Re: I write what i feel! --Then I am entitled to do the same

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Posted by jld on January 09, 2003 at 12:49:40:

In Reply to: I write what i feel! posted by Flavia Guimaraes on January 09, 2003 at 07:27:53:

:You know, this FORUM is not a school class so i dont need to pretend i like abused iguanas or sick ones,or react as a school teacher giving lessons to a bunch of children.I write what i feel.No, i dont want to adopt abused and sick iguanas because i dont have spare time and energy to spend trying to rehabilitate them.I dont have good doctors around,

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At first your post made me angry, then it made me feel sorry for your iguanas (see your own admission that you don't have good doctors around), now it just makes me sigh because sadly what you are saying is nothing that I don't hear a million times over in a year. The truth is, this "FORUM" is like a school for those that CHOOSE to utilize the vast amount of knowledge available from those that know more than them. Even those of us that are considered to have "expertise" in the area of reptile care have learned a thing or two by listening to others here. Just because you don't like what someone else is saying doesn't make what they are saying wrong. It's a shame Flavia that you don't see this place as somewhere to come and learn how to make life better for your pets and maybe pick up a trick or two that will save you time and money in caring for them.

The FACT is 99% of all Green Iguanas, all reptiles and other animals in general for that mattter, come out of a pet store sick. True they may not be deformed and true it may not be an illness that you can see but it is ALSO TRUE that any animal, be it reptile, mammal, rodent or other, NEEDS to be seen by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible after leaving the pet store. IT DOESN'T MATTER how good or nice the pet store is, the problems start at the breeders, mills, wholesalers and/or farms. If anyone was so inclined to read the heavy hitters of veterinary medicine, it can easily be found that they all agree on this matter. In book after book and in all my research time and time again they all press getting animals to a vet ASAP after purchase.

Flavia you obviously do not live in the United States, so your opinion can only be based on the country in which you live and not on problems in a country you have never had to deal with. Obviously I do live in the United States and so my opinion about the pet problems in this country are based on FACT. Now before you get all huffy and puffy you should also know that I not only run a reptile rescue, I am also heavily involved in "traditional" humane. Mr. D and I field calls and emails from all over the country and have even received communications from Europe regarding reptiles. I would go out on a limb and say that 85-90% of the problems we encounter are pet store based. I see the problem in a way that you and for that matter most people either cannot or refuse to.

Here in the United States the problems of unwanted pets are so large that there are many humane agencies put in the position of having to euthanise healthy animals when there is no more room to house them in shelters and pounds. This goes for dogs and cats in addition to reptiles. Despite what many would have the general public believe, for the most part zoos will not take unwanted animals, especially green igs, large snakes and crocodilia. So that puts the problem back on the humane agencies to deal with. The sad fact is, most "traditional" humane agencies will not take in any type of exotic animal, not because they do not care but more so because they do not have the money, space or knowledge to properly care for them. When people "dump" an animal back at a pet store, those animals, despite various state laws mandating otherwise, do not get medical care. These animals are sold as quickly as possible, no matter what their condition. When an animal can't be sold it is often killed in a rather unhumane menthod by the pet store. Don't believe? Too bad because I have seen the devastation first hand.

Buying an animal from a pet store does not guarantee that you are getting a healthy animal. Anyone that tells you differently is either lieing or misinformed. Like Jiffypop, whom we have worked with (in fact, Jimmie came to her from us)our organization DOES NOT adopt out unhealthy animals. The SINGLE exception to this rule is when someone comes along be it a vet or someone of similar experience, including a reputable rescue, and fully understands what they are getting into and the care required. Now, it's TRUE that we CANNOT guarantee the long term health of any animal, but either can a pet store. All of the animals we take in are taken to a vet and given a clean bill of health long before they are even placed up for possible adoption.

As for temperment, 90% of the animals we have worked with are not ill tempered. Those that are seem to realize that we are only trying to help ease their discomfort and learn to trust us quickly. In the past I have had animals come out of a pet store the exact same way. So, to say that all rescued animals have a nasty temperment is untrue. When a situation arises with a rescued animal that has a nasty temperment, steps are taken here, not once the animal has been adopted out, to work with them. It's the same in "traditional" humane and any reputable specialty rescue will do the same. We simply do not adopt out animals that pose a danger to themselves or humans (ask Jiffypop what we had to go through with the adult nile monitor we took in from the cruelty case and she will tell you how hard and fast we stick to that rule). No one can guarantee the temperment of any animal. Years ago my parents bought me a dog from an extremely reputable breeder. The puppy was cute and happy, when she got a few years older, one day for no reason, she snapped and became nasty to children. I've seen it in my own dog now, one day he loves to be kissed and hugged and the next he will snap, growl and show teeth when you do the same to him.

The bottom line is there are nice pet stores and not-so-nice pet stores, there are reputable rescue agencies and no-so-reputable rescue agencies. NO ONE can guarantee long term health of any animal but you do stand a much better chance of getting a healthy animal from a rescue be it a dog, cat or reptile. In the end, it all comes back to the comsumer and the research they are willing to put into choosing a pet. Awhile back I was in a national chain pet store and met a man deciding whether or not to buy a pet snake. We talked for a bit and he said to me "You know, I wouldn't buy a dog from a pet store so why am I considering buying any other type of animal from one?" Even if you choose not to adopt, there are other better places to purchase an animal. Find a qualified breeder, meet with them, learn from them and then if you decide that they have the animal that is right for you -buy it from them. But please do not be so naive as to believe that a pet store is the best place to buy an animal.

Follow Ups:

Well... Flavia Guimaraes 01/09/03 (0)
Re: I write what i feel! --Then I am entitled to do the same stardust 01/09/03 (0)