How common is BP neglect? Do they still thrive?

[RXLReptiles]

I've done my share of "rescuing" snakes, as well as other animals, off of CL. It truly amazes and terrifies me at some of the animals I've seen. There have been some that were so bad that I couldn't bring myself to take them in, but every time I see one that's that bad I leave the number for a local wildlife and reptile rescue. I feel bad leaving the animal in those kind of conditions, but I can't bring myself to think about even the possibility of getting the rest of my animals sick, or worse, because I took them in.

That being said there are a ton of animals on CL, at least near me, that are well cared for, or even spoiled, but the owners have had to make the decision to rehome them. Those are the ones I try to help, I've even gone so far as to send updates to previous owners, and offered to sell them the animal back once they are back on their feet again. I've never had anyone take me up on getting a prior pet back, but I think the day will come eventually.

The two biggest problems, in my mind, is that A) you can walk into almost any pet store in the US and buy a ball python, or almost any other animal, and the staff there usually either don't know how to care for the animal, or they don't care if you take care of the animal. So the new owner gets very minimal information or wrong information on what is proper care, and they blindly trust the pet store, because "they're the experts".

And B) too many people see animals as objects or property, and not living creatures.

Story time:

I once saw a guy at a reptile show get ripped a new one by a vendor of dry goods (cages, supplies, foods, etc.) because he didn't want to buy all the necessary stuff for his son's new pet turtle. The vendor explained that turtles, while inexpensive themselves, require one of the most expensive and complicated setups of all reptile pets because you need everything you'd need for an aquarium, plus all the other reptile supplies as well. The new owner of the turtle told him, and I quote, " Just sell me the stuff I asked for, it's a $10 turtle, if the damn thing dies, I'll just buy him (the son) another one and he probably won't even be able to tell the difference." The vendor then proceeded to royally rip "turtle guy" a new one about how the turtle is a living creature and deserves to actually live and thrive in a proper setup, the vendor then took the $10 turtle, threw a $20 at "turtle guys" face and told him to leave the show and never come back. Security escorted "turtle guy" out, but he probably went to a Petsmart that same day and bought his kid the turtle and poor enclosure setup the he couldn't get at the reptile show.

That is the biggest issue in my mind, that people like this exist. "Turtle guy" seemed to have plenty of money, expensive clothes, expensive watch, insanely expensive car, he just didn't care that much about a living creature that he deemed not worth the time, effort or money. He treated a living turtle the same way you'd treat a junky $10 blender, if it dies I'll just get another one and life will go on.