Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was giving my dragon "Dancer" a drink of water this morning and was overcome with awe of this creature. He is a rescue I have had for 3 years. He is unable to use his arms or legs. He really can teach us a lesson for dealing with adversity or handicap.

Very inspiring!

What did you use to seal the slate tiles?

Thats the saddest picture of a beardie I've ever seen.

But he's not sad. He's just as enthusiastic about eating or interacting as any other dragon. He lives in a 4' x 2' enclosure and uses every inch of it. he "dances" to move around.

When I first got him I considered euthanizing him even though it is against my beliefs. But, the rescue he came from convinced me to give him a chance. I'm glad I did. Who would have thought he would sill be around 3 years later, he has taught me so much. Now whenever I see an animal with difficulties I know they are still worth the effort to help and that their life is still worth living.

Veronica at Beautiful dragons asked me about a year ago to write his story to post on her site. I never did, at the time I was too afraid that his condition was depressing rather then uplifting.

I can't stand things like this. It literally makes me depressed and go out of my mind. I hate it when my nephew cries-he's only 1 year old. I can't stand when babies are crying...not because I hate kids....because I think something terrible is going to happen. I hate being around terminally ill people for this reason, especially if they are my relatives.

I'm confused. What's your point? You hate animals that have overcome adversity?

No. I'm saying I can't stand to see the sight of an animal looking like that because I don't like seeing animals suffer, let alone a person. That's what seeing the picture reminds me of. I think I would freak if I saw someone dying in front of me.

He's not suffering. He's living his life the way god intended him to. I would have been wrong if I took that away from him.

I only take in "special needs" animals now. So there are a lot of challenged animals here. Older posters may remember Brutus. His spine was fused in a curve shape and he had no use of his back legs. Sadly he passed earlier this year.

I can understand how seeing somebody who is sick or injured can be upsetting...however this is a picture of a dragon who isn't currently sick or suffering. He has deformed legs, from the sounds of it. But it is easy to tell the dragon is healthy, drinking on his own at least and in good shape for something that no longer has use of his limbs. No more upsetting really than somebody born handicapped, or becoming handicapped due to an injury.

However, as its obvious just seeing the picture is upsetting to some...BDLrv and anybody else who may have or wish to post pictures that could be upsetting to those with a sensitive nature...put a warning in the subject that images may be upsetting. Though in this case I was expecting a new rescue, or otherwise an animal who has seen neglect in some way...who pulled through under proper care.

This is a success story...see it as a fine example of how animals can thrive with injures, if given the proper care and helping hand that only humans can do. He is nothing more than a man laughing and drinking with his friends despite the fact he's in a wheelchair because of a birth defect or old spinal injury.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

It's just a basic water based sealer. Water based is the best if you have to seal tile. It's much less slippery.

What is wrong with this poor dragon? History of MBD? This has got to be one of the saddest examples I have seen.

Linda

He and others were bred by someone. A woman who ran a ferret rescue and her niece went to a reptile show in MD. At one of the tables was an enclosure with a lot of disabled dragons. The woman selling them said that her husband bred them and then stopped feeding them. Because of this they had attacked each other and most were missing at least one appendage, some more, but she still wanted $20 each. The ferret rescue lady's niece wanted her Aunt to buy all of them to save them. They only had enough money to buy 6, so they took the worst 6. Of the 6, Dancer was the worst off, they called him gimpy, I renamed him. Over time she found homes for all the others that were not so dependent. Then through a common connection she found me and I took Dancer.

I brought Dancer here in December of 2007. I had him x-rayed when I got him and no injury is visible. I assume his condition is neurological, a birth defect. He eats crickets and superworms on his own and can move about to thermoregulate. He has some issues, and needs more care than others, but we manage.

Poor guy...

Despite his obvious deformity with his legs, he looks quite happy drinking his water (and making a huge mess of it going by the large puddle all around him) He does look rather flat..but I can see big fat pads on his head and a thick tail base..and bright coloration...definitely no stress in him. He would never have lived in the wild, but since humans are the only member of the animal kingdom who takes care of the weak, he has a life to live.

It is sad his start was by a neglectful owner who just stopped feeding his pets. I wish there were much more strict laws about animal cruelty in place all across North American...nothing worse than going to a fair which is suppose to be a place of fun and excitement...and see a bunch of animals in obvious distress.

BDLvr...I applaud your determination to care for these worse case dragons, pulling them through neglect and abuse to bring out fascinating pets, full of life and able to continue to have a normal life despite loss of limbs or mobility.
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PHLdyPayne

Forum Princess

This is so sad, I have a sick German Giant Rescue right now. Aww poor guy.