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Today i had to go to get my big guy a new basking rock as he is starting to out grow as we call it his baby basking rock. Petsmart is not to far from where i live in ulster county, new york so i decided to stop there while i was out with my kids for the day. We went in and my son always goes right over to the reptile section to see what they have. He came back to me fairly upset and said to me Mom they have this little beardie over there and i think he's dead. I said "what" and followed him over to see what was up. Well to my horror there was this little tiny beardie in the tank and he did look dead to me also . i took off the top of the cage and to my suprise he moved. I was horrifyed at the condition of this poor little creature that it almost brought tears to my eyes. I could see my two at home and how fat and happy they were and could only picture thats what this creatures life should be like. I know we can't save them all but this little guy looked like he never had any care to have that chance. I sent my son to find a manager and told him i owned beardies and if they didn't do something about this animal he would die. They were so oblivious to this condition i just couldn't leave him there to die. They were just so ignorant telling me he was eating 5 crickets a day and repacal. To be honest i said big S*&T. So needless to say we left the store with this poor little creature. The baby is now home tonight in a warm enviroment with a full belly and sleeping well. we managed to feed a small bit of chicken baby food, 2 crickets and a few small drops of water. Its a start. Its going to be a long hall back to good health if this little one survives. Already showing even in the state he's in some great orange color. Im on vacation this week so i have lots a time to play nurse maid to this pretty little one.. Sorry to vent but this upset me so much. I think these places should have to have an educated person to care for these wonderful animals or not sell them at all. Im sure you all feel the same. well thanks for listening wish me luck and keep this precious little one in your thoughs....thanks again all

Great job... It's nice to hear a happy ending once in a while =]

While I do agree that it was a nice thing to do for the beardie, unfortunately this only perpetuates the cycle of death that goes on in crappy stores. Please, everyone, as hard as it is to leaving a dying baby beardie, it is better that way.

While I do agree that it was a nice thing to do for the beardie, unfortunately this only perpetuates the cycle of death that goes on in crappy stores. Please, everyone, as hard as it is to leaving a dying baby beardie, it is better that way.

I agree. You have to let them die. You cannot pay a petstore for a dying baby dragon. That does NOTHING but clear space to bring in another little life to destroy. You can insist that they provide proper care for dragons, you can threaten calling the "animal cops". You can tell them you are filing a report with the better business bureau. There are lots of things you can do, but do not buy the baby. In this post it does not say that they purchased the baby, and I hope that it was surrendered (that is possible). But please guys, don't but from chain petstores. Every thime you do you make the WHOLE chain stronger. Just because the one petstore you go in on a paticular day has a proper setup DOES not mean it is right to support the chain as a whole. So many baby dragons suffer because of these stores. Even in the stores that they are taking proper care of their dragons they are still supporting impulse pet buying. People come in and leave with a new pet that they know nothing about, have not researched or planned for, and they will lose intrest in a few days.

As hard as it is please LEAVE these beardies alone. Do not EVER buy one just because they were cared for that day at that store. Or because one with a bit of color slipped in the group.
There is only ONE way to say this. If you buy dragons from a chain(no matter how good your intentions are) you are supporting the pain and suffering of thousands of dragons (and other reptiles) all over the US.

I am happy for your little dragon getting a chance. I would suggest taking him to a vet, getting the vet to say that he is in REALLY poor condition, then go back to the store with the vet statement and tell the manager if you EVER see dragons in that condition you ARE going to file a report with animal control. It probably won't really do anything, but it may at least get you some attention to the matter.

Jen
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MY Dragons!!

I wish you the best of luck with your new beardie and it's a wonderful thing that you did for him. I know alot of people will say "you shouldn't buy it because they will just buy more and they will suffer", but if your anything like me, you can't stand to see the one before you suffer when you know you could help him out. The sad truth is, pet stores will never change and most of them are the same. They don't view the animals as a living being, but only a profit. The pet stores in my area are horrible! I don't know how many times I have seen beardies without any heat source, water turtles in dry set ups, overcrowded rodents...etc. I try to avoid pet shops but now and then I have to go to get supplies. I agree with you, they should have educated people working in pet stores, but about the only ones working at these places are people who have no idea how to properly care for these animals. I could go on and on all day about pet stores (trust me, if you seen the ones in my area, it would be a sore subject for you as well). Anyway, best of luck with your new baby! Christy

Thank you for the positive reply. after reading the couple of others i kind of felt depressed and like id been scolded for doing a good thing, but i was brought up to believe everything deserves a chance. Yes i know they most likely will only get more in at some point. I never did but in the post that the manager didn't give him to me but cut the cost 50 percent and gave me a uncondition return after the expire time if the little baby didn't make it, but even without that i most likely still would have done it. I myself normally don't go to these places i order online for my supplies but sometimes you get in a pinch and have to go. I needed a blub for my other guys. We have a vet appointment on thursday and well go from there. I do agree with a few points others have said like impulse buying is the worst but someing never to be stopped it is the way of the world and thats a sad thing. thank you again for you encouragement.

This is such a hard decision. It's hard to leave a dying baby in a store. The IDEA of letting those little dying reptiles become martyrs is a good theory, but in truth I don't know how much it matters. There is a space to fill if someone buys the dragon or if it dies. There is too much of a demand for reptiles to stop stocking them. Either way more beardies will be brought in, tortured, sold to idiots and die.

It's like that in every branch of the pet industry. There are some people that really care and do things correctly, and then there are the "puppy mills" and chain pet stores out there who just do it for the buck. Unfortunetly, doing things correctly cuts into the profit margin. Neglect is cheaper.

Sorry for this rant, but sometimes I feel like we're fighting a tidal wave. Grab as as many as you can and run!
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Kelly Affonce
DeKeaff Exotics
www.dekeaffexotics.com
AIM: DekeaffGrrl

awww, that's so sad.
Bad stores can get me sooo mad! Sadly, most of them have no clue what they're doing...
I'm glad that you decided to take the time to care for this new little beardy, and that you gave him a chance.
He'll have a much better and happier life with you.
Keep us posted please...
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-Lauren

~ Lauren's Lizards ~

groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurensLizards

write them via customer service and also the alternative e-mail for them, tell them which store and the situation, we really need to make them aware of what they are doing, wether it helps or not at least we are doing what we can, its better to have tried and failed then to never have tried at all

>>awww, that's so sad.
>>Bad stores can get me sooo mad! Sadly, most of them have no clue what they're doing...
>>I'm glad that you decided to take the time to care for this new little beardy, and that you gave him a chance.
>>He'll have a much better and happier life with you.
>>Keep us posted please...
>>-----
>> -Lauren
>>
>>~ Lauren's Lizards ~
>>
>>groups.yahoo.com/group/LaurensLizards
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reiko
photos

howdy neighbor......
Sue
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Life is what happens when you are making other plans.......

hello back im in Highland. the one in kingston is at least clean ..no this was the one in middletown ..its brand new.

Omg, dont go off telling her she did a bad thing. She did a great thing. You contacted management,a nd let them know. If they do it again, you can call the proper authorities. It's not the little dragon's fault. Give it a chance. If you were laying there dying in a cagem would you want to be left? If she left it and it died, it's no big deal to the store, they throw it out and get more. Good job on saving the beardie. And good luck to your little one, you did the right thing.
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~Julie~

Thank you for your support .im giving him all the tlc he deserves. he never asked for those conditions.

were doing about the same today.not to interested in the live food but enjoying the warm enviroment. trying to rehydrate this baby now. using a recipe i found here with baby food and pedialyte seems to like it after getting him started he gives it his best to lick it off the dropper ..all i can do is give him the tlc he needs and were off the vet on thursday..if anyone has any more good ideas i would really appreciate them..

thanks