Petco Shuts Out Shareholder Questions, Including from Iggy Pop About Ties to Cruel Bird Breeding Factory

For Immediate Release:
July 2, 2026

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

San Diego, Calif. –

During Petco’s annual meeting on Tuesday, executives shut down the Q&A section, refusing to respond to—or even acknowledge—any shareholder questions, including one submitted by PETA on behalf of music legend Iggy Pop, challenging the company over its continued sales of live birds in the wake of a damning undercover investigation into a parakeet breeder in Petco’s supply chain. Petco claimed not a single question submitted aligned with its “rules of conduct,” but scurrilously didn’t make the rules available on its annual meeting website—even though it said it would—and has refused to respond to PETA’s requests for a copy following the meeting.

“Petco’s refusal to answer to questions shows that the company has no good answer for why it continues to prop up miserable breeding facilities where birds suffer and die in filth and agony,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on Petco to own up to its role in this cruelty and end all live animal sales, and we urge everyone to never buy any animal from a pet store or breeder.”

Petco Shuts Out Shareholder Questions, Including from Iggy Pop About Ties to Cruel Bird Breeding Factory — These 88 birds were among the 100 PETA’s investigator and other workers found dead in a single day. Photo: PETA

PETA’s investigation into Creekside Birds revealed 10,000 birds crammed into tiny, filthy cages; staff killing birds by crushing their necks, slamming them against the ground, or even ripping their heads off; and sick and injured birds left to suffer for weeks without veterinary care. Nearly 1,400 birds were found dead in just 27 days. The Oklahoma-based breeding factory has since been cited for thousands of federal animal welfare violations.

Multiple PETA investigations into and whistleblower reports from facilities that supply reptiles, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and more to Petco have documented widespread cruelty, suffering, and neglect.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram