May 25, 2016 - 3:24 PM
BARTO, Pa. - Another major pet retailer has severed ties with a small-animal supplier amid a federal investigation into conditions inside its Pennsylvania facility.
PetSmart said Wednesday it's no longer getting animals from Holmes Chinchilla Ranch in Barto. Petco said in January it ended its relationship with Holmes. Pet Supplies Plus also severed ties several months ago.
Federal inspectors spent several days at Holmes after an animal-rights group shot video purporting to show substandard conditions at the facility, where it raises thousands of hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and other species.
The inspection turned up problems including sick and dead animals, inadequate sanitation and untrained employees performing euthanasia.
Phoenix-based PetSmart says it began investigating when it learned of the allegations and decided to sever ties with the company.
A message left at Holmes after the business closed Wednesday wasn't immediately returned.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016