Heartbreaking......:(

[Salamander Rising]

I had to go to "that place" tonight to get stuff for my snakes and naturally wound up in the reptile section.

I got the girl to let me hold the last "$400 Pinstripe", even though they're 'really not my thing' and I just cried right there in public.

She said they'd had the 2 Pins for "a month" and this little thing was no bigger around than a pencil, had NO fat on it all and its poor little tail felt shrunken and shriveled.

Her/his eyes were so pleading, looking right into mine.

They marked it down to $149 [can't imagine why] and she told me it 'wouldn't eat'.

The aquarium is standard P-Co fair.
Too cold, too dry, too bright, lousy hides, etc etc.

The snake's body was actually, literally triangular and its spine was so sharp you could nearly cut your finger on it.

It was, however, still active, almost desperately so, climbing onto me and struggling to stay clinging to me when the girl put her back.

Even hubby's was heart broken and he's totally not a "mushy" guy.

We talked in the store for nearly an hour about where to scrape up the money and we've just none available.
[if I had it, it'd be here now and you'd be looking at heart wrenching pix, instead]

I have no pride where suffering animals are concerned and considered asking if anyone would be willing to make $10 donations towards her/his rescue.
Only 10-15 people would help me scrape up the cash.

Or, is the little thing too far gone and beyond saving?

I really don't know how far they can sink and still spring back.

It's so thin you really can't imagine but its little eyes were so bright and aware.

It's obvious by now to most of you that I'm not that sane and may think I'm loony for saying that I could feel it wanting me to save it and it's tearing me apart that I just don't have the money.

Walking away from that baby was agonizing.

If I'm out of line with this post, please forgive me.

I cannot get the image of that little snake out of my head.




Again, sorry if this is an inappropriate post.

Could there be any possible hope for the baby snake?

I'd be very grateful for any advice or help.

I don't know what to do with myself, right now.

Shari

[The Serpent Merchant]

That is terrible, I don't know wether the little guy will make it or not, I've never death with something lie this before. I would be willing to help out if others are.

[dorvaan]

Coming from someone that keeps tarantulas, I imagine the same advice holds true for balls...add heartbreaking as it is, buying him won't help anything. Buying him will show the pet store that they can move the product, and a new one will take his place, only to be neglected and mistreated. If enough of them are not bought, they will stop carrying them. That's better in the long run.

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk

[Mike41793]

Where do you live?

[rebelrachel13]

Did you tell the pet store what bad condition the snake is in...? What was their response? I can't imagine them charging any money at all for such an emaciated and weak animal.

Hope the little thing gets another chance some way or another.

[Salamander Rising]

Where do you live?

Western MD.
It's the Hagerstown PetCo.

[weofui]

As heartbreaking as it is, I'm inclined to agree with Dorvaan. Go back to the store, demand to speak to the manager, and make it clear you'll be reporting them for animal mistreatment. Then, follow through. Take pictures of the snake and contact your local ASPCA or Humane Society and file a report. If they can't take a report, find out who can. If you have a reptile rescue near by, they may know who to contact.

It's true that reporting them may not do anything for that poor little guy, but buying him will only encourage the store to contribute to the suffering of others like him.

[Salamander Rising]

Did you tell the pet store what bad condition the snake is in...? What was their response? I can't imagine them charging any money at all for such an emaciated and weak animal.

Hope the little thing gets another chance some way or another.

Oh, yes.
I told them.
Another couple was looking at it and I told them not to buy as it was likely dying.

The manager on duty [very nice woman] said she'd talk to the store manager [a heartless she devil who cares nothing for animals...this is just a stepping stone/stop over on her resume' to manage a larger department store]

"Corporate policy" is a abomination.

If it's still sucking air, it's still salable.



I've been to this rodeo *many* times over their animal abuse.

The outcome is always the same; "I'll ask the store manager" and no matter how many times she's "asked" she does nothing.

She does not care.

If it dies, they just send the body back to the breeder for a refund.

And snakes sometimes take a very, very long time to die.....

When we asked if they prey was 'warm enough' for the snake, we were told they currently had no hot water.

I checked the ladies room.

They don't.

I have no idea how they're feeding any of their snakes.

[sissysnakes]

Coming from someone that keeps tarantulas, I imagine the same advice holds true for balls...add heartbreaking as it is, buying him won't help anything. Buying him will show the pet store that they can move the product, and a new one will take his place, only to be neglected and mistreated. If enough of them are not bought, they will stop carrying them. That's better in the long run.

I have to agree. It makes me so sad when ever we go to our local pet store.. all of the reptiles look close to death and have less then adequate enclosures. But we (my boyfriend and I) refuse to rescue from pet stores because if they can't care for them they should not keep them period. There are a lot of rescues out there with animals looking for homes... I know its hard, but those types of chain stores should not be encouraged.

[Slim]

As bad as this is going to sound, my perspective is twofold:

1) As long as we keep "saving" these BPs from the clutches of PETCO and Petsmart, the more they will keep bringing them in and mistreating them. The only thing corporate sees is that another snake sold...bring more snakes

2) We can't save them all.


I'm reminded of a lesson I learned in USAF Survival School. During the POW camp portion of the training, they couldn't get any of the guys to talk, so they brought in the only female student in our group and proceeded to beat the crap out of her. Finally someone decided to do the "right" thing and talk. From then on, anytime they wanted to know something, that girl got her butt severely kicked. If everyone had just kept their mouth shut the first time, she would have only taken one beating...similar concept applies here.