Ok, being a newbie here (beardie mother of 2 months) i really value the opinions i have found on this forum. I check it daily (constantly),,, so here it goes,,, took the kids to the mall today and of course we can't walk past a pet shop and of course i have to go check out the lizards and there is this poor, little dragon. I'm mean he was maybe 6-8 inches long, housed with some other lizard that i can't remember. You could see his pelvic bones and his front and back legs were skeletal as well. And if a shed to them is like a mild peeling to us then what he was going thru looked liked scabs coming off it was so thick. Of course i spoke up and was told that they had just got him in from another store and had misted him (he looked dehydrated as well) and they said he was eating. I asked him how old it was and they said a year. Ya right!!! They also had him on sand. I said i hoped that they were going to do all the right things and could tell by their answers that i knew way more then them (which isn't saying alot)... so here comes the delima.. do i trust that they will do the right thing? do i call someone to report it? do i take the leap and buy him/her and see if i can help it? They're asking 150$ for a very poor specimen. and i've got the vet bills to think about not to mention the whole set up. I did see a used 10 gal tank there for 8 bucks but i'd have to get everything else. Plus an eventual upgrade. UGGGGGGG!!!!! I was almost in tears when i left. (so was my son) Please help,,,, any suggestions??? 
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0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.1 ?Fiddler Crab (Crusty)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)
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Pet Shop horror---help!!
Replies (5)
If you buy it you are supporting the store. On the other hand how did the other animals look? If they did just get it in and all the other animals look well taken care of then it is possible they are trying to make it healthy. Just a possibility.
If that is the case they may actually care about their animals. I would at the least print out a good care sheet and take it to them.
If you find they are simply an uncaring, greedy, horrible pet shop then there are things you can do to help the cause. You can report the shop to the Better Business Bureau in your area and also to any pet control authority you may have there. Here is a link with some information you can read that will help.
Also, if you son was having a hard time with this he may not understand why you don't rescue the dragon(guess it depends on his age). I don't know, maybe it would be in his best interest and the future of his caring for animals to rescue it. I would try your best to explain it to him and see how he reacts. I don't have any kids so I'm just guessing on this.
If you do decide to buy it I would definitely point out the obvious problems and make an offer for a lot less than they are asking.
Good luck with everything!!
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Rob Talkington
Having worked in a pet store once, I can say this:
Any RESPONSIBLE pet shop would be putting that lizard out back and nursing it back to health. In the LEAST, it's a poor representation of the store to even have a pricetag on it, no matter the price. If a dog is sick, most pet stores will put it in the back area, or at least a sign indicating that it's temporarily not for sale. For them to still be trying to sell it means that they're not very attentive to their animals, and should be reported IMHO. Call your local animal control division and give them an anonymous tip.
I say talk to the mngr. and tell him how unwell cared for it is and offer $25 for him/her. If he/she says no call the proper authorities and report the shop.
Matt
#1..If they are trying to make it healthy, there si no way it should be in with another lizard!!
It should be in it's own hospital tank.
They suck, report them.
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www.classylizard.com
>>#1..If they are trying to make it healthy, there si no way it should be in with another lizard!!
>>It should be in it's own hospital tank.
>>They suck, report them.
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>>www.classylizard.com
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Rob Talkington
