We are a Mainecoon cat rescue group that have been going to this Petsmart every 4 weeks for the last year. Until yesterday we were treated like they appreciated us coming.
When we arrived they tried to set us up by German Shepherds, which if you know dogs you know they have a high prey drive for anything small and furry. We asked to be put in a different place and were but later that became an issue used against us that we were complaining.
Later, their dog trainer started having the owners of the dogs taking the class come down by our table to teach their dogs to sit and stay. The dog was approximately 40 - 50 feet away when the owner was told to call it. This took place in the center aisle of the store, which again caused both customers and us concerns.
We had people that had come a distance to meet our cats. We couldn't get them out with the noise of the dog owner calling their dog by yelling and then some of the dogs wanting to come right up on the cats in their cages. It wouldn't have been safe for anyone.
We asked the dog trainer if she couldn't move over a couple of aisles allowing us some safety and the ability to have the people meet the cats.instead of moving over a couple she merely went to the othe side of us, which resulted in the same issue. Although customers were complaining nothing was changing.
We asked to speak to the manager on duty, which was Zak at the time. He came and told us that the people in the training class had paid for that and he couldn't say anything to them. We stated that all we wanted was for it to take place further away. He said okay and left.
Approximately 15 minutes later the other manager, Vince, came in carrying his lunch irrate. He said he got a call there was a problem and had to grab his lunch and come and what was the problem in other words he was angry that his lunch got disturbed. We explained what we had asked of Zak and the trainer and he said the same as Zak that these were paying customers and he wasn't going to do anything. Furthermore, he told us that we were no longer welcome at the store.
I won't go into the fact that as a former breeder and show handler of dogs I know how to train one and it isn't being done properly at any of the Petsmarts I've been to but this particular young woman has zero experience as she had been an employee in the store. She had often stopped by to talk to us about the cats asking basic questions that anyone with experience should know, in particular if you are going to be training dogs in the store. How ridiculous to pass someone off as a dog trainer with no prior experience. Not to mention putting a potentially hazardous situation into play by letting dogs loose in the store that have had no prior training.
We not only won't be back to this Petsmart but have decided no more Petsmarts period as they have no clue on how to handle animals that come into their stores and zero customer service to people that bring customers into their store. I find it odd that they can advertise how many animals get saved because they allow rescues to come into their stores and yet this is how they treat us once we come.
Claudia Prathe
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