What we do know about the abuse and exploitation of animals at pet stores is alarming, and that doesn’t sit well with animal rights activists.
In an unprecedented move, petco on Tuesday will start removing human trafficking signs and images from its online store.
The move is part of a concerted effort to address the problem of human trafficking, said Julie Bowers, a pet store owner in San Francisco, where she owns a pet shop.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Bowers said.
“It’s an acknowledgement of what’s happening.”
The Petco online store is a huge success, with more than 1.6 million customers.
The company says it is working with law enforcement, and is making it easier for pet owners to report human trafficking to law enforcement.
Petco says it will use social media tools and outreach to help educate people about human smuggling, and the company says the initiative is the first step in its efforts to educate pet owners.
The company said it is not removing signs or images, and will not remove any pet store content until further notice.
The steps are expected to take several weeks.
PetCo said it has worked closely with the Humane Society of the United States and Animal Legal Defense Fund to help develop and distribute its training material and outreach.
It also has partnered with other organizations, including the National Association of Police Organizations, to create a training video.