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View Full Version : What Do You Think I Should Do?

Herptile Lover
10-20-12, 11:18 AM
I walked into the local Petco to get my KSB some f/t mice and I always look at the reptiles they have in stock while I'm in there, and there was one lizard in particular that caught my eye. I had wanted a African Fat Tailed Gecko for a WHILE and I finally found one, unforutunatly, he didn't look too good. He was greyed out like he was in shedding but it didn't even look like he was making an attempt to get it off. He was just sitting there, staring at me. He was lathargic and I could visably see he had lost his tail (There was nothing there but a small bulb where I'm guessing it has started to grow back) and he has a broken leg from what I could tell. I am guessing he was imported from the wild and I know I really shouldnt buy him, but I just feel so bad for him and I know that it is only a matter of time before he was put into the back and left to die, so I bought him. I am fully prepared for his death, but I figured him dieing with me was better then him dieing in the back of Petco or possibly with a ten year old. I just want to give him a fighting chance and I took him to the vet just now. He was free of parasites (Thank God), but his front leg was severly broken and he had an eye infection. I am treating the eye infection right now but they cant do anything for the broken leg they said. Gosh I hope he is going to be alright.
Lankyrob
10-20-12, 12:48 PM
Leave him to die, if you buy it then the shop will see that crappy animals sell and get more in, if he dies they take the loss and may reconsider getting more in. Sad but true :(
Valvaren
10-20-12, 12:54 PM
She already bought him Rob. Also what Rob says is true, as terrible as it is, but seeing as you already got him i'd say just try your best to give him the best shot at whatever chance he might have now, just remember in the future that buying these animals just lays the road for more to be brought in and abused.
shaunyboy
10-20-12, 01:14 PM
although your intentions are honourable.....

it's never wise to buy a reptile thats not 100% healthy,i understand where your coming from,but as Rob pointed out,most likely petco will be ordering another one to take the place of that wee guy

all that said...

i really hope he gets back to full health for you,now you have him

all ther best shaun
Aaron_S
10-20-12, 01:22 PM
Don't do it again.
Gungirl
10-20-12, 01:24 PM
^ ditto...

Not a good choice. You just paid them to abuse an animal.
KORBIN5895
10-20-12, 02:18 PM
Get it put down then return it under the health guarantee.
Lankyrob
10-20-12, 03:42 PM
I cant read blocks of text like that on a monitor, missed the bit where it said you bought it.

Take it back, complain loudly until they give you your money back, leave the shop and call animal control (or call animal control and take them with you to return it).

Make sure as many customers as possible hear everything that you say
jhinton6932
10-20-12, 08:19 PM
just dont shop at commercial pet shops AT ALL. use local breeders/importers/specialty shops who take care of the animals. best of luck with the little fella'
KORBIN5895
10-20-12, 10:14 PM
just dont shop at commercial pet shops AT ALL. use local breeders/importers/specialty shops who take care of the animals. best of luck with the little fella'

It's all about your relation ship with the pet shop. I have a killer working relationship with my local pet shop. It is worth cultivating one. You can also educate them on how to do things if you can establish good communication.

There are a couple of guys that work reptiles at my local chain pet store that don't care for me and refused all advice. I just made sure to give advice to them when the manager was there one day. They just shrugged it off and said " this is what I do for a living". I jut smiled and went to get the manager. I explained the exact same way to him and he instantly told the employee to do it how I said. It has been done that way ever since.
jhinton6932
10-20-12, 10:20 PM
that's a good approach. lol make a scene if you have too. hell, if cats/dogs were being kept in cages filled with crap, no food or water, etc, someone would go all "this.. is.. sparta!" on them im sure. every animal has basic requirements that need to be met even if it is for sale in a pet store.
Revenant
10-20-12, 10:43 PM
It's too bad you already paid them and encouraged them to get in more fat tails to treat the same way. You can't save them all when you are giving Petco a nice profit for behaving that way.

Consistent, well-thought-out, warranted complaints to corporate, local management, and animal care authorities and groups in the area can help. The Petco nearest me was hideous, but with the steady work of local breeders and enthusiasts, they eventually hired a woman who is knowledgeable and really ensures the reptiles are respectably kept.

You may have trouble taking the fat tail back now. If you take it back and say "it had a broken leg and all these other health issues before I bought it!" they're likely to deny it or not believe you. Because who would pay Petco prices for a jacked up, doomed gecko?

Good luck.
SleepySleazoid
10-21-12, 04:08 AM
You guys are kind of making me frown. Take it back? How cruel :/ It's already bought, there's no need for every single response to just repeat what the last poster said OMG EVIL PET PLACES TAKE IT BACK YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. Extremely nonconstructive. How about some condolences? Maybe some advice to help this person with their pet?

Or, are you just as cold-hearted as the pet stores themselves? Getting to the point where you care more about your own standards than the animal itself?

That is what it looks like to me.

I for one am happy you bought him. Each pet deserves someone to love him.
Aaron_S
10-21-12, 04:35 AM
You guys are kind of making me frown. Take it back? How cruel :/ It's already bought, there's no need for every single response to just repeat what the last poster said OMG EVIL PET PLACES TAKE IT BACK YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. Extremely nonconstructive. How about some condolences? Maybe some advice to help this person with their pet?

Or, are you just as cold-hearted as the pet stores themselves? Getting to the point where you care more about your own standards than the animal itself?

That is what it looks like to me.

I for one am happy you bought him. Each pet deserves someone to love him.

Condolences? For what? For the pet their going to lose by choice?

I for one am not happy they bought him. Every animal DOES deserve someone to properly care for them but because they bought this gecko in substandard living arrangements at retail price now there will be TWO geckos in substandard living arrangement. I think you're the cold-hearted one. Placing more animals in bad care for your own moral high ground.
KORBIN5895
10-21-12, 04:35 AM
You guys are kind of making me frown. Take it back? How cruel :/ It's already bought, there's no need for every single response to just repeat what the last poster said OMG EVIL PET PLACES TAKE IT BACK YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. Extremely nonconstructive. How about some condolences? Maybe some advice to help this person with their pet?

Or, are you just as cold-hearted as the pet stores themselves? Getting to the point where you care more about your own standards than the animal itself?

That is what it looks like to me.

I for one am happy you bought him. Each pet deserves someone to love him.

Condolences for what?!?!? " I am so sorry that you willing bought an animal you knew was sick." Yeah... someone really needs to give their head a shake or pull it out of that dark smelly place.

Secondly it is not a pet. It was a wild animal that was taken from its home and abused. By purchasing it you are encouraging the same thing to happen to other wild animals. Also I am not against wc animals as long as it is done with some humanity ( which this case so obviously wasn't.)

Finally I recommended she had it put down and then return it under the health warranty. Therefore not all of the answers were the same.

Now go hug a cactus or something.
StudentoReptile
10-21-12, 05:49 AM
Just FYI...

The Animal Welfare Act: 7 USC 2131 et seq. - The definition of "animal" is "Any live or dead dog, cat, monkey (non-human primate mammal) guinea pig, hamster, rabbit, or such other warm-blooded animal, as the Secretary may determine is being used, or is intended for use, for experimentation, research, testing or exhibition purposes, or as a pet. - Cold-blooded animals are not part of the definition of "animal" pursuant to the Federal AWA.

So for everyone who advocates to call animal control or whatever to help out in these cases, it probably will not result in anything, for this reason. Reptiles are not technically considered "animals" according to welfare law, so they do not have to or cannot do much of anything.
Lankyrob
10-21-12, 06:12 AM
Just FYI...



So for everyone who advocates to call animal control or whatever to help out in these cases, it probably will not result in anything, for this reason. Reptiles are not technically considered "animals" according to welfare law, so they do not have to or cannot do much of anything.

Wow, that is pretty shocking, over here "any living creature" is covered under animal welfare laws and more and more of the "stack em high, sell em cheap" reptile shops are getting shut down by the authorities due to poor care/housing.
StudentoReptile
10-21-12, 02:38 PM
Yeah, I mean...I don't agree with it, obviously...just pointing it out.
Revenant
10-21-12, 05:26 PM
Many state animal cruelty laws have no such exceptions, however. Some smaller local bodies (counties, cities, etc) may also have additional laws. Plus, any negative interaction with animal control or bad publicity may influence the business even if there is no criminal law threat behind it.