| NEWS | United for Respect Pet from p 12 “deceased store-owned pet policy,” which Cordaro shared with New Times, deceased animals are to be wrapped in paper, then in plastic, sealed with rubber bands, and packed into a refrigerator or freezer. “Deceased pets must never be left in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours,” according to the policy. Because of staffing issues, these mandates are too often ignored, workers claimed. A spokesperson for PetSmart said the allegations “do not represent our 1,660 stores” and do not reflect the “associates who give so much of themselves to care for all pets as if they were their own.” “This is just the latest in a series of misleading assertions that United for Respect has made toward us and other retailers,” Christina Grant-Backus, PetSmart’s corporate reputation manager, told New Times. “Our associates have several avenues to connect with us and ask questions or voice their opinions.” These resources include access to store leaders and human resources, as well as an anonymous CareSmart hotline, which is operated by an independent third party, Grant-Backus added. Report: Dog Deaths Rising at PetSmart Dogs are dying in greater numbers every year at PetSmart stores, according to a 2021 report from United for Respect. The report detailed PetSmart’s troubles navigating the coronavirus pandemic, maintaining decent working conditions, and countering the rise in pet deaths. Nationwide, dog deaths at PetSmart stores have more than doubled since BC Partners, a London-based private equity firm, acquired the company in 2015. At least 36 dogs have died since 2015 while receiving care at PetSmart or shortly there- after. Between 2008 and 2014, only 15 dogs died while in PetSmart’s care, according to the report. An additional five dogs died recently while in PetSmart custody or immediately after, including a poodle that allegedly was strangled during a grooming session in Pennsylvania and a bulldog that was crushed under a grooming table in Las Vegas, according to the report. “Workers are discouraged from taking sick animals to the vet so they can keep costs down,” Bianca Agustin, United for A billboard on I-17 near Union Hills Drive urges PetSmart’s Phoenix-based corporate executives to address calls for improvements at the company. Respect’s director of corporate account- ability, told New Times. “They [PetSmart executives] just want them to die, and then they put them in these freezers.” In North Carolina, 20 PetSmart stores were recently ordered to “improve condi- tions for animals in order to comply with the state’s Animal Welfare Act,” according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. According to another report from NJ Advance Media, a New Jersey-based media and data company, some PetSmart employees “felt either ignored or retaliated against when they spoke up about safety concerns or wrongdoing by colleagues.” Feeling pressure not to bail on his job, Cordaro remains on PetSmart’s payroll. “I like my coworkers, and I need to work,” he said. He said he hopes conditions will improve soon and wants it to be “a little less stressful for the rest of us.” There is also “a distinct effort” to unionize among afflicted workers, Agustin said. “We wholeheartedly support every- one’s right to organize,” she added. Formal conversations about unioniza- tion have yet to take place as workers continue to see if recent efforts make a difference. In June, Agustin and two asso- ciates flew to the New York City offices of BC Partners. “We left that meeting feeling hopeful,” Agustin said. “We really wanted to give the company the benefit of the doubt so things would get better. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.” Now, Arizona PetSmart workers are escalating their campaign to take on the company right in its own backyard. “The company leadership is based in Phoenix, and they ultimately have a responsibility to address these concerns,” Agustin said. “We want to give them that opportunity to do that in their own back- yard. It’s time to bring some corporate responsibility to PetSmart.” In her statement to New Times, Grant- Backus said the company is listening. “We are committed to asking questions, listening, and taking action to ensure PetSmart continues to be a place where associates are valued and pets receive the highest standards of care in our industry,” she said. 15 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES SEPT 29TH–OCT 5TH, 2022
