13/06/2025
To Our Valued Community,
We want to take a moment to address some disturbing and false information currently circulating on Facebook.
First and foremost, We wish to say thank you to our loyal customers for your continued support. This truly means the world to us. You are the heart of our business, and we remain committed to providing a welcoming, fun, and safe environment for all who visit.
Our Pet store has always been a hub of pet owners in the Manawatu and a place where thousands of families come and visit, and we intend on this to continue for years to come.
🔹 We are aware of defamatory and completely false allegations being shared online. These posts include unrelated images sourced from the internet, which do not originate from our store or reflect our practices in any way.
🔹 The individuals behind these posts have contacted us directly, with what appears to be a clear intent to harm our reputation. Please note that the deliberate spread of false information can have serious legal consequences. We have involved the police and are pursuing legal action.
🔹Due to the nature of these false allegations, our staff have been subjected to abuse and threats which under no circumstances is acceptable. These have been forwarded on to the Police.
🔹 Based on our evidence, many of these anonymous posts appear to originate from a small group of individuals, including:
1. Jordan King and his partner Emily Rose – Jordan is a former staff member who began exhibiting erratic and aggressive behaviour, including making threats toward our suppliers and staff. We categorically reject the claims made by him and affirm our complete confidence and faith in our current team. In 40yrs of business, Jordan is the first and only staff member that has had his employment terminated and has subsequently been reported to the police and trespassed.
2. Amelia Catherine Seales /Amelia Catherine – A former pet shop owner and Axolotl Rescue activist from Dunedin whose store was shut down by the SPCA within the first few months of opening. The links below will give you a true idea of the character of Amelia and let you be the judge. She has never visited our store!
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/crime/woman-sentenced-threats-and-assault
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/spca-investigation-into-dunedin-exotic-pet-show-labelled-a-willy-wonka-experience-concludes/TK2IN5HI5VACREZVOMEKMIFFVY/
https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/otago-daily-times/20221206/281633899267229?srsltid=AfmBOooyTU0N0vJ7PBQHcZM5gcRKmN-yKmLGQLCVS18M1Kqv9chh_gzh
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350335086/willy-wonka-experience-exotic-pet-expo-and-resulting-backlash
https://www.reddit.com/r/dunedin/comments/1dwjxud/do_not_go_to_the_exotic_pet_show/
3. A person who has current name suppression due to her upcoming animal abuse court case.
We understand that some individuals fundamentally oppose the existence of pet shops in 2025. And while we respect differing opinions, the spread of blatant falsehoods and online harassment is unacceptable.
In light of all the hate and slander being posted online, we would also like to point out that the peaceful protest that was held recently was exactly that and we thank them for keeping it civil. These are the real people that care, they actually showed up. Although off the back of allegations and lies, we are happy if they would like to come and see for themselves.
As a result of the recent claims, SPCA officers from Wellington and Palmerston North, accompanied by two independent veterinarians, visited our store. No evidence of animal abuse or neglect was found. A few minor improvements were suggested, which have since been actioned and completed. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for the coming week.
We welcome any member of the public with genuine concerns to visit our store, speak with us directly, and see for themselves the high standards of care we provide to all animals in our care.
We remain committed to transparency, respectful dialogue, and ongoing improvement.
Please help us stop the spread of misinformation by not engaging with or sharing these false claims. Let’s work together to support respectful discussion and protect the integrity of responsible small businesses.
With gratitude,
Wet Pets Pet Centre
