How do you help someone who hasn't asked for help?

[SliK JiM]

Um yeah, as it says, I found this:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizard-classifieds/315281-male-yemen-chameleon-sale.html
His husbandry is poor and the cham looks bad, dehydration and casque deformation, but how do you say something and not sound too rude? I don't think he means his care to be bad, but nonetheless, it is and it should be sorted out ASAP. So what should I say and do?

Thanks all!

 

[jojackson]

Why not just link them here and say, this site may be of use to you.

 

[SliK JiM]

Well, I planned to pm them and say something, but I imagine they won't be too appreciative of the help as I can't imagine it won't sound great to them, ie, "I saw you were trying to sell your cham, but your husbandry is bad and the cham looks ill". Don't know how well I could sell it to them...

 

[jojackson]

You could try..
"You might find a buyer here.." ??? Person may not like it anyway since you dont intend to buy his/her animal. No need to mention anything about the setup or the animal.
If he/she advertises it here, there will be plenty of folk lined up, pitchforks ready, happy to say it all and more besides. Mark my words.
(not me!)

 

[AJA]

I think JJ has a point about the pitchforks, no pun intended.

Reading the posts, this guys doesn't see that he has a problem and thinks he is giving out a good deal. You could try... " is this chameleon a rescue"? When he responds "no" you can tell him why you thought so...or you could say " I don't see a dripper in your set up " or " it could be the photo but your cham looks like its dehydrated" etc. You never know if the current owner was even given the correct information on how to raise a chameleon so it would be nice if you gave him/her the benefit of the doubt.

I hope the little guy finds a good home.

 

[SliK JiM]

I think JJ has a point about the pitchforks, no pun intended.

Reading the posts, this guys doesn't see that he has a problem and thinks he is giving out a good deal. You could try... " is this chameleon a rescue"? When he responds "no" you can tell him why you thought so...or you could say " I don't see a dripper in your set up " or " it could be the photo but your cham looks like its dehydrated" etc. You never know if the current owner was even given the correct information on how to raise a chameleon so it would be nice if you gave him/her the benefit of the doubt.

I hope the little guy finds a good home.

Yeah, this was what I was thinking. It seems like he thinks what he's done is right, so I don't want to just wade in there guns blazing and sound rude in the process! I would like to help him/her, but I don't know how it'd come across!

I don't want to "rip him a new one" just help towards the correct path. It's just an odd thing as no matter how I intend to approach it, I'm going to sound rude and arrogant when I don't mean to be!