Immediate stop to the Closure of Local Business Desert Reef & Exotics by the revocation of their pet store permit by the City Of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department

Desert Reef & Exotics is a very unique and successful pet store in Albuquerque. Only being open a little over two years Desert Reef & Exotics has created a one of a kind experience and has raised the bar for what a pet store should be and how it should operate with such passion and love for the animals and attention to their customers and their needs. First year in business Desert Reef & Exotics was voted the second best pet store in Albuquerque by 'Albuquerque the Magazine's' in their annual Best of The City. The success and growth of the business has only increased with time being a truly one of a kind experience and pet store in Albuquerque. Being such a new and growing business Desert Reef & Exotics has captured the love of many of the City's residents but has also been unjustly targeted and persecuted by the City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. For over a year now, nearly half of the time the business has been open, Animal Welfare has targeted and harassed Desert Reef & Exotics with multiple attempts of trying to close the business down by revoking their pet store permit. The allegations are either extremely exaggerated or completely made up in an attempt to paint an inaccurate picture of the store and the care of the animals. When one attempt would fail they would just start over and try again. An officer from animal welfare was removed as the stores permit officer in September of 2017 after it was made clear she was treating them unfairly by making false claims and accusations then revoking their pet store permit. After an inspection of the store by the Director and Associate Director of Animal Welfare along with the officer and her lieutenant it was clear that the claims made to justify revocation were not true when actually the opposite was. Both the Director and Associate Director complimented the cleanliness of the store and the care and well being given to the animals along with other very positive remarks. She was forced to write Desert Reef & Exotics a new permit that day, September 1 of 2017. After this inspection the officer was removed as the permit officer and a new officer was assigned to the store. In October of 2017, one month later, the new permit officer made his first visit and inspection (the first inspection he had ever done in his career) of Desert Reef & Exotics. That very first visit and inspection started out with anger and hostility towards the store by the officer and ended with said officer revoking the stores pet store permit and effectively starting the procedures to close the business , AGAIN. By this time the Director of Animal welfare had resigned and the Associate Director was on paid administration leave due to a controversy with regards to her taking puppies out of the City shelter and to her own dog rescue in Colorado and adopting them out for a $250 adoption fee. Also, the mayors administration that was so helpful and played such a vital role in correcting the behavior and actions of the previous officer was no longer in office. The new Mayor and his administration were not helpful and did not care to do anything with the COO of the City offering no advice besides, "Goodluck in Court"... When a few members of the City Council got involved after they heard about what was going on and only after seeing the store for themselves and loving it they reached out to the mayors office in an attempt to remedy the situation and to stop the city from closing down this new and successful small business. The result was no different then when the store owner went to the mayors office to ask for help. The City Council members and staff that were trying to help the store communicated to Desert Reef & Exotics their frustration and not being able to understand why this was happening or why the Mayors office didn't seem to care. It wasn't much longer that those same City Council members involved suddenly stopped all communication with the business. Being at the mercy of Animal Welfare and with no one to go to for help Desert Reef & Exotics conveyed to Animal Welfare their willingness to work with them and to do whatever it takes no matter the cost or temporary setback in order to be able to stay in business. The response to this from Animal Welfare was that they will not deal or try to come to any agreement with Desert Reef & Exotics that would allow them to be able to stay in business, they just wanted the business closed. No matter what was done or the willingness to spend whatever it takes to appease Animal Welfare it would have no effect, all they wanted is for this popular and new store to be closed.. The City and its departments should do whatever they can to encourage small business and the growth of the local economy and not be the driving force behind closing small businesses down. When instances like this happens where the local government is so determined and eager to close down a small business the City is creating an environment of fear among all small business owners and discourages others who might have been thinking about opening a small business. It's a statement that no matter how successful you are or how hard you work to get to any level of success that if the local government or its departments wants you to close down they can and they will close down your business. Also, the City is making a statement to all other businesses that this is what happens if you complain or fight back.. You might win one battle but its only a matter of time and they wont stop trying until they succeed in closing you down. Closing the business you have worked so hard to build and have sacrificed so much to see it succeed. Now the future of what was one of the fastest growing and beloved small businesses in Albuquerque is very bleak to say the least. Please help Desert Reef & Exotics stay in business and for Albuquerque not to lose yet another company and its jobs to another state by signing this petition. Albuquerque needs all the business we can get and cant afford to lose such a unique and one of a kind business like Desert Reef & Exotics. Sign this petition to save this small business and also to let the city know that the bullying tactics of Animal Welfare, or any department for that matter, and their eagerness to get this small business closed down will not be tolerated. If this is allowed to happen to this business then where will it end? How many other small businesses will Albuquerque lose? Support small business and sign this petition. Thank you!

This is the video that was taken right after the inspection that ended with animal welfare saying how the store needs to be closed. Watch it for yourself and keep in mind they don't want to fine Desert Reef & Exotics or any small punishment like that but instead they invoke the harshest punishment possible and close the business. Copy and paste the link to view the video.

https://youtu.be/hpPnXEdCBlw