I believe buying the little guy and closing the store or educating the owner on his ways is exactly what i said. i said just because you shouldn't buy it, doesn't mean you can't & shouldn't. Also, keep in mind the person minding the store isn't necessarily the owner, before going off on a rant. it is possible, it is someone just supporting their kids or someone who actually cares about animals as much as you, but their hands are tied by the owner. Or it could be both. I was in that exact situation years ago. I managed several mom & pop pet stores, worked for some wholesalers, and eventually left the business all together after Pet Stuff (now Pet Smart) bought out my current place of employment. So keep in mind the little jax is an individual, who didn't ask or send out an invitation to be where he is. BUY him. @ the same time, work on educating the store first as to their mistakes (many), & if that shows no improvement: you blow the whistle. Fish & Wiildlife, Game Warden (yes they have powers, they are federal employees with more authority than a local policeman), codes dept., local news, get friends together and picket one Saturday, etc... If it truly upsets you, & you are determined, there are many avenues of help.
Check out this penal code
§597l. Pet shops.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who operates a pet shop to fail to do all of the following:
(1) Maintain the facilities used for the keeping of pet animals in a sanitary condition.
(2) Provide proper heating and ventilation of the facilities used for the keeping of pet animals.
(3) Provide adequate nutrition for, and humane care and treatment of, all pet animals under his care and control.
(4) Take reasonable care to release for sale, trade or adoption only those pet animals which are free of diseases or injuries.
(5) Provide adequate space appropriate to the size, weight and specie of pet animal.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Pet animals" means dogs, cats, monkeys, and other primates, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, snakes, iguanas, turtles and any other species of animal sold or retained for the purpose of being kept as a household pet.
(2) "Pet shop" means every place or premises where pet animals are being kept for the purpose of either wholesale or retail sale. "Pet shop" does not include any place or premises where pet animals are occasionally sold.
(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
I asked for them to be removed and he did that without hesitation and it stayed that way. I provided care sheets and have been asked advice by one of the buyers. SaintJimmy if it were me I would get him, try to educate the owner and if that doesn't work, report him.
