Petshop rescue

[Jezabel]

Do you think we should rescue reptiles from petshop?

I have no idea of what my answer is. I thought of that because the blood you see on that pics is over 2 years old...and about 2-2½ feet I took the pics cause they had 2 and I sent it to a really nice guy that came down from mtl to buy one. This other one is still there, and when I'll have some more space I think I'll buy it.

[Pixie]

Hi Jez,

That is a very tough answer to give... On one hand, I would like to "save" the reptiles that are badly kept in some petstores but on the other, I know they'll just be replaced quickly by another one who is kept in unpleasant conditions...

It's really a catch 22 in my opinion so I still have no definite answer. I've bought my BP cause I wanted one for quite some time but I was more than happy to give it a proper home and care too.

About that blood python, I'm interested in that breed and planning to get one sooner or later, what are the conditions of the place where it's being kept? Do you know if it's a CB? Let me know of some details if you can, I'd love to give it a new home

Pixie

[Jezabel]

Hi pixie!

The other one that was there is now at King-Python on magazoo. I'm sure he's not cb (as most snake that are for sell here) but I've never ask. I'm sure they will tell you cb anyway. They obviously never feed him, my blood is feed every 14 day and is 4ft at 15 month old! He has a slimy waterbowl, he is house with some new wc arrival once in a while so might have mites. But seems to have the proper temp and humidity (at least). He's 250$ and I'm not sure if he would lower his price. He soooo small for his age I dont know if it could have affect his healt or his growth. The one the King-Python has is in great shape but he has it for about a year.

C'est dur de décider a acheter un serpent qui a p-ê sa vie d'hypothéquer a cause qu'il a pas été nouris... Je sais pas a quel point ca peu l'avoir affecter. Informe toi a du monde plus connaisseur pour etre sur. Merci de ton intéret!!! Si jamais ca t'interesserais toujours, m'a voir, je peu p-ê faire un tit quelque chose pour le prix...

[lance]

hi all thats a toughie
i'd like to save them but as the poll says thier just going to buy more and treat them the same way
i think some way we have to educate the store staff but like any buissness they are on a budget and the owners don't want to spend the money on herp care
just my oppinon thanks

[Lisa]

I wouldn't rescue an animal by buying it from a pet store. there are other methods. Now I'm not saying you should go in and steal the animal (that would result in a total loss of proffit for the store but thats just a drop in the bucket).

Stuff like legislation and education are better ways to get better treatment for animals in general. Surprise inspections, undercover inspections and public reports with proof (such photographs).

Requirement of a care sheet with every purchase including details on adult size and housing requirements is also another way to do this. having said care sheet posted next to the cage would be good too.

Educating store staff is one thing but when you have a minimum wage job you don't usually care and are only there to make a buck til something else comes along.

[Biggz69]

i would rescue them and then keep rescuing the others aswell (if you have the room that is)

[Bryan Self]

I feel that a poorly kept animals should never be bought. It is tough to walk away but if there behavior is rewarded it will be repeated. I will speak with someone in charge and try to get the problem resolved. Reporting it to the authorities causes other problems. The HSUS and PETA already do not want us to own reptiles. They, in their ignorance, consider pet stores as experts. So if pet stores cannot do it right then how can the adverage person? We should not buy supplies from a place that mistreats it animals. Every dollar we spend just helps the company. The biggest problem with the reptile community is that we do not stick together. I feel we are a majorty,a silent one.

if we rescued them how would pet stores make more cash?would they not lose the money that they paid for it? it would also give the goverment some stats so they realize how many reptiles are suffering in the world every day. if i had the option i could not watch reptiles slowly die of hunger,poor living conditions etc, etc. i would save as many herps as i could if i had the money and space!

[Nicky]

I think in some casses yes but not in all i know in the hobby pet stores are rather looked down upon but not all pets stores are irresponsible in keeping jherps properly. I work in the reptile section of our local pet store called pet mart and we take extreamly good care of our reptiles each has proper caging heating, feeding. We spend up to 5 hours a day preparing various salads for our water dragons and desert igunans. We sell informitive books and make sure buyers know there stuff befor purchasing there herps. I understand in many cases reptiles have been horribly mistreated and this deeply disgusts me as i am a big fan of herps and have some of my own. I agree that more education should be spread to pets stores to inmform them how to care for reptiles responsibly and i also think if any reptile in the store are beeing mistreated one should call local animal police or whatever there called and the pet store should face a very expensive fine. On the other hand I don't think all pet stores should be instintly assumed to be horrible mistreaters of reptiles. I think pets mart should be shut down thoe because there chain of pet stores is so disgusting. They've made excuse such as oh we didn't know reptile needed heat or oh reptiles need to be feed more than once a year?? Disgusting. We should make an effort towards educating pet stores thats my opinion. Even by going to your local pet store getting to know the peopl and maybe if you have the time voulinter to care for the reptiles and make some suggestion about how they care for them.
thats just my 2-cents thoe

[sophia]

I've tried that route twice here in town Kayla, I'm hoping it will catch seeing as how one store is really kept clean... however the snakes are clean but the husbandry is still very poor. They are kept in tanks with no belly heat, with heat lamps that are too hot sitting right on the wire, bowls too shallow to bathe in, no humidity boxes and no heat gradient is possible much less aparrent! But as I said, at least it's clean, and recently the owner purchased some new caging that is snake specific, much much nicer, so there is hope.... I think he's listening...

Tay

[Sean_.E.]

I think it depends on the situation. If the animal looks as if its on deaths door then you could buy it but complain. Then with the receit you could go down to the Animal aid or something. Show them the snake and then maybe ask them to help you organize a investigation. They would know who to call etc. I dunno if this would work but It's just an Idea!

I agree with Kayla aswell!

[Syst3m]

Its a vicious circle... Rescue one and 2 more replace it. I'm not sure I can support a store that takes poor care of animals. But I also do not want to see the animals suffer. I guess I do things on a case by case...

[Zhakrin]

Personally I would like to see WAY sticter enforcement of health regulations on Pet stores. Give those officials that evaluate a store the power to do Unannounced visits and should the petstore have animals (Reptiles or any other animal) that is being stored in unhealthy conditions have them immediately seize the animal and then give it to a rescue organization or licenced person.

If officials find a fridge in a restaurant that is not at the "right" temp they can close the restuarant completely till it is corrected...do the same of pet stores.

Close them down...seize the animals for rescue!

Mites found in a certain quantanty...fine them big ($5000 for small stores, $25,000 for a chain store). Make it so that the stores CANNOT afford to keep reptiles in poor conditions.

Any animal found in a "near death" state...immediate closure of the store and investigation.

ok here is an idea...since I am a new herper I would like to hear peoples ideas on it.... Bann retail stores from selling wild caught herps. let only licenced breeder buy WC with the condition that they can only be resell to other breeders.

[Nicky]

that sounds like a good idea actually i was thinking why not complitly ban pet stores from selling reptiles think about the hsus couldn't use pet stores to get at us, NO more reptiles would suffer and we could buy reptiles from real breeders who take extreamly good care of there reptiles it's a win win situation you know what i mean. We could give it a try?

I answered other, because if by rescue you mean force the store to give the animal up without compensation I say do it. If you mean feed the stores profit by purchasing the animal forget it.