Disgusted

[EAI]

(Sorry if this is in the wrong forum)

A local pet shop sells some of the most exotic birds in Honoulu (scarlet breasted parakeets, parrot finches, paradise whydahs to name a few) they also claim they have the most exotic selection of birds which is true. But they forgot to mention that the birds live in HORRIBLE conditions.

The bottom of the finches cages are caked with feces, let me take that back ALL the cages look like that. I see at least 5-7 parakeets on the ground huddling because there is no room for them having to be pooped upon. Especially today, where one was lying on the ground.

In the back where no one can see, there is an CAG in a cage that is less than what is called the "minimal" spacing. And to add, I recall only seeing one toy in the cage. The Greys feathers were all ragged looking with poorly trimmed wings.
Next to the Grey were two Conures, a sun and a green cheek who kept following the employees hoping to be let out.
And while talking about the back, I saw another Scarlet breasted parakeet female losing feathers on her head and cages of some pretty but poorly kept birds.

Not to mention, this pet store fails to realize that some birds can carry diseases that can be spread to other parrots because a week ago there was a lone budgie in a cage and a week later they brought in Cobalt Masked Lovebirds with the same swing and set up a week ago.

What was really going to get me into a rage was that an employee was showing a Cockatiel with a grotesque wing condition, besides the wing it was very sweet and didn't mind hands. But I can't believe they would display a bird in a condition as it was in, this not only shows that they don't care about the condition the bird is in, but it looks like they neglected to notice any wound. His cage mate was completely different with the hands. When trying to get him from his cage he began to panic and was running away, he eventually was able to get the cockatiel out and it ran between the top of his cage and the bottom of the Lovebirds. In order to try get him, the employee decided it was a great idea to try start grabbing the tail and pulling, when that didn't work he decided that hitting the cage the bird was on would be the best option to get the bird out, this not only scared the cockatiel in the cage but the birds on top and below.

I wish I could write something shorter but this pet store is getting out of control with their bird section. I wish that in order to work in a pet store there would be some kind of test to make sure you know AT LEAST the basic care of the pets you'll be working with.

(Ill be uploading the pictures after I post this)

 

[EAI]

After the worker began hitting the cage


I'm not sure what was wrong, but the parakeet was lying parallel to the grate


I think this was the canaries' cage

 

[joecomello1]

I would report them pet shops should be held to a higher standard of care

 

[MrsKay]

There is a bird store like this in San Fernando Valley, CA. near Burbank blvd. & Hazeltine Ave. Just filthy. Lots of sick birds on cage floors, filthy water bowls, mice and bugs running rampant, just deplorable! The owners are lazzzzy and unattentive. And yet they sell birds and plenty
Disgusting.

 

[Ducatimom]

That's awful! Can you report them?

 

[Kiwibird]

Disgusting! I remember as a kid there being a pet shop with a bird room in similar condition to that and I always felt so bad for the birds in there That store is nothing but a ticking time bomb. They are going to get one PDD-positive bird and BAM! The rest are going to go very quickly in those conditions. What a shame. Is there anywhere you can report them to? Surely there is some kind of health violations happening here. Even if no one with the power to do something cares about the birds, they'll still do something about making them clean up that disaster of a operation because thats unsafe for humans to be around too (we can catch diseases from birds, especially from their dried droppings). Unsafe living conditions for the poor birds and unsafe working conditions for the employees.

 

[SoCalWendy]

We have one like this here in Lemon Grove. I reported them, and they said this wasn't the first, second, or third time they have been reported and cited. I cannot bare to go back inside to see if any changes have been made, it was too sad. As we were leaving we saw a blue and gold macaw in a cage with nothing but sunflower seeds. Many of the cages barely had even water, and they were feeding only millet. Which the shelled hulls were in one big heap so you couldn't tell if the birds were out of food too. Anyway as we were leaving, my daughter said to the owner that birds require more than just seed in their diets. The guy tells her they get a mix. She said "from what it looks like, I doubt that!"

 

[SilverSage]

I know EXACTLY which pet shop this is - I have been there. There only seems to be one "bird" person on staff, and while she means well, she seems to know very little. Sadly, this is Hawaii and the standard of animal care here is incredibly low. Reporting them will do no good. The people who investigate this would be the same people who investigated my budgie situation. As long as there is food, water, and shelter (the shelter part may not even be required!) they will do nothing. That green cheek? He has been there for over 2 years. The others I know nothing about except, did you notice how HUGE the budgies and love birds were? When I was in there last I noticed that these two species were double to size of birds I have seen other places. I asked them about it and they just said "No no, they are all the same size. Maybe it is just that you are not used to seeing them up close..."

 

[EAI]

I know EXACTLY which pet shop this is - I have been there. There only seems to be one "bird" person on staff, and while she means well, she seems to know very little. Sadly, this is Hawaii and the standard of animal care here is incredibly low. Reporting them will do no good. The people who investigate this would be the same people who investigated my budgie situation. As long as there is food, water, and shelter (the shelter part may not even be required!) they will do nothing. That green cheek? He has been there for over 2 years. The others I know nothing about except, did you notice how HUGE the budgies and love birds were? When I was in there last I noticed that these two species were double to size of birds I have seen other places. I asked them about it and they just said "No no, they are all the same size. Maybe it is just that you are not used to seeing them up close..."

I was trying to find a number to report them, but they'd be just like the cops here--(someone tried to run behind our house while there was already a cop car here, we called them to hear them say they'll come and check it out which never happened). But I really want to report the cockatiel, the employee must have been telling the guy who was holding him that he was half off .

And the green cheek has been there for two years!? That's crazy! The least they could do is put him in the front so people can see and become interested in taking the poor guy home.

And about the budgies and lovebirds, I was thinking the same thing. I knew they were larger compared to my birds but I never said anything.

Ideally, IMO every pet store should start imposing laws that requires annual checkups on the wellbeing of the animals. For being so caught up with animal cruelty and everything they sure don't care when it comes to stores selling them.

 

[Kalidasa]

Showing, and prominently displaying injured, plucked, and deformed birds is common practice in shady pet stores. They know the reaction they get...it's no mistake the injured tiel was showed right away...they prey on the kindness of people. The sick and infirm are displayed in front for everyone to see, for pity...which ends up in a sale. It also gets rid of those birds quickly. Not saying those birds don't need a home and help, but they know what they're doing.

 

[SilverSage]

This particular store keeps all of their furry and feathered animals in a back room, where you can look in the window, but most people dont go in. I dont know if you have to ask to go in or not, as I dont want to risk getting diseases on my clothes, etc, and bringing them home to my flock. The sad thing is that this is not at all unusual in this area. You either shop at petco and petsmart alone, or you shop at one of these stores. And sometimes the chain stores are not much better.

 

[EAI]

Showing, and prominently displaying injured, plucked, and deformed birds is common practice in shady pet stores. They know the reaction they get...it's no mistake the injured tiel was showed right away...they prey on the kindness of people. The sick and infirm are displayed in front for everyone to see, for pity...which ends up in a sale. It also gets rid of those birds quickly. Not saying those birds don't need a home and help, but they know what they're doing.

I think that what sparked the man's attention, they might have been discussing his wings, but the windows are pretty sound proof. I really want to ask about him or her more.

 

[EAI]

This particular store keeps all of their furry and feathered animals in a back room, where you can look in the window, but most people dont go in. I dont know if you have to ask to go in or not, as I dont want to risk getting diseases on my clothes, etc, and bringing them home to my flock. The sad thing is that this is not at all unusual in this area. You either shop at petco and petsmart alone, or you shop at one of these stores. And sometimes the chain stores are not much better.

You usually have to ask to go into the back room, I'm going to ask when I go back next week. This is mostly to interact with the GCC, and to see how many questions I can ask before getting asked to leave haha.

I usually only shop at the Petco in Hawaii Kai because the manager there takes amazing care for the conures by socializing them with customers and interacting with them a lot.

Also, you might see me at the store scrubbing down those cages. I would like to get a job there just to maintain the birds health and care...and to play with the birds!

 

[Colorguarder08]

you can report them to animal control and with the chain stores call head quarters I know petsmart and petco have strict standards.

 

[SilverSage]

Actually, that would be really cool if you could get a job there That is, if they would let you take care of the birds.

 

[EAI]

you can report them to animal control and with the chain stores call head quarters I know petsmart and petco have strict standards.

Thankfully I don't think I'd have to do that for the ones I've been to. The fish tanks seem really clean, the tortoises have a nice varied diet. And the birds have access to fresh veggies, pellets, millets, and seeds. They also try to make an effort bringing each bird (only the conures) out and walking around the store with them. And most of the time, the budgies look healthy and are always playing or preening.

 

[EAI]

Actually, that would be really cool if you could get a job there That is, if they would let you take care of the birds.

If I do, I hope that I could get them to let me work in the bird department (besides, my body isn't really good at lifting things). I might have to throw in some parrot knowledge here and there .
If not, the last Petland is still an option, close to where I live and it helps that some employees remember me when my dad used to work there. So maybe I could just hang with birds and help socialize them while theyre there.

 

[happycat]

Thats terrible. Just tonight I took out a toy that I rarely move because it was connected to the bars under his hut and I found an absolutely ginormous pile of smelly, hard, old poop from where he sleeps. Gross! From now on I am going to make sure I clean every inch of it
Just that disgusting part of his cage made me feel like a bad owner for not cleaning better. I can't imagine those birds being in a whole cage full of that!

 

[Peepers]

That is DISGUSTING, you must report them, that makes me want to cry. I had a store like that and I kept calling the humane society on them, again and again and they finally cleaned up their act. I go in from time to time to see how it is, its better not great but okay. I never buy stuff from their, they will \\NOT get my money.

 

[EAI]

Thats terrible. Just tonight I took out a toy that I rarely move because it was connected to the bars under his hut and I found an absolutely ginormous pile of smelly, hard, old poop from where he sleeps. Gross! From now on I am going to make sure I clean every inch of it
Just that disgusting part of his cage made me feel like a bad owner for not cleaning better. I can't imagine those birds being in a whole cage full of that!

You could never be a bad owner , and that happens to me a lot too. I put a small wood kabob under the budgies perch and it was nasty in two days.