Dr. Buyukmihci wrote a letter to Joel D. Anderson, CEO of Petco, in response to our April 29 alert to protest the selling of baby chicks at Petco. Petco is currently selling chicks at five suburban Petco locations, including one on Long Island.

30 April 2025

Via E-mail to Joel.Anderson@petco.com

Joel D. Anderson, CEO
Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc.
10850 Via Frontera
San Diego, CA 92127

Dear Mr Anderson:

I am a veterinarian and Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California. It is my understanding that you are selling baby chickens (chicks) at your stores, particularly during the Easter holidays. As an expert on animal welfare and well-being, I hope I can convince you that this practice-albeit unintentional-is extremely cruel.

It has been my experience that most people do not know how to care for these animals. Children in particular have little idea of what is proper or what is humane. More importantly, once the novelty of having a chick, particularly when the individual is no longer 'cute', wears off, the chick will either be neglected or discarded as if an unwanted 'toy'. Many of these discarded individuals may end up at animal control facilities or shelters, where finding suitable homes may be virtually impossible due to the sheer number of individuals. Death is often the only recourse for the individuals.

If Petco cares about non-human animals and wants to be seen as more than just a financial institution, they must stop selling animals, particularly those who are going to end up being abused and discarded. Surely Petco can continue to flourish without resorting to purposeful harm to animals.

Sincerely,

Nedim C Buyukmihci, V.M.D.
Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California-Davis
E-mail: ncbuyukmihci@ucdavis.edu

• Please sign the petition Stop Petco Chick Sales started by Humane Long Island: www.change.org/StopPetcoChickSales

• Write your own letter to Petco CEO Joel D. Anderson at the above address.