I am truly disgusted by what I saw today at Petco in Clinton. While I’m never typically satisfied with how any of their locations treat the animals they sell, today was the first time I’ve left a store genuinely upset with what I saw.

Petco does not properly train their staff on good ferret care - and I’m not trying to be a know-it-all or nitpicky (because trust me, I can be), but this is just the fundamentals of caring for any animal. The ferrets I saw in their “cage” at the Clinton location had little to no bedding on the floor (they were literally sleeping ON the floor). There was blue dust around both ferrets eyes and noses, meaning they are inhaling whatever crap is in the bedding. Ferrets have extremely sensitive respiratory systems and being housed in environments such as this, makes them prone to many illnesses. Even just a blanket would be better! Even guinea pigs in their care get at least a little house or toys. These ferrets had barely any bedding and a food bowl (which was also full of bedding). 

Petco has contracts with Marshall Farms, which is where they get their ferrets from (which is comparable to a puppy mill, but that’s another whole argument). Therefore, the employees have to feed them Marshall Farms food. However, my worry is more about the lack of education regarding ferret’s nutrition. Petco houses their ferrets in the small animal section, so they get treated like small animals. What people don’t realize is that ferrets are much more like cats/dogs, they are NOT rodents. They are supposed to drink from bowls, not from water bottles that Petco gives them like rats or guinea pigs. Their teeth are the same as cats and drinking from a water bottle not only ruins their teeth, but also doesn’t allow them to get the proper amount of hydration they need. Imagine trying to get a cat to drink from a rodent water bottle…

While a lot of people probably don’t know much information about ferrets, or have been misinformed about what a ferret needs, wouldn’t think twice about walking by this. The average person would probably say “aw cute!” or “ferrets? don’t they stink?” Yet, if that same person walked by dogs or cats being sold and kept in these types of conditions, there would be an outcry from communities about animal abuse. 

I do not blame the Clinton Petco employees at all, it’s not their fault that they weren’t taught. But, I’m hoping that maybe they’ll see this and realize that what they are doing and how they are treating the ferrets in their care, isn’t humane. I really considered applying to the store while I was there today just to take better care of them - maybe I still will. 

Some may read this and just scroll or not even read, but if we could get one Petco to change their ways, maybe the rest will follow in pursuit.