AUBURNDALE, Fla. (WFLA) – The Family Dollar store sells many things, but rats usually aren’t one of them.
A Polk County man contacted 8 On Your Side recently to rat out an Auburndale Family Dollar after he claims he saw rodents throughout the store.
The man, who did not want to be identified, says he witnessed the rats at the Berkley Road Family Dollar.
“I heard the rats in the sign outside of the store, running all over the sign. I heard them in the roof. The noise of rats running all over the store from the Pampers to the medicine area,” he told 8 On Your Side.
Pictures taken by the disgruntled shopper show what he claims are rats, dead and alive, throughout the store.
“It’s disgusting to have a store like that when everyone knows about the problem, even the customers,” he said.
The pictures also show chew marks in various products, including dog food and paper towels. The viewer also went as far as taking pictures of rat traps and droppings near bottled drinks.
“I go to get food for my dog, I figured out that the bag has tiny holes. I don’t see myself shopping over here again,” he said.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly through the handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine or saliva, or through rodent bites. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent.
8 On Your Side contacted Family Dollar’s corporate office for comment on the alleged rat infestation. Family Dollar sent back a statement saying, “We are aware of the reported claim and are in the process of assessing the situation. We will take appropriate action.”
In the meantime, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer services confirms to 8 On Your Side that they have inspected the Family Dollar store and found no signs of rats or mice. The department plans to conduct a follow-up inspection in the near future.
