WHAT A DAY I HAD

[BettaMomma]

Awesome ending to this story.
I am SO glad that the real manager handled the situation the way he did.
I've called and spoken with managers of several stores where there were bettas kept in horrible conditions and it always impresses my socks off when the managers will speak to me level-headed, listen to my side of the story and then actually DO something about it. I can pretty much guarantee you that if I had found that many bettas dead, there would have been a pretty big scene if I were in your shoes. I don't know that I'd have started medicating and feeding them because I'd have been too irrationally obnoxious, but I'd most definitely be causing a scene. I usually keep my composure when there's something that was obviously an oversight or something that was just "one of those things that happens"... like a fish suddenly dying - or something along those lines - something that could have just recently happened and to only ONE fish and not very often... But THAT many dead ones?!?!?? I'd have gone absolutely mad.

Good for you for doing what you thought was the right thing.
I can almost guarantee you that every employee at that store is talking about the little incident and the manager is going to not let them forget about it for a LONG time. You definitely made an impact and that store will most likely be in better shape fishwise for a long time. And they all have you to thank for it.

By the way, what city was this store in?

AND By the way also... my boyfriend is a police officer here in town, also. He would have reacted the exact same way that the officer who came to meet you did.

 

[Haiku]

Thats why you can never trust Petco... Try Petsmart (I work at one heheh) they actually train you there too *GASP!

I wouldn't generalize that to every Petco and PetsMart. Where I live, the PetCo is quite a bit better than the PetsMart in the care of their fish and animals. PetCo here doesn't even sell those tiny bird cages, they only sell nice roomy ones (unlike the PetsMart here). Unfortunately all the stores still sell the tiny betta tanks but both at least recommend at least a 1-gallon on their care sheets.

Anyway, I wouldn't generalize that all stores of a chain are good or bad, I think it really depends on the management. The PetCo here is still managed by the same people who were managing the store before PetCo bought it (It had always been a pet store, just not owned by PetCo previously).

 

[theresamarie3366]

The store was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I usually don't go nuts and lose my composure, but like you said, it wasn't just one fish there. The only part I regret is that I started crying. I get that way when I get mad. The employees thought I was crazy and dangerous. Thats why they probably called the police. Tears pouring down my face, talking to the little guys as I was feeding them. Now that I am calm I can see the sight I must have been. Probably scared the hell out of them.

 

[theresamarie3366]

I agree with Haiku. The Petco right around the corner from me is very clean and the Bettas are very well cared for. Petsmart is the same way, but they are in blue water which I don't agree on. Also in the really small cups. The Petco I went to was in the district where my friend works. I was there for lunch with him and went in just to get lizards on the way home. It is not the usual one I go to.

 

[BettaMomma]

Theresa- I generally am like that too. I am a crier. At movies, at roadkill on the side of the highway, at a zoo, etc. etc.
However, for some miraculous reason, whenever I'm defending the bettas' wellbeing the tears don't come, and I haven't yet figured out why. Maybe it's just the betta gods giving me enough strength not to cry? Who knows.
Anyway, I can completely relate to you, though. Lots and lots of people cry when their emotions go into loverload.

Rest assured that no matter how you looked, you left an impression on them - probably one they won't forget for a long time. Even if you are branded (by them) as the crazy betta lady who talks to the fish while she feeds them, the ones that are actually getting the last laugh right now are the fishes, because they're getting clean water, getting fed and getting lots more attention than they were before.

And - as was already mentioned - the police talk to each other. A lot. They tell each other of the calls they go on. I can just imagine that news of this has travelled thru the department - and the thing that everyone is probably left with from this is - wow - I guess I never realized, or even thought about the fact that these poor little fish are being kept this way.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I agree but they are in blue water which I don't agree on.

Actually the blue water is generally due to meds.

 

[Haiku]

I didn't understand about what that blue water was either until I finally read on here that it's probably that Methylene Blue (sp?) that is supposed to be an all purpose med/water conditioner etc. I think if they use that, they should have a sign or something that explains why their water is blue. It made me think of those blue things you put in your toilet bowl and it bothered me when I first saw it LOL. It makes it kind of hard to tell what colors the fish are too. The thing I really don't like about the PetsMart's bettas here is they are still in the tiny cups and they do not keep lids on them. They can easily jump out and into another betta's cup next to them if they get worked up enough.