A petition to stop Petco from selling feeder mice???

Question

I was searching the web for something random and actually came upon a petition to stop the sale of feeder mice at Petco. This petition actually goes into description about how the mice are in for a 'torturous, horrible death' from the snake owner or the snake itself. I want to know everyone's opinion on this, because if people see the food chain as being evil and torturous, then what does that mean for any carnivore?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/375160445

Here is what it says:

We wish that Petco would stop selling rodents to snake owners for their snakes to eat.

Petco sells lots of "common" mice to snake owners. Most "common" mice are sold to snake owners, and are in for a torturous, horrible death. Many are strangled to death by the snake, or knocked out by the buyer. We want Petco to screen people before selling rodents to them by simply asking them if they own a snake. We would like Petco to be like Petsmart, who refuses to sell mice to snake owners.

There ARE humane ways of feeding snakes, and that is buying mice that have previosly been humanely killed by a company who specializes in that. The rats and mice are then sold in refrigerators at petstores.

We are concerned, and are not willing to support Petco until they stop selling animals for torture.

Yeah I have a snake as well (ball python) and when I seen this I just had to see what everyone else thought about it.

My snake refuses pre-killed or frozen/thawed meals.

Answer 1

I read the petition, and I have to say that reading some of the comments were even more entertaining than what I see here on yahoo answers.
It's pretty obvious that most of these people have very little understanding of snakes, or how nature works in general. People really are quite stupid, as these comments prove.
I have posted a small sample of them for your enjoyment, along with some comments of my own.

"Mice should not be given to snakes! make your snake a vegatarin"
(and feed them frozen thawed vegatars)

"People shouldn't have snakes as pets for this reason."
(Good, because that's not the reason I have them)

"We have GOT to STOP these bitches from selling those little mice for snake food; there are other sources to feed snakes. How DARE they!!!!"
(Those daring bitches)

"snakes do not need to be fed rodents thats just cruel they make snake food so snakes can eat that"
(yes, tofu snake food. It's sold everywhere!)

"I am angered and disgusted that rats and mice are being harmed. I own six rats and my only comfort is that at least no one can hurt them. Please stop the maddness. Why would kill a smart creature for a stupid primative one. (cough snake)"
(If all stupid primitive animals should starve,how have you managed to survive?)

"I do not and never well think it's right to feed live prey to a frikking snake I wish it would become a law in the US to be not allowed to own snakes period "
(but it's still ok to have frikking mice)

"Please stop selling one animal (rodents) as food for another animal (snakes)."
(I'm still looking for the feeder goldfish petition. I'm sure there's one here somewhere)

"I am sure that snakes can live their lives well without living food as well."
(sure you are)

"ARE YOU MAD ARE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, FEED NOW LIVING ANIMALS TO SNAKES!!!!"
(MAD! are something like that)

"No reason for people to have snakes as pets anyhow."
(Thank you for having the innate moral fiber to decide that for everybody else)

"Rodents are animals too, and snakes can eat other food."
(such as....?)

"Snakes in the wild are happy to eat dead prey "
(after they kill it, of course. Happy snakes!)

"Snakes must it. There are other ways to keep their interest in food."
(yes, there MUST IT be!)

"No animal should only be born as a source of food for another!"
(no, animals are born to reproduce. Then be eaten.)

"It is bad to give rodents to snakes for food because it is the same as murdering the rodents. I agree that the snakes need to have food to survive, but letting other living things die to feed the snakes is not fair. I do not know what snakes eat, but people should try to find food for snakes that is from nonliving things. "
(you mean.....dirt and rocks?)

"Why dont we put Petco's Buyer in a huge glass tank with hungry grizzly bear and see what happens? HELLO!"
(Hello to you too!)

"Personnally they need to find non animal substitutes for feeding snakes--they have vegecat for cats now that cats can be vegetarian-we need cruelty free food for snakes"
(personnally?)

"ewww thats horrible"
(like.......whatever)

"Anyone who needs to torture or kill little innocent mammals for their “entertainment” is perverted. People who abuse small animals usually end up becoming child molesters or serial killers. What happens in nature happens, but what snake owners who feed live prey are setting up isn’t natural, it’s a gladiator fight where one side has no chance to win. The cruelty is absolutely horrid and speaks to the barbarity and evil that still lurks in mankind's heart."
(you forgot to mention necrophiliacs)

"Contained within every evil(greedy profiteering republican) act are the seeds of its own destruction. Adhere to the teachings of Jesus, as contained in The Urantia Book, or else suffer the consequences. It IS that simple. TRUTH has been spoken to power, Peace will prevail. Buck Fush!"
(sorry, pal, Democrats keep snakes too)

Answer 2

Feeder Animals

Answer 3

They are going to buy them regardless of whether PetCo stops selling or not. What about crickets? Those are sold as feeders! Even feeder fish, same thing! Does that mean that we need to stop owning lizards and carnivorous fish?

It is a cycle of life! Regardless of whether PetCo stops selling, peoples snakes aren't going to stop eating! They will just get then somewhere else!

Has anyone ever told these people how livestock is killed for people food? That isn't very humane either! Its the circle of life.. and it moves us all.. through dispare and hope...

hehehe.. dumb hippies! Get jobs and find better things to whine about. Something that really matters like the millions of cats and dogs a day that are slaughtered because they have no homes!!!!

Answer 4

I understand their point of wanting the mice already dead when they are sold at the pet store, but my question is how are they killed before they are brought to the pet stores? Does it really matter too much how they are killed? Snakes will strangle mice in the wild, why is it inhumane to let it happen somewhere else?

Will they start a petition for the end of selling feeder fish and crickets? What is the difference? I have seen my snapper bite and step on, tear apart a goldfish.. compared to those fish, the mice have it easy by being strangled or knocked out.

Answer 5

Petco sells frozen feeder mice, not live...however, that is life, it is natures plan for mice to have that demise, whether it be snake, cat, owl, hawk or other hungry animals. But one thing people should know about feeding live rodents to their animals, they can have serious wounds inflicted on them that can be fatal from the bite of the rodent. So I never advise anyone to feed their reptile a live rodent, only previously frozen.
I love animals to, but predators really need to eat too.

Answer 6

to ajmommy: the people who oppose that are called peta....they have some valid points, but are a little too carismatic about it.

I think that it is ridiculous to have a petition for something such as that, but these are probably the same people that believe that the snake shouldn't be in captivity anyway so it would make sense that they would be against feeder mice...I guess....although if there weren't feeder mice, the snakes would die and that would be just as inhumane.

Answer 7

What do they think the snakes are going to eat?? Celery??

Next thing will be a petition to stop people from buying crickets to feed to reptiles.

Guess the whole world has to go Veggie and either live or die!!!!!

They must not worry about eh LARGE snake owners that have to feed chickens, rabbits and God knows what else!!!

Answer 8

PetSmart does not allow the sale of animals for ''feeder'' purposes (minus feeder fish & crickets).

Petco hasn't followed in their footsteps, but if they did....where would snake owners find food for their pets? Everything has to eat, and some snakes will not eat frozen, sadly.

Answer 9

This is an absurd "petition" from absurd animal rights activists. One cannot ban the natural food chain, nor should anyone try! As owners of animals kept in captivity, we have a RESPONSIBILITY to provide food sources that mimic what these animals would eat naturally. This includes "feeder" fish, mice, rabbits, reptiles, crickets, mealworms etc.....

If these "animal rights" activists had any common sense, they would petition the ban of selling feeder animals/insects. Certain animals require live food for optimal health. It's inhumane to keep certain animals and deprive them of live food!

Answer 10

I'm a vegetarian AND a snake owner. That petition is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. If I could, I would let my snake loose so he could hunt for live rodents near the outdoor trash. But I can't. I can only rely upon retailers to provide food.

-Kurtz-

Answer 11

First of all petco should be shut down by the way they take careof there animals, i worked there and found it discuting how the people who work there hide so they dont have to work theres never any help for customers and there was always something dead i found, you cant just ask someone what they are doing with the mouse, they will loose a lot of money if they stop selling mice, and what about the rats? there all albino or "feeders as u say"

I have a snake(ball python) and she is 2 years old PETCO told me when i got them they only eat live mice not frozen so i said fine, i just need to feed her live mice, on the notes where the mice are they tell you that you shouldnt feed live mice the people there have no animal exp. i went to school for 2 years and was put on a casheering job (makes sence since i knew more then anyone elce in the store)

I HATE PETCO there redic. and shouldnt be open!