Pet Shop Rescue???!!!

[jackscham]

I know this is a topic that has been beaten to death many times over, but I need to share this. Yesterday, I went to my local pet shop to pick up some crickets, while the kid was bagging them I walked to the back of the store to check out their reptiles. Right away I noticed a sign that read " Veiled Chameleon--$139.99" so I looked into the enclosure (20 gallon glass aquarium)
and noticed the cham sitting on the ground (there were no vines. Nothing for him to climb at all. The humidity seemed very low--very dry, except for a water bubbler in the corner. There was no temperature or humidity guage. There was a large basking light placed directly on top of the aquarium. The cham had his nose pressed against the bottom corner of the tank, seemingly trying to find away to escape these conditions. He was scrawny and looked dehydrated--sunken eyes. To make things even worse, the sign that read "veiled chameleon" was wrong!!!! He's a fischers!!!!!!!!! I went to the front of the store to get my crickets. the kid at the cash looked to be about 14 years old so I didn't bother bringing it up with him, but I plan on going back today or tomorrow to talk to the manager/owner. Either i'll give him some much needed information on chameleon care or I'll take the chameleon home and try to rehab him (for a much reduced price!) I can't see him surviving much longer in these conditions.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Good luck. Often times their too far gone to be helped. A fishers mis labeled a veiled. Thats just down right ignorance. They shouldnt be selling reptiles.

 

[beardeds7587]

what petstore , i work at petsmart and since i got knowledge in chams our enclosure used to be like that untill i took over as petcare speacialist , now its a screen cage with all vines and cup feed him but that is 1 petstore out of millions

 

[cantgetagoodsn]

I understand your frustration. I had a jacksons I bought from petsmart like 10 years ago, it died because of the shitty information i was given where i bought her. My local petsmart has the same thing going on right now. I brought it up to a couple of employees yesterday and one of the girls there actually said she was going to move him out (in there with another veiled) this morning. Im gonna go in after work and see if they did and if hes any better... but they were using a water bowl, misting with a straight hose which probably scares the shit out of them...

But anyways, I was talking with her and she said it's corporate. Theyre not allowed to take them out, and they dont have room to keep them. Petsmart should know they dont have enough room and not order them!!! It really is frustrating!

 

[eisentrauti]

Arent there any authorities in the US which can do something here ? Eg take their permits to sell animals away etc.

 

[Gensen]

Good luck...

I know this is a topic that has been beaten to death many times over, but I need to share this. Yesterday, I went to my local pet shop to pick up some crickets, while the kid was bagging them I walked to the back of the store to check out their reptiles. Right away I noticed a sign that read " Veiled Chameleon--$139.99" so I looked into the enclosure (20 gallon glass aquarium)
and noticed the cham sitting on the ground (there were no vines. Nothing for him to climb at all. The humidity seemed very low--very dry, except for a water bubbler in the corner. There was no temperature or humidity guage. There was a large basking light placed directly on top of the aquarium. The cham had his nose pressed against the bottom corner of the tank, seemingly trying to find away to escape these conditions. He was scrawny and looked dehydrated--sunken eyes. To make things even worse, the sign that read "veiled chameleon" was wrong!!!! He's a fischers!!!!!!!!! I went to the front of the store to get my crickets. the kid at the cash looked to be about 14 years old so I didn't bother bringing it up with him, but I plan on going back today or tomorrow to talk to the manager/owner. Either i'll give him some much needed information on chameleon care or I'll take the chameleon home and try to rehab him (for a much reduced price!) I can't see him surviving much longer in these conditions.

Good luck in which ever way it works out for you... either with the education info in which case whopefully they will be open minded enough to listen or with your rescue alternative... of course if you rescue keep us posted on his progress!

 

[Carlton]

The first time I heard that lame "its corporate" BS I politely requested a corporate contact so I could carry my concern to that level. It is inexcusable for a company to ignore or promote cruelty or to fail to train their employees. I don't waste much time yelling at the employee (whether they are a clueless teenager or an adult), but go further up. I also found it gets a reaction if I send examples of how their businesses are viewed by the pet hobby forums...how they are ridiculed, criticized, and avoided.

But, the other reality is that I don't support the big box pet supply places either and tell them specifically why. Saving money on supplies is not worth misery and death.

 

[DragonLady]

I had a similar situation with Petco and the conditions they were keeping their baby bearded dragons in. I made a point to stop in and complain to the manager every other day, and wrote numerous e-mails to their corporate website. Not sure if my protests did it or not, but they did finally correct the conditions that I complained about. If its a corporate pet store, complain to the main headquarters and keep complaining. Good luck and hope things turn out for you and the poor little cham.

 

[facelesdoll]

this is sad. and it gives the rest of us a bad name. if a human cant be humane none of us deserve the chance to rip animals from their homes in the woods, even if it is to preserve locale specifics in captive environments

 

[beardeds7587]

well i work at pets mart and own 7 veiled chams and breed beardies, and owned many of herps , so i take good care of my animals but it is corporate but i belive in animal health, so i told my managers f**** corporate.... cuz there only in it to make a dollar and not care for health

 

[FredChameleon]

maybe you could report such things to the spca as animal cruelty and demand that something be done for the welfair of the chameleon

 

[Gensen]

Paradox!

well i work at pets mart and own 7 veiled chams and breed beardies, and owned many of herps , so i take good care of my animals but it is corporate but i belive in animal health, so i told my managers f**** corporate.... cuz there only in it to make a dollar and not care for health

Well, good for you... it is rare instances like a person such as yourself is planted in a Petstore and CAN and DOES make a differance.... to bad there isn't a clone of you on every shift in every Petstore! I commend you for sharing and voicing proper care and education in your store.

 

[FredChameleon]

I just called the Houston SPCA and reported animal abuse at the pet store where i got my Jackson at. they keep the chameleons in a glass tank with a bowl of water and sand for the substrate. the spca said they will send someone out to investigate plus check out all the other critters that are housed in the store... they seemed to have had other reports about the store also.

 

[Carlton]

this is sad. and it gives the rest of us a bad name. if a human cant be humane none of us deserve the chance to rip animals from their homes in the woods, even if it is to preserve locale specifics in captive environments

It isn't usually a matter of being humane or not, it is sheer ignorance, desire for something novel, and the profit motive of big business. Don't assume capture and sale of wildcaught chams has anything to do with preserving wild populations either. Truly endangered chameleon species are not being bred in captivity successfully. Most species offered for sale in crummy stores are captive bred veileds anyway. All most breeding efforts can claim is that they are trying to replace wildcaught animals with domestically bred ones to take the collection pressure off.

Don't just be sad, do something about it!

 

[Carlton]

I just called the Houston SPCA and reported animal abuse at the pet store where i got my Jackson at. they keep the chameleons in a glass tank with a bowl of water and sand for the substrate. the spca said they will send someone out to investigate plus check out all the other critters that are housed in the store... they seemed to have had other reports about the store also.

I'd suggest offering the SPCA a good jacksoni care sheet! Don't assume they know how to treat it either, and it will provide good backup for your complaint (less personal too)

 

[jackscham]

Update

First of all, good luck with all your efforts. It is no secret that many, if not most, pet shops do not provide the proper care for chameleons. The end result almost always a stressed, sick and eventually dead chameleon.
Today I went back to the pet shop to check out the veiled/fischers chameleon again. I was able to see him from a different angle. Right away I noticed severe deformities with his elbows. It looks like MBD. I was preparing to take him home, but I have absolutely no experience in dealing with chams with this condition. Before I take him home (if I decide to) I will have to do some more research on caring for chams with MBD. I did, however, get a chance to talk with the owner. I said, "That fischers does not look well, whats wrong with him?", to which he replied, "Nothing. He's fine. When we first got him he wasn't eating very much but his appetite has improved." I mentioned the condition of his elbows. All I got in response was a shoulder shrug???!! Before I left he made some rediculous comment about fischers having lesser needs and being a much hardier species than most other chameleons. My next step will be the humane society. I will keep you posted.

 

[Psi]

It's seriously not worth your time/effort to try to save the animal.
The biggest effect you can have on the store is to let the animal die in their care so they lose the value of the poorly cared for cham.

It already seems clear that you wont be able to argue down the price. By 'saving' it, you just open up space for another one to be cared for in the same way.

You sadly can't save them all and it's bad shops that will always run a negative light on the good ones.

 

[pssh]

Don't purchase this animal. It's not a rescue and in purchasing it you will only free up more space for a new chameleon to take it's place. In buying this animal you are supporting the store and showing them that there is a demand for poorly housed sick, and possibly dying chameleons.

To really rescue an animal it has to be removed from a situation in which it was treated poorly or inhumanely and NOT BENIFIT THE PLACE OF RESCUE IN ANY WAY. if you buy it, you're just helping to store. If you buy anything from the store you are supporting their poor treatment of animals.

 

[jackscham]

Don't purchase this animal. It's not a rescue and in purchasing it you will only free up more space for a new chameleon to take it's place. In buying this animal you are supporting the store and showing them that there is a demand for poorly housed sick, and possibly dying chameleons.

To really rescue an animal it has to be removed from a situation in which it was treated poorly or inhumanely and NOT BENIFIT THE PLACE OF RESCUE IN ANY WAY. if you buy it, you're just helping to store. If you buy anything from the store you are supporting their poor treatment of animals.

You are right, no question. However, it's tough walking away from a sick animal, but your point is valid and unfortunately the best option. This kind of pet store only exists because people support them. I will contact the proper authorities.

 

[pssh]

Good for you. I know it's hard, but it's usually for the better.