my two cents... petco price: $49.99
Well, I've seen this before at Petsmart. I wanted to buy the jackson they had there but it was just so unhealthy that I didn't want it dying on me. Like people have replied before me, that not just Petco and Petsmart do this, but all petstores and even herp stores; but at least herpstores and smaller pet stores have the extra care and do take extra effort into caring for Cchameleons when they sell them. The problem with those big chain pet stores that sell everything from mice to dogs is that they try and reach out to every type of clientelle that's interested in having a pet. That's why when you go to those big chain stores and you try and buy, say dog food and you don't know which one is good, the cashier who might have experience and care for dogs will tell you if your choice of dog food is good, healthy, or bad for your dog. Ask people higher up in the company, and they might (not saying they will or will not) tell you that every one of them is just as good as the next and that it's a matter of preference.
It's like a buffet, not all the food in the restaurant is good and delicious... but they cater to a wide variety of tastes at a decent or standard quality of food. It sucks that they sell animals this way, and to them, it's not cruel because they provided the animal with the minimal but standard care... food, water, lighting. When i go into those stores, you can even see lizards living underneath the shelving and between the cracks of the lizard "jail cells." I don't think any of the employees know they're missing one... and if they did, it doesn't seem to matter to them because i'd see it again the next week i come in.
Someone here said that the best way to create change is not to attack these companies but spread the word in buying from breeders. I believe that's the best thing to do, but it's a long term goal which will work eventually. But how would one find a way to have big chain pet stores stop ordering shipments of chameleons and selling them with minimal care for the purpose of profit? I don't think there would be a possibility that someone in their corporate office will one day say, "you know what, these people are right, i'll have all "x" amount of stores start putting cages, mist for 5 minutes or more every 2 or 3 times a day, make sure the crickets we feed them are dusted, have sufficient and proper lighting, and hey... i'll pay extra money for all of our employees to be trained on checking for dehydration in our chameleons." That to them would be extra expenditures. Why would they do that if they can provide minimal but store standardized care and have someone buy it for a good profit? To buisnesses that big, it's all about "let's spend the least amount in selling it, and get the most amount we can." They know that a big majority of the people coming into their stores are people that don't know that buying from a breeder (dogs, reptiles, etc.) is the best thing you can do for your hobby, enjoyment, money, etc... Spread the knowledge and educate... peace.
