Frustrating me to no end, poor animal.

[Tsubaki]

In a local pet-shop there has been a Boa Constrictor for sale for months now. The first time i saw it, it had shed horribly, it was a bit dehydrated and had a slight fungal infection on it's back. But it still caught my eye, because it had pretty silver gray almost Anery looking eyes. The owner of the shop assured me that was the way the animal came in, and that they were going to get it in better shape while it was in the shop. I had no reason for not believing him, the other animals looked pretty well.

Yesterday i visited the shop again to buy some thermometers, it's been a few months (5ish) since i last been there. So i walk to the reptile area, curious as always. The same boa was still there, looking absolutely Horrid. I talked to one of the employee's, he tried to convince me that the animal was recently brought in 'with a slight burn' and that it wouldn't eat, but that is is doing 'better' now. I know for a fact that he was lying, it is exactly the same animal. It's in the the same enclosure, same price, same pattern, same unusual eyes.

It's health has deteriorated, and he has obviously lost weight. I told them it was going to die if they kept it in this condition, and that they should really get it help before it's too late. I even offered to take it off their hands, but they want me to pay the full price. Not only is it a very sick animal that won't even eat, the price is Absolutely Ridiculous!! First time i went there i asked to see the papers, because i wanted to know Why it was so expensive. But it still doesn't make sense, its a Hypo Het. Albino, 66% Het Anery. And it costs 850,- Euro, which is 1053,- USD. I put the thermometers down, and left.. These ********'s not getting a penny from me...


I made some calls but the animal is 'cared for properly' so they won't do anything, the owner probably told them the same lie.. I'ts making me so angry! I wish i could help, he is slowly wasting away.. For a brief moment i even considered burglary, but that wouldn't be wise.

I really needed this off my chest, here's some pictures i took off him.. He even looks better in the pictures than he does in real life..

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj100/Senna-Ichurin/20141201_104625_zpsb04c23d8.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj100/Senna-Ichurin/20141201_104631_zpsac659666.jpg

http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj100/Senna-Ichurin/20141201_104634_zps85a496d0.jpg

[UserNameIsValid]

That is absolutely horrid that they would treat an animal in such a way! And the fact that they reflexively lie to you and give you crap stories is even worse!

[Aaron_S]

I'm really glad you didn't spend any money with them. You deserve a gold star.

Bummer about the snake. You've been doing the right thing by contacting authorities and not spending any money with them. Keep it up and spread the word. If the authorities don't do anything at least you can show how you feel by not filling their wallet.

[Tsubaki]

That is absolutely horrid that they would treat an animal in such a way! And the fact that they reflexively lie to you and give you crap stories is even worse!

Yea it doesn't make them look any better, at-least they could be honest.


I'm really glad you didn't spend any money with them. You deserve a gold star.

Bummer about the snake. You've been doing the right thing by contacting authorities and not spending any money with them. Keep it up and spread the word. If the authorities don't do anything at least you can show how you feel by not filling their wallet.


Thanks. I'm doing my best spreading the word, already convinced my friends/acquaintances not to go there anymore. i'm not sure if i can share the name of the shop here freely? It is mostly an aquarium shop with a small reptile area, the fish are cared for well but the reptiles don't sell well so they don't seem to get any care.:(

[Aaron_S]

Yea it doesn't make them look any better, at-least they could be honest.





Thanks. I'm doing my best spreading the word, already convinced my friends/acquaintances not to go there anymore. i'm not sure if i can share the name of the shop here freely? It is mostly an aquarium shop with a small reptile area, the fish are cared for well but the reptiles don't sell well so they don't seem to get any care.:(

Name it anyway.

[Tsubaki]

Its called Dino, or Dino's Dierensupermarkt. Located in Breda Netherlands.

[Tsubaki]

I got a callback asking if i have any proof the animal has been in this shape for the time i claim it has been, sadly i did not take pictures last time i was there. But they say they're keeping an eye on it now, which is something at-least..

[Pareeeee]

Found their site, looks like you can give them reviews. Reptielen - Dino (http://www.dinodierensuper.nl/reptielen/)

[reptiledude987]

Nice lets all review them on their site!!!

[guyabano]

I got a callback asking if i have any proof the animal has been in this shape for the time i claim it has been, sadly i did not take pictures last time i was there. But they say they're keeping an eye on it now, which is something at-least..

It's something. Good on you for sticking to your values and not giving them business. That is no way to treat an animal.

[Tsubaki]

No it isn't, it's a horrible way to treat an animal. Sadly it isn't uncommon here, even though this is an extreme case.. There are only 2 stores nearby that even have any reptile related stuff, and i don't support either of them. Why i don't support this one is obvious, and the other store isn't much better. The few times i have been there i have always seen animals housed wrong, small cages, weird combo's and sick animals. My regular store is an hours commute but it is great, wish it was open more often (only 3 days a week)

[Pareeeee]

Online sales are killing these types of stores. So, I suggest you begin buying supplies online ;)

[Tsubaki]

I can not buy my snake food online, there are no sellers.

[MH4C]

Tsubaki, check the website of the company rodentonice. I've been quite happy with their feeders (only mice for me though, no experience with their rats) so far.

[Tsubaki]

This topic is really old i know.. only 1 picture even still works, but have an update on this. I just visited the store again because I was close to it, and it broke my heart to see this animal STILL in their store.. now in a very small enclosure, looking skinny and dehydrated on top of all its skin issues :( they dropped his price to 175€ now.. which is still way too much..

[trailblazer295]

It's very sad and mind boggling it's still alive. That is one strong boa to still be alive 2 years later.

[Skipper7]

Two years later? Have you contacted authorities again? That is horrible.

[GyGbeetle]

If you want to buy this animal and get it out of there, I can offer some money up to help fund it. I know it's not ideal.... Maybe get a GoFundMe account too? Anything to get this baby out. I don't want to support these jerk faces, but 2 years later, this animal deserves a second chance.

[trailblazer295]

If I had the skills to rehabilitate an animal in that poor shape I would have probably caved after 2 years. I know it's wrong to support this behavior but I have the spine of a gummy bear. :(

[RAD House]

Unfortunately by paying them any money it will just allow them to purchase another animal to torture until someone caves and buys that one as well. You would only be propagating the vicious cycle by paying them money. It is a sad situation, but sometimes taking a stand on one animal saves many more. I would continue to complain the authorities and take more recent pictures. That would be over two years of neglect and hopefully you can get someone to act. I was under the impression that pet laws in the Netherlands were much stricter.

[Skipper7]

Perhaps we could all send the store emails.

[Tsubaki]

I wouldn't mind getting him to be honest, he needs help so bad I really wish i could help him :( been thinking about him all day. He's been cared for so poorly for I think around 3 years.. I don't think they'll replace him with a new animal soon if he sells/dies... They have a tiny reptile department (It's an aquarium store, most of the reptile department is empty).. I mailed/called/got people to mail/call.. nothing.. Only option is to cough up the cash.. I simply don't have it.. I've never been this tempted.. Even been reasoning with myself... Since technically it woulndt support the store, they've been feeding/heating etc for oved 3 years, and they overpaid for him.. I think this is a dump price in their eyes (considering a normal cornsnake costs 150€ there) I don't know what to do.... :(

[trailblazer295]

I'd support gybettles idea.

[Kathryntheclean]

I don't know about your predicament. I too, have seen my fair share of abused animals...my mother and I frequently call the ASPCA on people we know are mistreating their animals. I don't know what authorities you have over there, but if you are persistent, they will get something done usually. My family has even resorted to stealing neglected animals from bad owners. Now, I am NOT telling you to steal that baby, but, I'm saying sometimes if things are drastic, we must take desperate measures. Call the authorities again and again-everyday if necessary. Tell them you will not stop. Can you call a newstation, even? These days, there are a lot more people who are sensitive to the unloved animals who aren't being caref for.

[Skipper7]

If you take up gybeetles idea, I can't donate $$$ but I can share a gofundme link on instagram. My beardie has an account and has quite a few followers from the reptile community.

[GyGbeetle]

Tsubaki: Message or email me offline. I can try and cough up the cash. I don't know what the USD rate is, but I have my tax refund coming in. I know you're a good rehab'r. If you can take on another snake, I'll do my best to help get this little one out. I can't really meet you in the Netherlands; I don't think I can drive there from here :) Please let me know

[GyGbeetle]

Can you intimidate them to drop the price? Tell them, after taking pics and discussing with your vet, you know this animal will cost X amount of dollars to give it a fighting chance at good health, so spending Y amount of dollars is more realistic given this animal's poor health. See if they can drop it down to something more reasonable...

[Kathryntheclean]

I'd donate, too! What on Earth is the exchange like from US dollars to whatever you guys have? Sorry, I've only been out of Texas once and that was to see the in-laws. I'm not exactly "worldly".

[jay's reptiles]

If you take up gybeetles idea, I can't donate $$$ but I can share a gofundme link on instagram. My beardie has an account and has quite a few followers from the reptile community.


what is the beardie instagram username. ill follow it.

[TRD]

Jesus Christ.

You know the worst thing for it? Somebody buying it. I did that once, got a rescue from a local petstore which was there suffering for 3 years.

I believed I did the animal a favor, and I might of, really. But the result? The petstore got 2 new, and the VERY SAME snakes, sitting in the same small enclosure 2 weeks later. They will be there again for another 3 years or more. I felt like i only cut off the head of a hydra.

It's sad to say, but to do the reptiles on larger scale a favor, you should never buy from a bad store because you feel sorry about the animal. It's heartbreaking, but this is the only way to stop this :(

I also travel for 1.5 hour to a outskirt little place to get my supplies, because those people have a real care about their animals and I really do not care they cost a bit more. It's obvious good care also costs money, and without that the store can't exist.


PS. If you really feel this sorry, I'd be willing to donate, but I'm really afraid you'd only find the terrarium refilled a few weeks after making the disappointment worse...

[Tsubaki]

Like i said, their reptile department is running on empty, several empty spots. They're a store that sell fish, not reptiles (fish are in good shape too). They don't deny them basic care.. they just don't care about the condition of the boa in question, they spend a lot of money on getting it and now they just seem to want it gone... I never buy anything from them anymore since they did this, but this just tugs on my heart strings.. He's "ugly", overpriced and not healthy.. just knowing he will wither away eventually after holding on for so long... Just because nobody will buy a snake like that .. it's sad... I have seen reptiles in poor shape before, never bought one, they sold or died eventually....

Anyway, I could technically take him in, don't mind the work.. Its just the funds holding me back. My rescue funds are completely drained a.t.m, the vet bill for this guy could get quite high. Also, i dont tend to "buy" rescues because they end up costing me a lot of money already, so I'm torn... It's very generous to offer to help get him out of there, I'll definitely take it into consideration though i wouldn't even be sure how. Never had donations before to be honest! Just FYI it's around 185USD, the store price.

[Kathryntheclean]

Really, keep updating us. Let us know if you decide to take the poor thing. We'll all send donations! Poor little snake. None of God's creatures should be left in such sad situations!

[trailblazer295]

I'll have my people contact your people.

[akane]

I don't think at this point leaving the snake is going to harm the store enough to be worth a life. The next snake they get in might be healthier, especially if they have any other healthy ones and they might keep it without issue. If it were a chronic problem across many snakes beyond just small enclosures for what are supposed to be temporary reptiles then I would say people need to keep refusing to buy their reptiles and let others see the condition. With a small reptile department and a single sick snake though it's not going to make or break the store or fill it with neglected reptiles to buy 1. The place obviously hasn't closed down or even slowed by the sick snake being left there. People are probably more interested in their other areas. I've been in the same situation with a bird. They have a cockatoo with deformed feet and beak which was probably not their fault but they are not caring for it to help reduce the complications and improve it's function. They have a small bird section shoved in the back corner with back to back cages of mostly small over priced birds. I just don't have the money and questionable large bird experience. It's been there years. Since it started deformed and the cages aren't dirty with food, water, and some old toys it doesn't fall under neglect by authorities. They are also mainly a fish store with a huge section of rows of well maintained tanks. They've got a tiny reptile section in what was a storage space before, the birds on the other side of the wall in the same size space, and some dog, cat, and rodent supplies on metal hardware store style shelving stacked around the edges of the aquarium area. Unfortunately they are the only steady supply of live rodents for my snakes that won't eat f/t. I get them elsewhere when possible but it's not always possible. There's one store in another town and the rodent breeders are unreliable and a long headache to get across what I want and setup a time to get it including no one being there sometimes. Set hour stores are far more reliable for live rodents. Of course frozen are easy to get.

[Aaron_S]

Why buy this animal? All it says to the store is that "We can keep them in any condition and someone will eventually pay money for it so why change?"

[Tsubaki]

I haven't bought it yet for that exact reason, trying to aquire it through different means. I was tempted but I just can't bare the though of giving them any money..