Why I won't buy from a pet store

The mob mentality these threads generate is nuts! Put your pitchforks down and go back through and and read and absorb what's being said here. Animals are just as important as children. Approaching the store owner and demanding that he/she forfeit their PROPERTY (yeah, I said it!) to you is suggested as a legitimate plan of action. Call the ASPCA, who it's been since established doesn't even support private ownership of snakes.

A) If I feel that my little girl is being threatened by an animal whether it's a dog, a snake, a tick off Wilomn's ass - it's dead if I can kill it, on the spot, no hesitation. If I catch my child threatening an animal, she's in big trouble but the thought of killing her isn't going to cross my mind. If you believe children and animals are the same, you either don't have children or you're bat crap crazy.

B) You can't just go into a business and forcefully demand that they give you their property. There's a name for that. It escapes me at the moment bu.....oh yeah, it's called ROBBERY!

C) How many who suggest calling the ASPCA really know what it is? I don't. I mean, I know they pimp out Sarah McLaughlin to get donations, but I don't know what they really stand for. Someone else said they don't even condone having snakes as pets. Assuming that this person is correct, you might as well call PETA if you're going to call the ASPCA.

If you feel compelled to do something about these situations then do something. But do something that makes some sense and accept that you can't save them all. If you're that hell bent on saving every pet store creature that isn't being cared for to your standards then get a giant rack and commit to buying every one that needs to be saved. Get some bird cages and rodent set ups too, because almost ALL the animals in chain pet stores could use a little TLC.

It's a business! It's not a zoo, or a rehab facility, or wild life refuge. Think of the snakes in there as tomatoes at the grocery store because that's basically what they are. You look them over, hold one or two, and you choose the best one. The one that's never chosen eventually rots and is disposed of.

It's a harsh reality, but it's reality nonetheless.

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Originally Posted by coleworld

Ok well the other ball pythons are fine maybe this store does not know how to get a fussy eater to actually eat. I love snakes. I dont have a passion for raising ticks and mosquitoes or bacteria. If I can save a ball python from dying, heck I will because I have a passion for snakes. And I have a willing to help these creatures no matter the price. I could assist feed and rehydrate this snake myself for very little cost. Your making this more compliacted then it is. I would like peoples opinions on what to do and how to save this snake if I recieve him for free. If I do not, I feel bad for the little fella but it is their responsibility then and I said what I had to say.

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As for your question on what you should do if you get the snake. Get it set up and feed it a VERY small f/t pinky mouse. You want to feed it the smallest meal possible since its' digestive tract has completely shut down. I honestly think it's going to be extremely hard to bring the snake back from this point, but if you want to try, by all means try. Just be aware that feeding it may be too much for it to handle at this point, it looks very weak. I would also keep it on the warmer side to help digest the food faster. I've spent months assist feeding hatchlings that refused to eat. I have had a couple die the day after I assist fed them, even after several assist feedings. Assist feeding is very stressful on them, as is feeding them after they have gone for so long without eating. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by BrandiR

It's a business! It's not a zoo, or a rehab facility, or wild life refuge. Think of the snakes in there as tomatoes at the grocery store because that's basically what they are. You look them over, hold one or two, and you choose the best one. The one that's never chosen eventually rots and is disposed of.

It's a harsh reality, but it's reality nonetheless.

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Well, if people think of animals as tomatos and let the less appealing rot in a pet store I consider that neglect. I dont care what you say its cruel. People preach about adopting dogs that have been neglected or have special issues. Everyone nowadays are adopting shelter dogs. So why can't i adopt this snake if they offer it to me? I am not demanding it and I am not trying to save every snake ethier. So when I adopted my baby pitbull from a shelter is that bad because I was trying to save them all? I encountered a lot of sick snakes at pet stores but this one is just in horrible condition.. I just want peoples opinions on how to go about caring for it not a debate about babys vs snakes.

Cole, do what you think is right. But read this thread and look at who has what opinion. The most experienced keepers here all think this snake is not going to make it. We've all said it might, but probably won't. How do you think we arrived at this conclusion? Experience.

I don't think you have much, which is not bad. You're got a big heart, also not bad. Give it a whirl if you want to, but don't expect a good outcome. I mean expect it, you have to be positive, but, well, it just doesn't look good.

What YOU consider neglect is not relevant here because you don't know the history of that snake. This has been pointed out at least half a dozen times. If you refuse to see that, then the problem is yours and yours alone. YOU don't get to tell other people how to do what they do. I'm not telling you to do or not do anything, just giving my advice on what I think the likely outcome of your choices might be as far as this snake goes.

The tomato analogy is a bit much don't you think?

Is it cruel to force feed this animal? You WILL be increasing its pain and suffering and in all likelyhood simply prolonging its death. Is that what you REALLY want to do or would it not be better to simply let it go? Quality of life and quality of death are both important. Why make this creature suffer so we, well you, can feel better about it? Harsh yes, but real too. I'd give that snake one chance in a hundred, and trust me I personally know what those odds mean, but this one may be past saving.

Well, if I were to bring this animal home. I would set it up in a small shoebox with a thick layer of damp paper towels, a short waterbowl with no more then an inch of water (or maybe pedialite) Something big enough to soak in if it can but not so big that it couldn't get out in it's weakened state. I might even want to leave it soaking in pedialite for a while. I'd try feeding a small pinkie (live first) and I'd leave it alone in a dark room with the pinkie for a few hours. If he takes it, great. If not I might try syringe feeding some egg yolk. Like Stephanie said I'd make sure it was a small meal. If they try to take too big of a meal their system can go into shock and they can die. Once it's got some food in it's belly I'd leave it alone for a few days to see how it does. I'd make sure the heat was right, maybe a hair higher then usual to make sure he can digest okay, and I'd have plenty of hiding spots (crumpled up balls of newspaper work pretty well). I'd keep doing this every few days always trying a pinkie first before force feeding, eventually I'd mix a little ground pinkie with the egg yolk. I'd take it SLOWLY, he didn't get into this state overnight, he won't come out of it quickly. In between feedings I'd just leave him alone other then a quick check and wouldn't handle any more then necessary.

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Originally Posted by coleworld

Well, if people think of animals as tomatos and let the less appealing rot in a pet store I consider that neglect. I dont care what you say its cruel. People preach about adopting dogs that have been neglected or have special issues. Everyone nowadays are adopting shelter dogs. So why can't i adopt this snake if they offer it to me? I am not demanding it and I am not trying to save every snake ethier. So when I adopted my baby pitbull from a shelter is that bad because I was trying to save them all? I encountered a lot of sick snakes at pet stores but this one is just in horrible condition.. I just want peoples opinions on how to go about caring for it not a debate about babys vs snakes.

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I'm not saying you shouldn't adopt it and try to rehabilitate it if you can. In fact, I think that's a pretty awesome thing to do. I was replying to what other people said, not trying to discourage you from doing what you think is right.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Cole, do what you think is right. But read this thread and look at who has what opinion. The most experienced keepers here all think this snake is not going to make it. We've all said it might, but probably won't. How do you think we arrived at this conclusion? Experience.

I don't think you have much, which is not bad. You're got a big heart, also not bad. Give it a whirl if you want to, but don't expect a good outcome. I mean expect it, you have to be positive, but, well, it just doesn't look good.

What YOU consider neglect is not relevant here because you don't know the history of that snake. This has been pointed out at least half a dozen times. If you refuse to see that, then the problem is yours and yours alone. YOU don't get to tell other people how to do what they do. I'm not telling you to do or not do anything, just giving my advice on what I think the likely outcome of your choices might be as far as this snake goes.

The tomato analogy is a bit much don't you think?

Is it cruel to force feed this animal? You WILL be increasing its pain and suffering and in all likelyhood simply prolonging its death. Is that what you REALLY want to do or would it not be better to simply let it go? Quality of life and quality of death are both important. Why make this creature suffer so we, well you, can feel better about it? Harsh yes, but real too. I'd give that snake one chance in a hundred, and trust me I personally know what those odds mean, but this one may be past saving.

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Ok thank you for your input I would like to know of it would be a waste to even try. I just did not want people saying "oh you shouldnt bother its only a snake" because that one snake is still part of this hobby. If it was worth saving for free and finding a new home I would just like rescuing a dog in a shelter. I will maybe try but if he is too far gone then I do not know. Thanks for everyones input.. Good or bad. Maybe they will even take it to a vet once I talk to the actual manager. I just do not want some one to buy it thinking its a runt and let it suffer more it should not be for sale.

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Originally Posted by coleworld

Ok thank you for your input I would like to know of it would be a waste to even try. I just did not want people saying "oh you shouldnt bother its only a snake" because that one snake is still part of this hobby. If it was worth saving for free and finding a new home I would just like rescuing a dog in a shelter. I will maybe try but if he is too far gone then I do not know. Thanks for everyones input.. Good or bad. Maybe they will even take it to a vet once I talk to the actual manager. I just do not want some one to buy it thinking its a runt and let it suffer more it should not be for sale.

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If you want to do it, you should. I can't say it would be a waste to try because it is a living creature, but know that the snake may not make it. I personally wouldn't because I hate seeing them like that and I hate dealing with it. It takes a lot of time, emotion, and patience. It's like RIs, sometimes no matter what you do, no matter how many shots you give them, how many trips you make to the vet, the snake still ends up dead. It's really frustrating and I prefer to avoid problem snakes if I have the option.

Yeah there is a good chance it won't make it. But I also stand by my earlier assertion that you can't truly assess what shape an animal is in from a picture. Once you have it in your hand and feel it's muscle tone (if any) you can make a better determination. Frankly I wouldn't pay a dime for that snake, but if they were to give it to you then I'd say give it a try. It might not make it, but it absolutely won't make it nothing is done and I believe that the attempt will give you experience and make you a better keeper in the long run.

Thanks everyone. I would like a hand at breeding one day so learning how to care for picky eaters and very small hatchlings would help give me some experience. I really posted the picture just to show why I hate a majority of pet stores because of the bad care they give their animals. I will update you tomorrow when I go back. Happy 4th everyone have a good day.