PetCo lets the animals drown in NY Flood

[LindaLS]

I am so mad I can't stand it. I know I don't post often but everybody please check out this news story. I have family up in NY and everyone up there are mad as you know. I will personally never buy another product from any PetCo store again.


Petco Pets Die In Flood | WBNG-TV: News, Sports and Weather Binghamton, New York | Local

They just left them there to die.

Petco in Johnson City, NY was flooded this week and over half of the animals inside died. (the local news is investigating as I'm writing this. I know an employee who has confirmed what I'm saying is true) Obviously, this is very tragic news. However, the real story is that the managers of Petco followed "store policy" and would not let employees take any of the animals home or attempt to rescue the animals after the flooding began. This same parking lot flooded in 2006. We were told for DAYS before the flooding that any place flooded in 2006 would be worse this time around. This store had more than ample time to evacuate the animals. There are local shelters that were taking any pet ... even from pet stores to keep them safe during the flood. PetSmart right down the road had it's employees kayak in and remove all of their animals. I for one will never be shopping at Petco ever again and hope they face charges for leaving their animals inside. I know it;s a horrific image but all I can think about is my poor cat being locked up in a cage and having flood waters rise slowly until he drowned The Petco facebook wall is blowing up with outraged citizens. The picture was taken before the river's crested so the water got even higher.

[Sandysbabies]

When there were rescue shelters and employees that could have took them, that has got to be the most insane thing I have ever heard. Says alot about Petco. They have got my last dollar.

[Lovetodream88]

Its is a terrible thing that animals had to suffer and then die like that. More then likely it was a decision by the manager of the store not the actual petco company so I would think boycotting that petco would be the way to go not all petcos.

[miabellaamoure]

Disgusting...

[Mom to Hot Rod]

Unbelievable!!

[Foster Mom]

There is no reason for this to have happened.

A guy I work with lives in one of the hardest hit areas and the shelter there is overflowing with animals as they had people pout looking for animals that needed rescuing in the flood. In fact the night before the flood hit, a guy I work with let his 2 dogs out to go potty and someone came and took them right out of his driveway and took them to the shelter....he looked for hours for his dogs and thankfully they were chipped so he got them back....

[Micah my love]

What a shame for these babies to die sickening

[horsnaround]

This is so very sad. I just don't understand why this stuff happens. R.I.P all those poor animals.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

This is so sad. How awful.

[Teresa Ford]

I shouldn't have read it. My heart is breaking for the animals.
Here our local Petco, and Petsmart removed animals (except fish) when the area was evacuated because of a hurricane.
I do not know if this Petco has an emergency protocol for disasters. If not surely this will create the demand for one. I am writing Petco as soon as I finish this post. If they get mail, they will respond, even if it is only to salvage their image and repair public opinion.

[Ringo1]

Boycott. I don't shop often at Petco - we always are surrounded by Pet Smart.

What kind of animals does Petco carry? The usual fish, birds, rabbits, etc?

That makes me sick to my stomach. "The ones that survived' were rescued. Why the hell didn't they get them out before the flood if there was that much advance warning???

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Ringo1

Boycott. I don't shop often at Petco - we always are surrounded by Pet Smart.

What kind of animals does Petco carry? The usual fish, birds, rabbits, etc?

That makes me sick to my stomach. "The ones that survived' were rescued. Why the hell didn't they get them out before the flood if there was that much advance warning???

Why would you boycott all petco stores when it wasnt the petco company that made the decision not to evacuate it was the manager of that stores decision.

[LindaLS]

I will boycott because their manager said it was their policy if it is only this Petco that would do this than PetCo has a responsibility to go after the manager and press charges as he is representing their company.

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Why would you boycott all petco stores when it wasn't the petco company that made the decision not to evacuate it was the manager of that stores decision.

By what I have read on their site is they are just saying it was unfortunate. Yes I agree it was very unfortunate for each animal that died and each was that was scared and hungry for three days.

I just can't imagine being an animal not matter what kind of animal dog, cat, rabbit or bird, sitting in a cage with the water rising and no way to escape.

They closed this store at 5:00 pm so the employees could all go to safety and knew what was gonna happen. I do not blame the employees as they begged to remove the animals.

[SWHouston]

Originally Posted by LindaLS

The Petco facebook wall is blowing up with outraged citizens.

Outraged is an understatement. I read about 50 posts on the first page, and there were over 450 left ! ! !

[hnybun128]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Why would you boycott all petco stores when it wasnt the petco company that made the decision not to evacuate it was the manager of that stores decision.

I'm sure the Petco corporate headquarters were well aware of the impending disaster, as was anyone that turned on a television. I firmly believe they had a duty to have an emergency plan in place for all living creatures within their care.