Stop Petco from turning down the heat and killing betta fish at night!
- by: Jane R
- recipient: James M. Myers - CEO of Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.
Petco stores turn down the heat in their stores at night. As it is winter, the temperature drops severely enough to kill bettas, who are already stressed by being displayed in small unheated cups. Bettas are tropical fish requiring water temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees with 76 to 80 degrees being preferred. Low temperatures weaken and then kill them. Being chilled night after night means the store opens to a find dead fish and the rest are severely stressed.
Saving energy is a good thing - killing animals is not. There are divided tank systems that have heat and light that could be installed. This would not only protect the fish, but would mean that customers would purchase healthier fish
At Petco.com's website they state: "We believe it's our duty to nurture the complete health and well-being of animals. Our people make it happen." They state they have a code of ethics for the care of their animals: "Complying with our Code of Ethics and Conduct is a condition of employment at Petco, and we take violations of the Code very seriously." They even list a phone number to call: (888) 736-9834. BUT turning down the heat is a secret, so no one calls, people just notice that there aren't many bettas for sale.
The secret is out. Please sign this petition, send it to your friends and call Petco to tell them that their code of ethics has to cover fish as well. Petco says it is "where the pets go" but it should not be "where the pets go to die." Go to your local Petco and demand that they either not turn down the heat, or make better provisions for these beautiful fish so that they do not have to suffer and die slowly in frigid water.
Dear Mr. Meyers,
Please live up to the Petco Code of Ethics by either not turning down the heat at night in the stores - or by putting in healthier more humane heated tank systems. The tank system cost is minor in the scheme of things and would last many years. You claim to care about the health and wellbeing of the animals that you sell and yet deliberately do something that kills the very animals you state that you have the "duty to nurture the complete health and well-being" of.
Fish are animals and bettas are one of the more intelligent species of fish. They suffer when they are too cold. Dying slowly because of cold temperatures is torture. You can't claim to be ethical and yet condemn these beautiful fish to the misery of dying an inch at a time until finally they have no more strength left.
You must insist that all of your stores live up to the Code of Ethics and Conduct that is stated on your website. "We believe it's our duty to nurture the complete health and well-being of animals. Our people make it happen. -- Complying with our Code of Ethics and Conduct is a condition of employment at Petco, and we take violations of the Code very seriously."
If this is true, please look into the divided, heated tank systems that are available and in wide use in Australia.
Thank you for your time.
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