PetSmart

-November 30th 2015 (Not the only date I have been concerned) - Store # 610 Greenville, NC - I am concerned about the care and husbandry of the small animals (Guinea pigs, rats, chinchillas, hamsters) and birds in this store. I am in petsmart quite often picking up food for my dog and rabbit and don't ever hesitate to kindly bring a concern to attention. This is not intended to bash a specific person, but to create better care for animals that depend on us. I have a work history of working in veterinary offices and can't help but notice when something is not right. I think some of these animals are being neglected. I don't believe you guys are intentionally neglecting these animals, but more because they just don't know their proper diets. As I'm shopping around, I noticed an overweight guinea pig in a very small cage with no food, searching its bedding for food. Putting an overweight guinea pig in a small cage won't help it lose weight, and starving it won't help it either. A small cage will make it fat, and starving it will throw its gastrointestinal tract off (and its also really sad watching a guinea pig try to be active in a very small cage where an igloo is taking up most of the space). I found it odd that some of the birds had more hay than the animals that actually need it more. I kindly brought it to a pet care associates attention that the guinea pig had no food and his response was "oh, we are about to feed them in a little while anyways". He should have fed him right then and there. These types of mammals always need hay available as the chewing helps with grinding the teeth and the fiber aids in digestion, which clearly this guy did not understand. It was not his fault he doesn't know that. It's petsmarts' fault. It also doesn't take a person working at a vet to know this. There are endless credible internet sources that will provide such info. Another thing that was odd was that the small baby rats were in the giant cage, where the guinea pig should be. Another concern I had was with a 'tiel (a type of bird, complaint board won't let me spell out the name of the bird). 'tiels are very social birds and should have quite a few toys in their cages for mental stimulation. This poor bird had only one very large bell (that is likely for a large parrot) that is too big for it to even play with. It also had its feathers puffed out, one eye closed, and was shivering while it was perching. This sometimes can be indicative of a sick bird. Birds tend to hide their illnesses until they are very sick. Once again, I am not complaining to just get mad, but to get these poor dependent animals better care. I know that pet stores are always going to sell pets, but if you guys are going to then you need to do your research and treat them right. Putting them in too small of a cage with little to no food is neglect. Failing to take them to a vet is neglect. That guinea pig needs to be put in a large cage with unlimited amounts of timothy hay and the proper amount of pellets. The bird needs to be watched for any other signs of illness. Petsmart needs to better train their pet care associates in order for them to properly care for these animals as they each have their own distinct diet and care.