Petland Employees Drowned Rabbits, Posted Photos on Facebook
We've written about pet store chain Petland before, due to their documented use of puppy mills and snarky response to groups that protested said use of puppy mills. Now PETA claims to have found photos on a Petland employee's Facebook page that show her grinning while holding up the wet, lifeless bodies of two rabbits she had just drowned.
Apparently, the animals were killed to end their suffering. Their suffering due to poor care received from Petland staff.
Yes, we're more likely to make fun of PETA here at Consumerist, but if this story is true, it's a big deal and a huge black eye for Petland. From PETA's press release:
The Facebook photo shows a grinning Carlisle — who worked at the Petland store located at 2000 Brittain Rd., Ste. 41, in Akron — dangling two dead, soaking-wet rabbits by the scruff of their necks. Carlisle confirms a Facebook friend's guess that she drowned the rabbits, writing, "[T]he manager took the pic for me. [S]he reminded me that there were people outside as [I] was swearing at them to just hurry up and die but then she was so kind as to take this picture."Carlisle's other comments indicate that the rabbits had been allowed to "attack" and "eat" each other (behavior that may have been caused by crowding and poor husbandry) while in the store's "care" and that rabbits had sustained injuries, including "deep wounds all over," "an eye missing," what Petland staff "suspected was a broken jaw," and paralysis from the waist down. The case is currently under criminal investigation by law-enforcement authorities.
If rabbits (or, indeed, any animal) are eating each other, there's something very, very wrong either with them or with their environment. That's horrible treatment, even without taking the drowning into account.
There is a (mercifully) blurry picture available that PETA posted on their blog, but you probably don't want to see it. That's why this post was illustrated with 100% healthy, alive, fluffy, dry bunnies. (If you must, click here.)
Looking at the picture, the images don't quite seem to match up with the text. The rabbits look wet, but not dripping, though that may be a photo quality issue. Do Petland employees normally wear scrubs?
EIther way, Petland confirmed the incident when they put out a statement (now taken offline) on Tuesday.
Petland is saddened and outraged at this gross violation of Petland's animal care standards. It is Petland's understanding that the employee was instructed to contact the store's consulting veterinarian, and instead, defied the orders and store policy and acted on her own. She was immediately dismissed and the case is now being handled by local law enforcement. Petland, Inc. is conducting its own internal investigation.
UPDATE: The Akron store has been closed indefinitely, and all animals removed from the store. Petland has issued an updated press release.
Boast Over Animal Killings at Ohio Petland Prompts PETA to Call for an End to Store's Rabbit Sales [Press Release] (Thanks, Philip!)
Petland Closes Akron Store [Press Release]
Hopping Mad: Petland Shuts Down Akron Shop After Worker Drowns Rabbits, Poses For Pics [WOIO]
(Photo: jpockele)
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Comments:
This is a terrible story. I wonder how these places aren't shut down yet?
On another note, I hate PETA.
I don't care much for any of these organizations, but when their target and mine aligns, I'm not going to push these organizations away just because their other issues bother me. At this point, I would like to stand with PETA and call for Petland to be shut down for good.
Ugh.... The pic looks like shes holding up zombie wraith-rabbits from hell. And she looks happy about it. I have a morbid sense of humor, and even I dont find that remotely funny.
Well, now I want to cry and hug some fluffy bunnies. This is a terrible, terrible story. I hate PETA for legitimate reasons, but if this is true, those people need to be brought up on animal cruelty charges.
But it amuses me that the rabbit on the left in the photo used with this post has its little mouth open, like its shocked and apalled. It sums up my expression pretty well.
This is ridiculously sad and I hope both the former employee and the manager are held accountable for their actions. I won't click through to the picture - just can't do it.
Peta's been known to exaggerate or stretch the truth to better serve it's needs before, which has made me leary of trusting their press releases on their merit alone. I have heard many other horror stories of big box pet stores, however. I'd like to know more about it, like why would someone work at a petstore if they apparently get so much pleasure out of drowning injured animals, why you would take photos of yourself killing injured animals and grinning about it, and why you would post those photos to Facebook for the entire world to see?
These are the kind of stories PETA needs to put their name behind, and not the presidential fly swat or zombie dogs in video games.
PETA would garner more respect if they would focus on truly horrific issues. Or at least serious ones.
And what a horrible way to 'euthanize.' I have a degree in biology, and worked in research labs. I have euthanized healthy animals. This sickens me.
Horrible. Just horrible. Petland needs to shut down not just because of this incident but many others, and their use of puppy mills.
This is horrible.
On a related note, the Petland press release didn't say "taking it seriously"? That must mean that Petland is NOT taking it seriously. So they're, like ... taking it casually?
Those are...er, were...real live rabbits? Good Lord they look fake. But I guess with all this hullabaloo they were alive at one point.
Sickening. I just don't understand how someone can bring themselves to do something like that.
I have just turned over this information to my local SPCA. While they told me they might not be able to do anything directly they are going to try and make sure something is done.
I feel so bad for all the animals at Petland, it makes me want to buy them all and give them a good home, but then that only encourages Petland :(
We go in there somtimes, I think the only thing we've ever bought was some fish food and I even feel guilty for that.
Well... Is PETA actually doing what they're supposed to be doing for once? Like... actually protecting animals? This is a good day indeed. Now they just need to go all ecoterrorist on some whaling ships and I'm completely on board with them. That last comment was made in all seriousness, as I cringe at the thought of whaling...
@korybing: agreed, there is more to this than what PETA is telling because they just looove to put the super-double-fun-fantastic-spin on everything.
I don't like PETA...but if it were People Eating Tasty Animals, I'd be a charter member.
@Murph1908: Yes, exactly. PETA is doing nothing but hurting itself when it makes ridiculous claims about not swatting flies or asking Ben and Jerry's to use human milk in their ice cream rather than cow milk, or condemning pet shelters that euthanize animals when the PETA shelters ALSO euthanize animals.
If they would focus on actual issues like this I think people would take them much more seriously and be more willing to help their cause.
By the way, the link to the Petland press release doesn't work. However, I found a release on their site saying that they're closing the Akron store in response to the "incident": [petland.com]
D:
there should be a higher punishment for animal abuse and neglect. i hate people like this.
I vote they drown the employee and the manager in a bucket next.
(Not really. But still. Those people are horrible. The whole story is horrible. I hope they get jail time.)
@knyghtryda: Have you ever watched the show on Animal Planet (I'm pretty sure it's called Whale Wars or something like that)? It BLOWS MY MIND that all of these treaties and laws are broken on the regular and there are no consequences.
I'm no fan of PETA, especially of their politics ... but in this case, as well as some others, they are definitely, 100% correct here. (Just goes to prove the old cliché ... even a broken clock is right, twice a day.) This is inexcusable, and although IANAL, it looks criminal to me.
In light of this, I just made a donation to SPCA.
@TinkishDelight: That show is SOOO horrible, I had to stop watching it. It is too dragged out. They did at least three episodes on an LRAD system, making it seem like it was a Howitzer that could sink the ship and make people's heads explode a la Buffy.
@Murph1908: Given that PETA's members have faced felony charges for animal cruelty for killing and dumping animals they've "adopted" from shelters or had surrendered to them by owners, using illegal euthanasia facilities and then illegally dumping the bodies in dumpsters (charges filed in 2005, IIRC, in VA and NC), I'm not at ALL sure this is the kind of thing PETA wants to call attention to.
I stand tall and applaud the use of 100% healthy, alive, fluffy, dry bunnies for this story. To do otherwise would make baby unicorns cry.
And, what Wal-Mart is to retail shopping, chain pet stores are to wannabe pet owners. Not only should you not reward them, but you should prevent your friends from rewarding them too.
I'm not normally a fan of PETA, but I'm glad they (and Consumerist) are making an issue out of this. It's very sad. Unfortunately, the punishments available by law fall far short of what justice would demand in this case.
And thanks for not posting the actual picture.
@BenderRodriguez: You'll probably want to use a more credible website..
PKA is run by the "Center for Consumer Freedom," which is really just an industry group: [www.sourcewatch.org]
The PR Company they use, Berman and Assoc. is well-known for running faux-advocacy websites on behalf of giant corporations: [www.bermanexposed.org]
I'm an anti-PETA vegan, but you know what I hate even more than PETA's sensationalistic sexism? Corporate lies dressed up like "the truth about..."
@korybing:You said, ...why would someone work at a petstore if they apparently get so much pleasure out of drowning injured animals...
The answer is that if you get pleasure out of torturing animals, you go where the animals are.
@a5un: The motion is seconded. Between incidents like this and using puppy farms, which will break your heart if you don't know how horrid these places are, Petland needs to go away. Far, far away.
@Vanilla5: ugggh, me either.
We have several wild bunnies living in our backyard, and now I just want to go home and watch them frolic.
I am with the other posters upthread that do not normally stand by PETA, but they have me on this one.
Oh my God. I wasn't going to look but then I did. Now I'm sorry.
I want to hurt that woman. Really, I do. Just for the expression on her face.
@TCama: thanks for the link. seems this store was a franchise. they sound pretty angry:
"Petland will in no way, shape or form tolerate any abuse of animals in its care. We are outraged of this gross violation of Petland's animal care standards. "
i'm happy to see that instead of 'taking it seriously' they are instead, taking ACTION.
@JustinSane07: I have mixed feelings about that statement. Yeah, obviously the manager was all "OMG LETS BE DOUCHES AND TAKE PICTURES OF OUR SELVES"...
butttttt, at the same time, if the picture was never taken, we probably wouldn't have evidence of such acts taking place, right?
So what else could possibly be going on? The rabbits accidentally drowned themselves and the employee was holding them up as evidence they needed more stock? And she has a facial disorder that turns her frowns into smiles? Petland pretty much confirmed what PETA said when they said that law enforcement was handing the issue.
Here's a link to a non-PETA article: [www.woio.com]
It's sad to know that there are evil people like that out there. She belongs in prison for a long, long time. Today it's bunnies, tomorrow it's her children.
@korybing: This sorta reminds of the snot in the pizza a while back . Even if this is a joke there are somethings you simply don't joke about even if it's to keep your butt out of trouble let alone give the impression that you condone certain acts .
It only takes one wack job and this facebooker just inspired somebody to do something similar . PETA can be a pain but like any group of people most are well intentioned if not misdirected . Without PETA though this and alot of other crap would be going on unchallenged .
@BenderRodriguez: No see, it's OK when they do it because they have the animals' best interests at heart. Better to die free than be a slave, right?
[www.sfgate.com]
[www.allacademic.com]
[www.thisistrue.com]
[en.wikipedia.org]
[www.petconnection.com]
@Bogart's Falcon aka Philly Falcon: Yeah, the locals are independent--they're not tied to any national organization. There might be some joint responses in the works, though.
@veg-o-matic: Thanks for the info. I don't support the Center for Consumer Freedom, I was just using their site because it links to legal doccumentation of PETA's hypocrisy (sp?).
Every group with a website has an agenda, otherwise these sites wouldn't exist. I don't endorse their politics, I just support exposing PETA as a fraud.
"PETA can have my Rottweiler when they pry her from my cold, dead hands."
@squinko - Coming Soon: When DDoS Attack!: It looks like that article got their information from the PETA press release. All the articles I've seen follow the PETA description of events, without adding new information.
I don't know. It still doesn't add up to me. I'm not saying it didn't happen, but until it's confirmed by the police, I don't fully believe it. How do we even know that the photo is of who they claim it is and taken where they claim it was taken?
those rabbits arent just dead. theyre DEAD. holy crap
Feed him RAW.
Seriously.
It's a bit more work getting the muscle-innards-bone ratio down, but your dog's poop won't stink, their fur will shaine and their allergies won't be aggravated.
@downwithmonstercable: A broken clock can be right twice a day. Once in a while PETA and the truth happen to bump into each other.
@Skankingmike: Unless you're buying generic Petland brand, you can find the same dog food elsewhere. It may cost a teeny bit more, but you won't be rewarding companies that kill animals.
The manager should be let go too if what she said about him taking the picture is true. It means he condoned her actions.