Posted by:
lefty82
at Wed Aug 23 17:35:37 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by lefty82 ]
Well, the first gecko that was sold to me from the pet shop was in a very sickly condition. Within the first two days it was obvious something was wrong. There was nothing I could do. That death was not my fault. The vet couldn't do anything.
Secondly, I researched online and with "The Leopard Gecko Manual" before I got any of my geckos. I spend weeks researching to make sure it was the right pet for my situation. I checked and double checked to make sure my habitats were safe and healthy before buying any geckos. I have no other pets that will endanger them, and have raised other, more finicky reptiles previously. This pet, nor any pet I've ever had in my life, is not a "fad" pet for me. I researched, I checked my facts, and I'm not going to "grow tired" of them and give them away to shelters. I take animals very seriously, and I want to breed and raise them in the futre. If I have the space, time, dedication, and money to give the pets what they need to stay happy and healthy, I really don't see a problem with that.
Lastly the death last night was purely accidental. That was my fault and I am very upset about it, obviously. But people do make mistakes and that one didn't have anything to do with me providing a dangerous environment or living condition, per se. The animal was healthy, lively, tame, and doing fine until the accident.
I realize that you are looking out for the animals' best interests, but I am not some 12 year old who thought it would be cool to buy a bunch of lizards. I am a mature adult with years of experience with birds, reptiles, and all sorts of mammals, and I made an educated decision concerning this hobby. If the geckos I bought kept wasting away until death and I kept buying them, then I can understand your backlash. But all the geckos in my care with the exception of the first sickly animal, are gaining weight, active, and living it up. I know this because I monitor and record their weight and appearance very thoroughly. I have Excel spreadsheets to prove it (a bit much? maybe). And in case something bad happens and an animal does get sick, I have the ability to take them to a specialized vet when needed - the hospital number is on my phone.
If I had bought 4 dogs and lived in an apartment, then yes, that is not in the dogs' best interests. But if I lived on a farm with 50 acres and bought 4 dogs, would anybody bat an eye? Probably not. It really depends on the situation. I know from an outsider's view, two dead geckos does not sound good. One was my fault, but it is not dead from lack of care or negligence.
I promise you each and every animal is handled with care, and special attention is devoted to each one every day to assure that nothing is amiss. They get food, clean water, calcium dishes, proper thermal gradients, etc. They are very, very healthy animals. So please don't worry. The last thing I would let myself do is abuse animals.
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RE: Your other thread disappeared... - lefty82, Wed Aug 23 17:35:37 2006