Disturbing CFB abuse

[melinda]

Chinese firebellies are probably the most popular sold newt in pet stores out here, even if they are usually mislabeled as Japanese FB's. They are inexpensive, easy to obtain through breeders, and unfortunately seen as disposable in the eyes of the pet shops I've gone to. In fact, I can't ever think of a single pet store that has ever taken care of these little guys correctly. I've even seen them sold in a local grocery store, they were covered in mold and emaciated from the turtle pellets that they weren't eating! I actually had to tell the manager of a local pet store just yesterday, that his newts were about to die from starvation, they looked like little black sketetons, not that the woman seemed to care. These are living things! There would be a public outcry if a store had a pen full of puppies that were starving, covered in fungus, and missing limbs. Is this only a local problem? Any suggestions on what I should do in the future? Am I over reacting?

 

[joan]

Sadly, it's not just a local problem. You should contact your local SPCA or similar agency. Contact the owner of the store, and complain as much as possible. Write letters, leave messeges, be present. But don't be rude, or yell or scream or insult. Give them educated facts about how their mistreatment of the animals affects populations, and members of the community, such as yourself.

You're not overreacting. But sadly, most people don't see newts along the lines of puppies. They're not cuddly and fuzzy and they don't appeal to everyone, so this seems to be excuse enough for their mistreatment.

There is one way you can force them to not get the animals. The simple laws of supply and demand state that if there is no demand, then there's no need for a supply. Don't buy these newts that are emaciated and kept in horrible conditions in pet shops (or even grocery stores!). Encourage others to purchase through breeders. It may be hard to see these animals suffering, and you may want to go into 'rescue' mode, but the little guys starving to death will do so in vain if you purchase them and the suppliers of the pet shop go and get more.

 

[abrahm]

This is really quite sad and I hope that you are trying to take things into your own hands by writing letters and letting the pet store know that they need to change.

If only we could change people's views so that they respected all animals instead of just the ones they are fond of. In an ethics class of mine people were constantly citing cats and dogs in their comments about animal abuse and seemed to think only cute, intelligent animals were worthy of protection. Mentioning the incredible intelligence of octupi didn't seem to make them interested in other animals at all...

 

[k]

There is a store called Parma Pets in Parma, Ohio where I purchased my mandarin. If I had more money, I would've purchased the whole stock of newts he had; they were all being kept on a shelf in small tupperware containers with only a wet paper towel under them. The animals weren't exactly in bad shape, but they certainly didn't have much of a life in there.

 

[mindy]

Well, I went back to that specifically mentioned pet store (I'm not sure if it's kosher to say the name) after a week to see if they had started to feed their chinese firebellies correctly yet. There were three newts left, one was so emaciated I could't believe that it was still alive. When I asked another worker how they were feeding them (I was trying to give him tips on how to feed such small newts), he got snobby and told me that "He had been working with animals for years, and he knows what he's talking about, and that they weren't starving, and told me that he didn't even think that they were skinny." I have an Animal Science degree specializing in pet shop management, I have bred and owned newts for 10 years, after some debate I realized there was no point in talking to him, he was just repeating misinformation over and over again, and he wasn't even considering any advice on how to get them to eat. I took a pic on my camera phone but you know how those things are, I can't make a thing out. I have voiced my opinion and they do not care, how does one fight apathy?

(Message edited by moxie on August 08, 2005)

 

[joan]

K Wane, A lot of people choose to keep their animals on paper towel substrate. This aids in cleanup and in observation of feeding and expulsion of fecal matter. Pet shops are not about providing quality of life to their animals, they're about selling them. Good pet shops will provide adequate long term enclosures though. That's how you tell the good from the bad.

Mindy, most shop owners are offended when people tell them how to take care of their animals, even if they're in the wrong. The only thing you can do is boycott their business.

 

[k]

the tupperware container i am talking about are about 4" X 6". Quality of life is one thing, but the newt not being able to turn around without walking over itself is completely different. As far as mentioning store names not being kosher, I think it would only do good to publish the names of shady pet shop dealers. Maybe if enough people hear how poorly they treat animals, they will go out of business.

 

[mindy]

I have to agree with K Wane, people will see the pet shops keeping the animals this way and think that it's ok. The more natural the environment, the less stressed and more healthy the animals will be. A sandwich container is never a permanent solution.
Also, I understand that even experienced animal caretakers are not always going to be familiar with how to feed stressed juvenile newts. I'm sure all sally owners have logged numerous hours wriggling food in front of a finicky newt, or hobbling crickets so that what seems like nature's most reluctant hunters can catch them. But there was no excuse for that guy to say an almost mummified newt was perfectly healthy. He was talking down to me because I look young, and he thought he didn't need any advice from a "kid".

 

[meghan]

I don't know if it's that "motherly" instinct but every time I'm in a pet shop that has sick newts or newts that are housed with frogs, etc, I want to buy up all of them just so they won't be in such deplorable conditions. I do have to agree though, if you were to buy them for the sake of saving them, those pet shop owners will just go buy more. I think they'd be more inclined NOT to replenish them once they see people won't buy emaciated, corpse like animals. That's money out of their pockets. It's tough...

 

[mindy]

Unfortunately I think the pet stores get firebellies for a couple of bucks each and sell them for about 6 bucks. Boycotting them for newts isn't much of a loss for them, and if I were to avoid every pet store that mistreated them I wouldn't have any places left to go for animals except for the Petco near here that just happens not to sell any in the first place. Alas, there must be something else I can do...

 

[james]

In China we see the same thing. C.O.'s are kept in very bad conditions and are often missing limbs, sick or underfed. They are the only newt/sal that is allowed to be sold here (possibly) and are as common as dust.

Maybe instead of trying to convince the owners that they are wrong, rather appeal to their sense of profit/loss. Explain that live newts are worth more than dead ones, and that you can show them how to keep them alive and well. It seems that just going into their store and telling them that they are wrong brings out all the wrong emotions. Maybe we should try a different tack.

Just a thought.

 

[k]

I think trying to talk to pet store owners is a waste of time. i'm sure they don't pay much for their stock, and they certainly aren't going to care if one or two people refuse to buy newts because of poor habitat conditions. it would be far more effective to just not patronize the store at all. i understand Mindy when she says there is no other place to find newts, but is it really worth it???

 

[clarence]

This is one of those things where I find myself sickened. It's sad to see feeder crickets receiving better care than the amphibia.