Finances and ethics, need help

[Cheesenugget]

Not necessarily. If you are referring to your county shelters, many around the country are always on a strict budget, lack supplies and fosters, and even hiring a veterinarian full-time can be an issue. For one major reason is because they are usually open admission, meaning they can take in every pet, regardless of lack of space. If the animal arrives sick (treatable), and no rescue and/foster steps in, they are euthanized for space. Many don't have the money, staff, supplies or the ability to nurture it to good health. This applies to dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, bunnies, reptiles, etc... It is a tragedy.

So your best bet is a rescue. Contact exotic vet offices near you. Many vets work with rescues, so they may know someone who can help, or in the best scenario, the vet himself or herself is a herp keeper and takes it in. Or reach out to your local herp society, many will take in rescues and fosters them.

Do not pay a penny for that snake. It is a terrible thing that they have done. It is not your responsibility, not anyone else's burden. This is on them. If it dies, it is on them to deal with it. Out of sight, out of mind, people like that learns nothing if they know people like you will help them. It is disgusting behavior on their part.

It is tough to not want to walk away, trust me, I recently took in a rescue kitten. She is a reminder of why I got out of rescue work years ago. It wasn't planned, I was hoping someone else would step in to do this, but nope, my neighbor either chase it down or they ignore her cries for food. The costs of her vet bills for something so small adds up quickly, and she is not ill. For a sick exotic pet, your vet bills will triple than your average domestic rescue. It is negligence like this that makes me crazy when I meet some idiot who won't spay or neuter their pets, or you know, be responsible pet owners. Such preventable suffering, and at the cost financially and mentally for those who have to fix their mess.