Petland Where Female Employee Allegedly Drowned Rabbits Closes
PETA Files readers were outraged by yesterday's story about an Akron, Ohio, Petland employee who allegedly drowned two rabbits in the store's back room. Our readers are not alone, and thanks to the overwhelming public outcry, the store where Elizabeth Carlisle was photographed holding two sopping-wet, dead rabbits by the scruff of the neck has been permanently closed.
In other good news, Elizabeth Carlisle has been charged with cruelty to animals and is scheduled to appear in court later this month. We have written to the authorities and are urging them to throw the book at her—hard.
While it's great that this particular hellhole has been shut down, Petland still has a lot of cleaning up to do. PETA receives many complaints alleging abuse and neglect of animals in Petland's stores. Here are just a few examples:
One person claiming to be a former Petland employee writes, "[I] used to work at a Petland … and [I] can totally relate to this picture … The stores … have puppies dying all the time, due to not having water and food. [T]he kennel techs are untrained and underpaid and they get back at the company by not taking care of the animals! … [A]ll Petlands should be shut down or the animals should all be taken away. [A]ll they care about is money, money, money!"
Another writes, "I used to work for Petland … I ended up being let go, because I refused to … [p]ut dying hamsters, parakeets, … kittens, [and] small puppies in plastic bags and put them in the freezer, and let [animals] breed rampantly. I also got in trouble for … wasting company money by cleaning animal cages that were out of customer sight …"
And yet another writes, "I opened the freezer once and there were frozen snakes in there. I asked what they were … They said they weren't paying the vet to treat [the animals], so they put them to sleep in there. Rats and mice, hamsters and gerbils, and other small critters were always committing cannibalism, because of lack of food, and not having enough space."
Petland is unable to monitor all its employees all the time, which means that other animals are bound to suffer as a result. We would like Petland to stop selling animals in all its stores, but if the company isn't willing to make that leap immediately, what it can do right now is stop selling rabbits in order to ensure that these small, vulnerable animals are spared death at the hands of people like Carlisle.
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
OV Social
I proudly admit that I'm an animal rights individual, and to read something like this turns my stomach. I believe that whatever cruelty humans do to helpless creatures, should be done to them! And I reiterate, HELPLESS CREATURES! I don't think the store should be closed, as long as they are strictly checked for humane regulations, but they should be fined very heavily for allowing that to happen. Bunnies SCREAM when they're hurt, but, of course with drowning, I guess they didn't have a chance. Bottom line, the employee should be held under water for say.... 15 minutes!!!
The actions of this employee should not be used to punish the other employees who depended upon their jobs . If the manager is complicit, fire him/her and clean up the store. PETA just doesn't want anyone to have pets , and wants everyone to think the natural world is some kind of Disney World.
http://www.ourdogs.co.uk/News/2009/July2009/News310709/rspca.htm
England has had its fill of animal rights radicals for some time now. This article interviews a lawyer who takes to task the RSPCA for prosecutions that are illegal. This is a good insight to what will happen in our country if HSUS continues on its rampage of participating in puppy mill raids and takes charge with out the legal authority to do so. In Britian the RSPCA the equvialent political organization of the HSUS volunteers raid private homes in military style outfits even though they don't have the authority to do so. They kill more animals than anyone else in the name of euthansia. You need to read this article to see where America is heading with these radicals who want to take away your property rights and your constitutional right against unreasonable search and seizure.
The following information is from PeTA's own documents that they must fill out and turn into the WV state government to keep their shelter status. This is not made up. The statistics can be found at the website and verified through tracing as I have done:
http://www.petakillsanimals.com /
"From July 1998 through December 2008, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) killed over 21,000 dogs, cats, and other "companion animals ." That's more than five defenseless creatures every day. PETA has a walk-in freezer to store the dead bodies, and contracts with a Virginia Beach company to cremate them.
Not counting the pets PETA spayed and neutered, the group put to death over 90 percent of the animals it took in during the last five years. And its angel-of-death pattern shows no sign of changing."
PeTA employees/supporters/volunteers have been convicted of 'rescuing' animals from unsuspecting people, taking them behind convenience stores, killing them in a van and dumping the bodies in the store's dumpster!
If PeTA had their way - there would be no more pets kept as they are slave to the human race .
Yes, what this employee did was WRONG. But does it mean that all PetLands are bad? NO. In fact Petland just had a case dismissed in court that originated from HSUS and PeTA where these two accused them of cruelty to animals and selling animals that were unhealthy.
Come On! Why is anyone believing what PeTA is trying to promote here? Who are the real murderers? PeTA!
the employee was specifically mentioned as female. Is PETA so quick to post the gender of other people in their articles?
SolarSanitizer- I have to point out a couple of things in your last comment that were incorrect. First of all, Elizabeth can't be just "one bad seed", after all, she didn't take the picture of herself did she? No, her MANAGER took it.
Also, while I am not anti-breeder, I do not believe that any store should sell live animals , with the possible exception of mabye goldfish or crickets. I run a small animal rescue, and 98% of the animals that I take in were bought on impulse at a pet store, where people who have no idea how to care for them can simply walk in, have them stuck into a little cardboard box and carry it home to live (if it's lucky) in a little ten gallon fish tank or something.
The point I am trying to make is-no store has to sell live animals to make money . After all, pet supplies are a multi-million dollar business, and wouldn't it be easier to sell things that don't ever even need feeding, cleaning or vet care?
You seem to be right. It was two bad seeds, according to third-hand, anecdotal information with no proof.
Even if PETA was correct about the manager taking the photo, does this mean that all Petland employees are deranged animal torturers/killers? This type of fallicious argument is called Composition.
"I do not believe that any store should sell live animals , with the possible exception of mabye goldfish or crickets."
Why the exceptions? Are they less live?
"I run a small animal rescue, and 98% of the animals that I take in were bought on impulse at a pet store, where people who have no idea how to care for them can simply walk in, have them stuck into a little cardboard box and carry it home to live (if it's lucky) in a little ten gallon fish tank or something."
I think the job you do is a noble one. If your wish that "[no] store should sell live animals", you'd lose 98% of your work. Petland and you would have to lay-off your staff, and illegal [insert animal name here] mills would take up all the slack.
Does that seem reasonable to you personally?
"The point I am trying to make is-no store has to sell live animals to make money . After all, pet supplies are a multi-million dollar business, and wouldn't it be easier to sell things that don't ever even need feeding, cleaning or vet care?"
Pet supplies are a multi-million dollar business /because/ there are pet stores creating the market for supplies. Don't you think that would dry up if people couldn't legally buy pets ?
Before you say "adopt", please remember where 98% of your animals come from.
I am sorry, Gentle, I do not think your arguments hold water .
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
Solar,
I wanted to comment on a portion of your response to Gentle Giants.
I don't understand when you respond that he/she/they will would have to lay off their staff. I'd guess that 90% of animal rescue groups in this country use volunteers due to the fact that rescuing animals and providing vet care & food is expensive. They are not paid employees relying on these jobs for survival. You keep trying to show how the economy will suffer if Petland closes. Remember there are many other pet store chains (and independents) in this country. Assuming that they are responsible and ethical, the pet industry will not suffer.
Also, you comment that Gentle Giant will lose 98% of their work. Guess what, that's good thing. People who chose to rescue animals do so because there is an unfortunate need. If all animals were well taken care of, there would be no need for rescuers. (Excuse the analogy but) It's like saying, thank God for crime , it keeps the police employed. It's a completely illogical comment.
Also, pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills. Puppy mills are like prison camps whether legal or illegal. Obviously the illegal ones need to be eliminated. However, truthfully, even the legal ones are horrendous. I'm no fan of puppy mills. They can all go away, even at the expense of the economy.
Sorry, but nothing you have said holds any water for me.
Drew
You are entitled to your opinion.
The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data'.
Well, it's not my opinion that there are several other pet stores in this country. Look online, it's more of a fact.
Supporting animal abuse and neglect to keep animal rescue groups around and keep them "staffed", may be just your opinion. But I think the majority of society would find you disgusting.
There will (probably) always be a need for shelters and rescue groups due to the human factor. By that I mean, when people give up their pets due to financial, social or other situations that come into their lives. However, to not have to deal with the animal cruetly part of sheltering and rescuing can only be an improvement worth hoping and praying for. This is my opinion. But I'd hate to meet the people who disagree...oh wait, that's you.
Good luc.
Drew