the shelves if bumped, and being injured or escaping into the store (tarantulas especially are at risk of death if they fall)
4. risk of pets or humans (ie children) accessing the animals and causing illness or injury to themselves or the animals, or causing animals to escape into the store
5. live animals in small containers are more likely to be stolen, especially when easily accessible

In addition to issues with keeping the animals on the display shelf, advertising frogs and tarantulas as good "desk" pets isn't accurate for most desk sizes. Most desk work involves a computer, which will put out a significant amount of heat; confined to the area of an average desk, the enclosure will become too hot for the frog or tarantula and they will become stressed without access to a cooler area. Also the tank size requirements for adult frogs are larger than what will fit on a typical desk if you also need to do work at the same desk.

While jumping spiders are curious and don't mind seeing humans regularly, tarantulas and pac man frogs prefer to remain hidden and are likely to stress if their habit is on an exposed surface like a desk that sees frequent use.

One possible solution would be to allow stores to house the animals in the appropriate climate controlled areas, and use the shelves on the cardboard shipper to display example habitats, or market "ready-to-go" habitats with decor already set up. 
Alternatively, stores could display a photograph of each animal with a little blurb about its personality or habits, and house the actual animal safely in appropriate housing. Both of these solutions allow the stores to make use of the product displays they already have without creating additional waste, and are safer for the animals and guests.