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Dead fish and unfed rabbits at pet shops
DEAD fish were left on display at two Sheffield pet shops where animals were not fed or cleaned correctly, according to a damning report.
The Pets at Home store in Heeley Retail Park, off Chesterfield Road, had "dead and ill-looking" fish on display, flies were allowed to buzz around guinea pig cages, and rabbits were left without food.
And the Drakehouse Retail Park branch of the same chain, on Drakehouse Way, also left dead fish in the display tanks and housed rabbits in unapproved accommodation with "sharp edges".
Both stores were selling fish the same day they arrived in store, despite numerous warnings telling them this was against the Pet Shop Licence conditions, the report claims.
The shocking findings were uncovered by an Animal Control and Enforcement Officer who was asked to inspect the premises after the shop owners applied for their licence to be renewed.
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Pet shop licences are only valid for 12 months and store owners have to apply for a new one every year to continue.
Sheffield Council has conditions that must be adhered to for a pet shop licence, which include animals being given an 'acclimatization period' before being sold, and a policy that sick or injured animals must be isolated and receive appropriate care without delay.
After the inspection, officers made recommendations that the pet shop licence should not be granted at either store.
"Because of the ongoing concerns regarding the keeping of fish, and because of works needing to be done as listed, I recommend this establishment should not be approved at this store," said the report in both cases.
Officers raised concerns about the shop after earlier inspections but claim management failed to act on their recommendations. At the Heeley Retail Park store in October, an officer said aquatic filters were not cleaned properly, fish looked ill and had not been isolated, and there was no food left out for rabbits or rats.
A spokesman for Pets at Home said their relationship with the council was positive " and they were working with officers to establish a code of best practice.
A decision on renewed licences for both stores will be made by Sheffield Council's licensing board tomorrow.
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Weather for Sheffield
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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