I am saddened and sickened...

[ksech]

As some of you know, I live in an area which has recently been devastated by massive flooding. Today was the first day I've had electricity in 4 days and was the first time I have been able to leave my home. 1000's are still without power, 1000's of homes are gone, 100's of businesses are lost. Roads and bridges have disappeared.

National Guardsmen are all over directing traffic. Red Cross shelters are filled to the max. But one of the most amazing things is, there was no human fatalities. People evaucated when told, sometimes within only a matter of an hour.

The sad part of this little story...
Many of the shelters weren't able to take pets, so people had to find places they could go with their furry family members. They were encouraged to NOT forget about them, yet only 1 or two shelters allowed the pets in.

And here is the sickening part of the story...
We have a local Petco. They refused to allow the employees to remove all of the animals from the store before it was completely flooded. There was time to get them all out. More than half the animals died in their cages. I don't understand how companies such as this can stay in business...

 

[Nifty29]

As some of you know, I live in an area which has recently been devastated by massive flooding. Today was the first day I've had electricity in 4 days and was the first time I have been able to leave my home. 1000's are still without power, 1000's of homes are gone, 100's of businesses are lost. Roads and bridges have disappeared.

National Guardsmen are all over directing traffic. Red Cross shelters are filled to the max. But one of the most amazing things is, there was no human fatalities. People evaucated when told, sometimes within only a matter of an hour.

The sad part of this little story...
Many of the shelters weren't able to take pets, so people had to find places they could go with their furry family members. They were encouraged to NOT forget about them, yet only 1 or two shelters allowed the pets in.

And here is the sickening part of the story...
We have a local Petco. They refused to allow the employees to remove all of the animals from the store before it was completely flooded. There was time to get them all out. More than half the animals died in their cages. I don't understand how companies such as this can stay in business...

These sick bastards should be placed in cages in an empty swimming pool and then have it slowly filled.....then rescuers can save a few of them, but not all.

Things like thus make me so damn angry.

 

[jenn1381]

Those poor animals... My heart breaks for them. May they all rest in peace... I'm gonna go hug my dogs tight now...

 

[Mousey]

As some of you know, I live in an area which has recently been devastated by massive flooding. Today was the first day I've had electricity in 4 days and was the first time I have been able to leave my home. 1000's are still without power, 1000's of homes are gone, 100's of businesses are lost. Roads and bridges have disappeared.

National Guardsmen are all over directing traffic. Red Cross shelters are filled to the max. But one of the most amazing things is, there was no human fatalities. People evaucated when told, sometimes within only a matter of an hour.

The sad part of this little story...
Many of the shelters weren't able to take pets, so people had to find places they could go with their furry family members. They were encouraged to NOT forget about them, yet only 1 or two shelters allowed the pets in.

And here is the sickening part of the story...
We have a local Petco. They refused to allow the employees to remove all of the animals from the store before it was completely flooded. There was time to get them all out. More than half the animals died in their cages. I don't understand how companies such as this can stay in business...

Oh my heavens.... That actually made my heart hurt.... how awful.... Petco will never, ever see a dime of my money. Ever! It wouldn't have been forever, why couldn't they take the animals out. Oh, this breaks my heart. They could have gotten the animals out and called Noah's Wish... they help with animals after disasters.

 

[colly]

Have to agree = as you know I volunteer in animal shelters and the disregard for the life of animals by people is a constant. Fortinately in the recent QLD floods many of the shelters allowed pets. We would love to see sale of puppies and kittems BANNEDnfrom petshops and discourage puupy farms= there are enough registered breeders and thousand of animals in shelters without companies making a profit out of sale while thousands of animals are put down wach year. (OK raht over).

It's nice to know you care Kesch

 

[jod5413]

Petco and Pets-mart are notorious small animal abusers. I do not shop there, ever. Any and all pet stores that hawk kittens, puppies, and any other small mammals should not be patronized. That is the only way the widespread abuse and neglect will be stopped. There is never a shortage of horror stories concerning domestic animals.

Colly, you were posting as I was writing. You are right on the money in your post. Good Job!!

 

[ksech]

I have 3 cats and 4 dogs that are overly pampered. When I hear stuff like this it makes me want to hurt someone. These animals depend on their humans to take care of them. I'm sure there are some out there who will say "who cares, they're only animals..." Well, they feel pain, they get scared and anxious just like a person. I hope they can't/don't re-open their store. I hate seeing people out of jobs, but anyone who can work for a company like that has no conscience.

 

[anniemac]

Wow! Not another dime of mine will they get! I cannot see what animal abuse charges could not be filed on this.

I am so proud of my fellow Texans during this mess we are in now. When the fires first started last weekend, people started opening up their barns, pastures, stables etc. to anyone that needed to move animals, large or small. People mobilized their trailers for whoever needed it. The Maude Cobb Convention Center in Longview became an evacuation center for people AND their pets. We have a missing pet rescue center open too for people who have lost their pets in this disaster. It is amazing how people have come together over all of this.

If we can do this as just plain folks, then Petco could certainly have taken steps to protect their inventory from a business standpoint, even if they don't have a moral compass.

 

[ksech]

I agree anniemac, I wish we could figure out how to transfer some of our water overflow to your area. Go figure, we have rain in our forecast for the next 2 days , as if we need more water right now.

One of the things that gets me is, people here would have taken in these animals until the store could have re-opened. There's just no excuse for this.

 

[LHofsdal]

You know I saw that story on the WSTM-Channel 3 news here is Syracuse, and Wayne the weather man was talking how they were landing helicopters just behind the mail to because it is on a hill. Those bastards at PETCO could have just moved the animals to higher ground, the back of the F'n mall parking lot. They should be brought up on charges, just like any other animal abuser. I know that some of the Animal rights groups here in Syracuse are calling for an investigation about it, because I got a flyer in the mail. They are having a rally in Clinton Square this week.

I am with Nifty, put them in a cage and in a pool, let me control the water!

Lori

 

[felicie]

You know I saw that story on the WSTM-Channel 3 news here is Syracuse, and Wayne the weather man was talking how they were landing helicopters just behind the mail to because it is on a hill. Those bastards at PETCO could have just moved the animals to higher ground, the back of the F'n mall parking lot. They should be brought up on charges, just like any other animal abuser. I know that some of the Animal rights groups here in Syracuse are calling for an investigation about it, because I got a flyer in the mail. They are having a rally in Clinton Square this week.

I am with Nifty, put them in a cage and in a pool, let me control the water!

Lori

I know a couple of groups that might want to hear about it too if they haven't already. Of course remember half of New Orleans left their dogs tied up to 'guard' their homes only to drown instead. We have fires every year here and always in horse country. Rich or poor, people do everything they can even walking them out as the fire licks at their heels but they don't leave them. Sometimes however, it is hard to tell where the line is drawn between the animals and us. Thanks ksech.

 

[Temperance Fox]

These animals depend on their humans to take care of them. I'm sure there are some out there who will say "who cares, they're only animals..." Well, they feel pain, they get scared and anxious just like a person.

that's fully true
have 2 cats and 1 dog, if one doesn't have pets cannot understand

I'm so sorry for you and your little frends and I feel pain, but don't know what to do.Only to be closed...

 

[chayton]

I hate to hear stuff like that...poor little creatures. I'm sure there will be some sort of charges brought, and when word gets out I'm sure a lot of people will quit shopping there.

 

[P.V.]

Johnson City, NY (WBNG Binghamton) Some animals died in the flooding this week, trapped inside a pet store.

Petco admits that some animals died at the store off Harry L. Drive in Johnson City in the plaza next to Toys R Us. The area was under several feet of water.

Petco does not say how many animals died or what kind of animals they were.

It says animals that survived were later removed and taken to safe locations.

Despite highly publicized river flood warnings on Wednesday, on its facebook page, Petco says it had no reason to expect the store would be impacted by the flooding, even though the Susquehanna River runs not far behind the store.

Petco says a store associate checked the store late Wednesday night and there were no signs of flooding or a flood warning in effect.

It was underwater by Thursday morning.

Petco blames the tragedy, not on the river flooding, but on a backup in the sewage/drainage system.

Village Mayor Dennis Hannon say the company's logic doesn't hold water.

He says the area was inundated by floodwater from the Susquehanna River, and to blame it on a backup in the sewage system is absurd.

 

[same_old]

Thats bloody terrible!!!

They shouldn't be allowed to even hold a licence these types of people.

 

[ksech]

An updated article (now they're trying to save their a$$e$)

JOHNSON CITY -- Close to 100 animals died at the PETCO store on Harry L Drive during this week's flood, company officials said Saturday.

Petco's animals, which include hamsters, reptiles, birds and aquatic life, were left in the store during the flood, even though many residents south of Harry L Drive, where the store is located, were evacuated.

Employees discovered the heartbreaking news when they were allowed into the store Friday.

At that point, they were able to save more than 100 animals and transport them to nearby stores.

The number of animals saved and the number that died are rough estimates, company officials said.

"We are heartbroken over this tragedy," Marcie Whichard, vice president of animal care and education for Petco, wrote in a blog entry. "We want to stress that this was not carelessness on our associates' behalf, but a communications lapse from the city to the store in evacuations orders."

Whichard said the flooding was not from the Susquehanna River itself, but from a backup in the sewage/drainage system.

"We are investigating why we did not receive those evacuation orders from the city if this area was known to flood in the past," she wrote. "Had we been aware of potential flooding, we would have removed all of the animals from the store as we do in all other locations."

Johnson City Mayor Dennis Hannon said the flooding was in fact from the river, and the sewage/drainage system likely only played a part. The business should have known about the possibility of flooding since the plaza PETCO is in floods once the river hits flood stage, he said.

"The water moves into that area," he said. "With all the flood warnings and evacuation orders that were issued, for them not to go down there is just absolutely disgusting."

An associate went by to check the store at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday night and there were no signs of flooding or a flood warning in effect, Whichard wrote in her blog. Store employees in Johnson City didn't expect the store to be impacted by the flooding, so the decision was made to keep the animals in the store.

Johnson City Police Chief Joseph T. Zikuski said the flood warnings were issued by the National Weather Service, and people should have taken them seriously.

"The risk was there," Zikuski said. "How could we have told them that (was) what was going to happen?"

On Thursday morning, employees arrived to work and were "shocked at the enormity of the situation," Whichard wrote.

"They immediately tried to enter the building to evacuate the animals but were turned away by the authorities due to concerns for human safety," she wrote. "At the time, the city was focused on rescuing people from their homes by boat and could not divert resources to our store until Friday."

In a subsequent interview Saturday, Whichard said there was a veterinarian on call and on-site at the store during the recovery, but the animals that were saved were not in need of medical care.

Petco will continue to work with Johnson City authorities about the events that occurred, Whichard said.


On the news ALL day they were telling people to get out and to NOT forget their pets. So how does the store consider this not a threat to them? They weren't properly notified? Well, fuck you PETCO!!! (sorry for the language.) Evacuate means just that, don't wait...GO! So, now they are going to try to blame it on the town for improper notification? And the National Weather Service? And they may as well blame the freakin' river for going over the flood stage by 7 feet, then they can blame someone for not building a higher floodwall. Well, animal rights groups better get in here and legally beat the crap out of PETCO.

 

[pevangel]

OMG that is so sad. I have no words other then that is so sad. : (

 

[colly]

For all you animal lovers out there that want to end the kitten and puupy mills that "stock"PETCO

One of the best and cutest get the message videos I have seen! SHare it with your facebbok friends together with a boycott PETCO message

 

[vinylweatherman]

I can just imagine the store bosses sat there, water lapping at their feet, but remaining at their post because a lapse in communication meant that they had not received notification that they were beginning to flood............. NOT!!!

Good enough for the stock though

Here in the UK, the RSPCA were recently granted new powers that mean they no longer have to wait until they are 100% certain that an animal has suffered serious neglect and/or abuse. The RSPCA will also bring a private proscecution where they don't think the police have done as much as they can in preparing and bringing a case.

The details don't seem clear, were the employees forbidden to act on their own initiative when they were told to prepare to evacuate, so had to leave the animals behind, or was it the authorities turning them back the next day that PETCO mean by "They refused to allow the employees to remove all of the animals from the store before it was completely flooded." This could of course indicate that PETCO failed to take action when there was still time, and are blaming the authorities for the tradegy by not allowing staff to remove the animals AFTER the store had flooded.

The various groups should insist on an independent investigation of the exact chain of events, in order to sift the truth from the ass-saving rhetoric.

 

[Casinomeister]

Looks like the police are investigating this:

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[ksech]

For anyone who may be interested, here is a link to a video that was done showing the enormity of the flooding. The video is 11 minutes long and covers the whole area surrounding where I live. I guess this is why those of us in our community were outraged with Petco over their stance on this...