Every year millions of wild animals are forced into the cruel wildlife trade for use as food, traditional medicine, or entertainment.
They’re also sold as “pets.”
Fueling this deadly trade are the pet retail giants PetSmart and Petco. In their more than 3,000 stores across the US, Canada, and Mexico, PetSmart and Petco sell numerous wild animal species including parakeets, aquatic turtles, lizards, and snakes. Whether sold online or in stores, shipped from distant countries or bred domestically, the result is the same—animal suffering.
Pet Stores Are a Major Driver of Wild Animal Sales in the US
The number one source for birds, reptiles, and fish are pet superstores or pet shops. The next most popular source for these species is a friend or relative, which means these animals were likely purchased at stores as well.
As the two largest pet retailers in the United States, PetSmart and Petco are pushing wild animals into people’s homes.
From Cruel Mills to a Lifetime of Captivity
Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals like chinchillas are suffering in breeding mills. If they survive the journey to pet stores, they’re then sold to families.
In captivity, behaviors like exploring, foraging, or even regulating their body temperature are restricted. Wild animals are meant to fly through the sky, swim in rivers, or bask in the desert sun—not spend a lifetime in a cage or tank.
How Can You Help
Tell PetSmart that animals aren’t products and don’t belong on store shelves. Urge PetSmart to take the first step to end the wildlife trade by phasing out the sale of reptiles and amphibians.
