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Please join Animal Rights Florida and local PETA supporters to protest PetSmart for selling bearded dragons and other animals.Details:
WHEN: Saturday, January 18, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
WHERE: PetSmart - 3232 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
See Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/S6JZn87JnCBHT2V97
CONTACT: [email protected]
All materials (such as posters and leaflets) will be provided.
WHY: A whistleblower who worked at Reptiles by Mack, a Xenia, Ohio supplier to Phoenix-based PetSmart, found dragons at the suppliers' facility confined in barren plastic tubs where they could not burrow, hide, or climb—all basic bearded dragon behaviors. Dragons were denied water for drinking and soaking; they attempted to drink drops of water left behind during cleaning and drank continuously when the eyewitness misted the enclosures. Dragons were often found lethargic, emaciated, or suffering from other conditions, including apparent fungal and mouth infections. At least 420 dragons—including dozens of babies deemed “slow growers”—were put down in less than eight weeks. Dragons, including babies, were routinely found dead. The eyewitness alone found 69 dragons dead in less than eight weeks. When the eyewitness asked how animals were put down, a supervisor said the animals were gassed using carbon dioxide for up to 10 minutes.
Unable to hide or escape the crowded conditions, dragons often fought, resulting in severe injuries to their tails and feet. Instead of seeking immediate care for the injured animals, Mack management instructed staff to leave them in bins until a veterinarian might examine them on his reported weekly visits.
Thousands of baby dragons were imported from overseas, packed by the dozen in tiny plastic containers. Others were bred at Mack. Zip ties were put around the necks of dragons used for breeding, and the females were left in garbage cans to lay eggs, with no food or water, for up to six days at a time.
Workers were forced to work so quickly they were denied time to check on the health of hundreds or even thousands of animals they were responsible for in a shift.
For more information, please see:
https://investigations.peta.org/bearded-dragons-suffer.../
Please refrain from bringing dogs as there may not be shade or a safe place for them to lie down during the protest.
Outreach events are a fun and effective way to help animals as well as meet local advocates, so be sure to invite others
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
PetSmart (Orlando, FL), 3232 E. Colonial Drive,Orlando,FL,United States
