I feel you on that. I get angry every time I go in one because when you look at the chameleons they either have a water dish (which they don't drink from) and no dripper or the humidity is way off or their is no basking light. Poor chameleons
Regarding the water dishes... There is a video on YT explaining this—I wish I could find it, but I just spent too much time looking for it to no avail. Briefly, when they don't put water dishes in enclosures, people who know nothing about reptiles complain, "Look at how they abuse these poor animals—they don't even have water!" So management has employees include water dishes that never get used —other than for defecating in—to shut those people up. It's a lose—lose situation, and—no offense, but you bought into it. Anyone who doesn't know, would.
This whole situation of "saving" these animals is really no different than the days when pet stores sold puppies & kittens from puppy/kitten farms. It's not about the animals; it's about the "supplies" that go along with the animals—that's where the money/profit is. The animals are a commodity—the razor given away or sold cheaply in order to sell the blades forever after. Plain & simple—If this model didn't work, they wouldn't keep doing it, but it
does work, and it apparently works
beautifully.
Things aren't going to change until as much money & outrage are put behind things as they were with banning puppy & kitten farms. Unfortunately, reptiles aren't cuddly/furry animals that look adorable (to the general public) and make pitiful noises for cameras. In many places they've become invasive pests (a different discussion/issue)—something to be viewed with disdain/revulsion. Media outlets can get big ratings showing popular cuddly baby animals suffering; it's rare that they can with reptiles except in a few isolated cases (e.g.
Pets Plus in Lockport, NY) and that was several years ago.
PETA (read me out) has the facts on this industry, and while they seem to overlook responsible herp keepers—that's not who they're talking about. We are
vastly outnumbered by an ignorant public.
It doesn't do any good to keep posting/venting here if you aren't willing to sign a petition, show up at a protest, or otherwise get involved to change the situation. If you do, kudos; I applaud you.
Click on the
Take Action buttons. There are other ways besides donating money.
he’s eating soil and just sleeping.
