Arrrrrg!!!!

[kitedemon]

Yesterday during a unexpected break at work I wondered into the local place of animal suffering 'pet store' some are good some are bad this one is bad. I rarely go into it and almost never go to the reptile section. Yesterday I did both. I saw the most sad looking little no tiny royal I have ever seen, stuck shed, weak, eye caps, dangerously dehydrated... the list continues. After begging the clerk to do something. I went back to work heavy hearted. By the time I got home (late) I was quite bothered.

My partner after hearing the story just said you had better hurry they close in 20 min I'll get the tub ready.

I don't agree with supporting a store with bad practices by buying from them but I just could not stop myself. No scolding please I already hate the weak will of walking in the door the first time.

I brought her home, (no I have not sexed her so yes I picked one for no reason) My partner and her daughter both were on the verge of tears she looked so bad. We soaked her for 45 min and most of the stuck shed came off. She looks 100% better this morning but still very very under fed. 31 gms and they had her for 4 months. I wanted to tear a piece off the sale person but he just about hugged me when I asked for her that saved him. I did write to the head office and regional manager and the head of the rescue organization I belong to as well.

Anyway here are some pics from this morning, I couldn't bear to do any last night.

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Hosted on Fotki

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Hosted on Fotki

[DemmBalls]

I think you did a great thing. Good luck with her and pease keep us updated!

[CoolioTiffany]

Honestly that was such a sweet thing to do . She probably would have died if you didn't save her; she looks so thin. However she is beautiful and in caring hands . Keep us updated, I would love to hear how she progresses.

[ballpythonluvr]

What an adorable little snake! You did the right thing! I would have taken that poor animal in too!

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Wow, thats horrible.

If the store doesn't change it's practices then I think you should reveal the stores name and number and let the internet do the rest.

[kitedemon]

I absolutely hate that I gave 70$ to a _____ so he (yes I have met him) can buy more 8$ snakes to sell. I am very upset that * I * increased his unscrupulous profit margin!



I simply couldn't live with myself if I had not. Rock and a hard place. I have hopes that the letters will do something!!!

I really should have photographed her last night the improvement is actually staggering. I figured she would not make it yesterday, today I think she has a fighting chance. She actually had some strengh and will today yesterday she was limp.

Like I needed another normal... oh well.

[angllady2]

Such is the life of an animal lover.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have a heart, then it wouldn't hurt so badly when I saw something like this. Which is all too frequently.

When I got my beagle puppy, it was from a puppy mill I got suckered into driving 4 hours to reach. I won't tell you what I saw, you'd have nightmares. Suffice it to say the LAST thing I wanted to do was give this person any of my money. But if I had left that unspeakably sweet puppy there, I would never have forgiven myself. I contented myself with reporting her to the police when I got home with my new puppy. She was arrested within a month.

Back to your new snake. I know what you mean, your darned if you don't and danged if you do. I'd have done the same thing in your place. Console yourself with the fact that if you can't save them all, you did save this one, and that's all that matters to you. At least you made an effort to change things, which is more than some would do.

Gale

[llovelace]

Get that baby fattened up , let karma handle the rest

[kitedemon]

I after some digging have some new information. The store where I got this little one from can house about 4-6 ball pythons, last month there was a sale on them and the head office shipped 300 to the local store. They managed to pass off 125 or so to the other stores but were left with the rest. The sold a number quickly but the remaining ones they were left with for a while the healthiest were sold and then they were left with the weakest. This one is one of the last ones. The other was taking food so this little one is the end.

I have a hard time placing a massive amount of blame on the local store and the staff in the reptile department. I think they could have done a lot more than they did but they did keep the cages quite clean and fresh clean water. The temp was ok they didn't manage humidity well they expected it to look after itself as the reptile area and fish area is in one location. The humidity is higher there than anywhere else. The staff simply didn't know what else to do. I am not defending them I think they should have done more, but understaffed and having to manage everything else and customers it would be hard to try to nurse one snake back to health.

The blame can be laid at the head office whom over shipped too many animals, whom is the reason why the floor staff is understaffed. Who refused to allocate 8 new tanks set ups to as temp housing.

[kitedemon]

I know we all have seen worse and it is a collision between head are heart, we know it is wrong to support unethical business but the heart says to get that animal someplace safe. Thank you all for your support! I appreciate it.