A hamster in a dark cage.

Petco and PetSmart Supplier’s License Suspended for Animal Welfare Act Violations

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The US Department of Agriculture suspended Apet’s license for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Apet is a giant animal wholesaler that supplies small animals to Petco, PetSmart, and many other pet stores across the country.

USDA Suspends Apet’s License 

Animals sold in pet stores are bred in cruel mills. Mills are commercial breeding facilities where hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of animals are confined in small cages and tanks. In mills, animals endure horrific treatment. Illnesses are left untreated, injuries are ignored, and animals may be denied food and water. Dealers like Apet buy animals from mills, warehouse them, and then ship them to pet stores. Animals suffer at every step of the supply chain, and many die.

The Animal Welfare Act is supposed to protect birds and mammals, but the government rarely penalizes companies that violate the law. Instead, the USDA issues minor fines, short suspensions, or takes no action. In this case, Apet only received a 21-day suspension of its Animal Welfare Act license despite extreme neglect.  

Apet is accused of: 

  • Failing to provide adequate veterinary care to animals. 
  • Failing to properly sanitize guinea pig and hamster enclosures.  
  • Failing to ensure compatible animals are housed together. 
  • Failing to arrange enclosures of guinea pigs and hamsters being transported so that drivers can see them.  

Animals Are Suffering at Apet 

Earlier this year, we revealed some of the worst violations recently found at Apet. These violations included a bird and a chinchilla with broken legs who were ignored, parrots so crammed into cages that they couldn’t move normally, a hamster with open wounds all over his body, guinea pigs with injured and scabbed ears, a guinea pig with a persistent head tilt, a hamster lying curled up and unmoving, and a golden-faced parakeet lying on his stomach and unable to stand.  

Stop the Cruel Pet Store Pipeline 

A short suspension isn’t enough. Animals will continue to suffer and die as long as pet stores sell them. Help us shut down the cruel mill-to-pet-store pipeline.  

Here’s how you can help: 

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