Rescuing?

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I've read a lot of posts and seen people that have rescued leos from bad conditions and adopted them. It turns out that a shelter I've volunteered for has begun taking in reptiles and even leos, and after one of the leos is healthy I plan on either adopting it or continuing to care for it at the shelter. One of the most recent additions is a pink and white baby leo that was rescued from a pet store. I have to admit I've sort of fallen for the little beastie, but I still have my reservations about taking her in.

She's missing a few of her toes (looks like from bad sheds), has a tail that has just begun regenerating, and seems a little wobbly on her feet. Not to mention she is very /tiny/. Thankfully she isn't too skinny, some of the others I've seen looked way worse than her.

The vet got the little girl started on liquid calcium and has powdered calcium with D3 in the tank... He's also try to feed her blended mealworms and vitamins, and so far she's going to town on that stuff!

I wanted to ask you all your opinions on rescued leopard geckos. Is it really a good idea to take in leos that have been rescued from cases of neglect and abuse? In the long run, would it be better for me to just purchase a healthy leo from one of the breeders here? Are there any long term effects that could effect a rescued leo?

Edit: HTML error + spell check

 

[GeckoConnection]

rescues

If you can afford to properly care for the adopted leo, then it is worth it. If your ultimate goal is to breed quality geckos and you don't have 'extra' space for an adopted leo, then maybe you should just go the route of purchasing a quality specimen from a breeder.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I used to take in a LOT of rescues. I found it very rewarding, but equally heartbreaking, and I just don't do it anymore unless I think the gecko has a good chance.... I have shed too many tears, suffered tremendous heartbreak, and lost too many hours of sleep for the lost ones I couldn't help, not to mention thousands of dollars on veterinary expenses. Now, I have to consider the risk of exposing my collection to a 'sick' gecko.

Being able to help these little living creatures has got to be one of the most satisfying achievements in my life. I have seen miracles, and these little refugees were placed in loving 'pet' homes. The others are all buried on the hill behind my house, with a painted rock that says, "All Good Geckos Go to Heaven".

My slurry has saved literally hundreds of geckos while they were being treated and/or convalescing. I developed this food over months, and perhaps years, of helping neglected geckos regain their health. This, along with liquid calcium, may very well be all that this little one needs to recover from her abuse and thrive.

Only YOU can determine if it would be worth it or not. For me, it's always about the gecko's well-being, and I believe every living thing on this earth deserves a chance...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I forgot to add, that I think buying a gecko from a pet store is NOT 'rescuing' it. It is serving their purpose since these animals are only inventory items. Paying money is simply enabling the stores to continue this practice, and is not giving them any incentive to care for these animals properly. Why should they when people will buy them anyway?

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I forgot to add, that I think buying a gecko from a pet store is NOT 'rescuing' it. It is serving their purpose since these animals are only inventory items. Paying money is simply enabling the stores to continue this practice, and is not giving them any incentive to care for these animals properly. Why should they when people will buy them anyway?

I have to agree with that as well. Unfortunately the people who dropped her off honestly believed that by taking her from the pet store and then leaving her with us they had done some good. Our shelter manager looked like she wanted to slap the couple that dropped them off for actually purchasing them from the Petsmart.

What frustrates me even more though is that it was a fluke we were the nearest shelter that also happened to have a vet on staff who has reptile and exotic pet treatment experience. These people said that they would have just left the leos in a box wherever is closest to "save them". How is ditching them in a box at the nearest shelter saving them? We're lucky my friend Jessica was even out there and saw them getting out of their car. They would have just drove off otherwise without a word, I bet.
---

I'll definitely email the slurry recipe to the vet! I'm sure I can make some up here at home to and bring it in when I have my next shift.

I really want to adopt her, but only after I have a more positive sense that she is doing better. My vet (not really mine, but he works for the shelter) has also encouraged me to wait until we get her up to a healthy weight, he said that he doesn't like seeing people heart broken when an animal dies on them, especially when with a little more TLC at the shelter and vet office she could be okay.

But I'm almost certain if she starts gaining weight I'll adopt her. She is really hard not to fall in love with, especially when she acted so big and tough when getting weighed on the scale. She just has a great personality for something that has been through some stressful times.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

God, some people really make me furious! I truly hope the little gecko does well, and comes home with you...

 

[KHGeckos]

what you want to do is very noble and im glad you want to help this leo. before i bring it home i would get a fecal done. some of these gecko diseases spread like wild fires, that's why im afraid to bring a rescue home because i dont want to put my geckos at risk. other than that, if you take the necessary precautions, a rescued leo from neglect and abuse will be very rewarding the the long-run because the gecko can enjoy the rest of its years with warmth and food on the table regularly, lol. good luck

 

[Double LY]

Being able to help these little living creatures has got to be one of the most satisfying achievements in my life. I have seen miracles, and these little refugees were placed in loving 'pet' homes. The others are all buried on the hill behind my house, with a painted rock that says, "All Good Geckos Go to Heaven".

Marcia, there has to be a special place in heaven for animal saints like you. As stated before, we are all truly lucky to have someone like you so willing to give information and share experiences on this site.

Big Kudos to Greyscale for your loving heart with respect to this little rescue. It's definitely easy to fall in love with a sweet leo face. Even if you decide not to adopt her yourself, you have assisted in giving her the first steps to a long, healthy life with whatever family is determined good enough to adopt her.

 

[JConley]

I have gone into ******** to buy Leo type things like hides, UTH, calcium etc etc, and looked at the leo tanks with disgust, no water no food poop all over etc.

I usually bring the manager over and ask him how he would feel locked up in a room no water no food and his own feces all over the floor. (Kinda like he might end up in one wink wink). lmao

I usually threaten to call animal cruelty on their ass or give them a really mean look :main_angry: and they have it much cleaner now.

Ok everyone go out today to a pet store and give them hell if they have dirty cages. Oh and bring a huge scary guy with ya like me!:main_thumbsup:

Maybe we all could give the little babies a better chance in life if someone would stick up for them!

 

[Ccrashca069]

I find it rewarding to do rescues. I keep rescues in a quarintine tank and I wash my hands before and after I handle them. Just because you never know what is wrong with them and not to spread it too my other leopards. I been nursing 1 babdy leopard for almost 3 weeks and it is finally eating and pooped for me. Poor kid, I almost gave up on it. So it was very rewarding to me too see she ate and pooped.

 

[Pookachu]

Up until recently I have been pretty oblivious as to what goes on or what doesn't at places like *******. Then again it was not until recently that I have taken in interest in caring for a reptile (geckos).

Last night while visiting a friend I stopped by a ******* by his place to see if they had that hide that splits in two so you can press one side against the glass and remove the over half for viewing.

Anyways, I took a peak at the reptile section and nearly lost it when I saw the conditions some of them were in.

One tank had a leo, bearded dragon, fire skink?, and another gecko (it was climbing on the glass) in the same tank. The only reason I think they have not eaten each other is because they just are not healthy enough to even try it.

The other thing was a leo tank which housed 3 juvie's with no hides, no water, poop everywhere, and they were on sand. All three looked like they were very close to dying. One of them was yelping the entire time i was there and couldn't even move and was trying to crawl by only moving it's head.

I asked the "Reptile Expert" there what was going on and he was like "Oh, they are happy, they're just sleeping" Then tried to tell me that he would do me a favor and give me a "discount" on them if I wanted to take all three.

My fiance (who was equally as disgusted) immediately grabbed me and pulled me out of the store because she thought I might hit the guy.

- -

I really wish there was something that I could do. I did take pictures of the leo's with hopes of maybe emailing their corporate office but from reading up previous posts that tends to give little or no results.

I can't buy them and take care of them for a) I will not give them (*******) money b) do not have the facilities or know how to take care of them

Uggh.. it bugs me to have seen that and done nothing about it (then again there really isn't anything I could do). Im going to send an email to their office regardless even though I know it will not really do anything. Hopefully though because I have a couple pictures it may get some sort of response.

Here are a couple of the pics I took last night. They are from a phone so the quality is not that great. I put it up as a link instead of direct image so that if you do not want to see it then don't click on the link.

Pic 1
Pic 2

Sorry to hijack your thread... Greyscale. I think it is really awesome that you are in a position where you are able to help out in rescuing an animal. I wish I was in a position to do the same...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

OK everyone... this thread is not going in a good direction. Please take a moment to review the TOS of this website:

Personal Attacks Against Individuals or Companies:

The GeckoForums.net Administration understands the importance of reputation feedback in the reptile industry, and members are encouraged to utilize the trader rating system to leave feedback for other users on the forum.

Posts and threads commenting on any business or individual with regards to their business and/or reptile husbandry ethics are not allowed on GeckoForums.net. This includes complaints about retail pet stores.

 

[Ipsl]

We should all pitch in a make a gecko ranch. A non profit for Leos and other herps

 

[Pookachu]

My mistake, didn't know about that part of TOS. Delete my post then if possible.

 

[JConley]

opps

Opps sorry i forgot about the TOS my bad

I just get crazy and loose my head sometimes when a see animal abuse!
Maybe nextime ill say "big box pet store" instead

But i must say a TOS violation is 1,000,000,000 times better then those poor Leos in the pics. That is animal abuse no excuse for it. All it takes is once a day cleaning of their tank, refilling water, food etc.

I vote leave the pics!!!!!!!

brb i gotta go punch a wall!:main_no:

 

[Ccrashca069]

I love that non profit idea

 

[Ccrashca069]

brb i gotta go punch a wall!


I done that so many times that I have caused hairline fractures in my fingers. Trust me when it gets cold and your fingers hurt its not worth it. Thats when we have to make a stand and make the companies pay for their mistakes and fix it so they have too care for the animals not treat them like wherehouse cargo.

 

[MichaelJ]

My wife and I have taken in rescues pretty commonly over the past 8-9 months. My vet, the local SPCA, and Humane Society, all contact us when they receive one. Once my vet and I have looked them over to be sure of possible recovery we'll take them in for a few months and then Adopt them out to good homes. We ask that these animals not be bred and are simply kept as pets and not with other Leos if possible. They've been through enough stress and don't need anymore..

We have three actually right now that I got about 3 months ago and were kept on sand with disgusting husbandry, no calcium, etc.. It was actually two males and a female - all housed together! both males have some battle wounds and all three were within days of death. Now they are some of the fattest leos we have!

We adopt them out for a 15$ fee + shipping. The adoption fee helps offset some of the cost of feeding, housing, etc. My Vet provides the meds and we both do fecals on them bi-weekly until they show nothing. He also does acid-fast tests on all of them when we first get them in and then again a month later; just to be sure.

It's a rewarding experience but does have heartbreak as Marcia said. We lost our two first ones the night we got them..

If you do decide to ever take in a rescue make sure you practice extreme hygiene and keep them FAR away from your current colony.

I built a rack in the garage for them to stay in until they are back on their feet.

P.S. - Marcia's slurry mix has saved probably 10 rescues we've taken in! it's good stuff..

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

I always thought a non-profit place for geckos and all reptiles would be nice. The only reptile humane society like thing I know of is in Colorado. As reptiles become more popular pets I hope associations and rescues for their benefit also become more prominent. Not enough places take them in or even have the knowledge to deal with them properly.

Misinformation and reluctance to learn more is why many reptiles end up in such poor conditions. In order to improve this in the future, there really should be more organizations putting the word out there for everyone. That way everyone in the end can have a happy ending.

^_^

Back to the subject though...

I am glad to see so many people within the reptile community doing their part to help out rescues. It already seems like this is going to turn out to be an awarding experience.

Speaking of which today we named the little girl "Takara" which is supposed to mean treasure in Japanese. She's moving around (still wobbly) a lot more than she was a few days ago. Even if I don't end up adopting her, I will definitely make sure she finds a really really good home.

We also have a bunch of the newer assistants making up Marcia's slurry and saving some for later use. Takara seems to like the stuff, but we're also trying not to force her into eating too much. Either way, I can't wait to see if she continues to progress!

As for keeping clean, we all wash our hands and wear gloves in the office. All of the babies are being kept in separate tanks in different corners of the room. We've also made sure they're in the furthest room away from the dog and cat rooms.

 

[Jenna4Herps]

The humane society/animal control should be called and sent to that pet shop. I feel SO angry right now and the photos of those leo's are going to stay with me. Those POOR things! I'm furious.

Marcia... I have been right there with you with rescues. I have taken many rescue reptiles and it can rewarding, but also very emotionally draining when you work very hard to save their little lives only to find your efforts in vain. I once even had to have antibiotics and a tetanus shot when I was bitten by a chameleon that I rescued. He was in extreme pain from mouth infections which required hand feeding supplemented baby food, he had sepsis, and parasitic issues. I was trying to administer his medications and clean his mouth of the infection which caused him pain. He turned and bit my hand which drew blood (through the gloves I was wearing!). I was thinking hmmmm... okay... he has sepsis and mouth rot and he just bit my hand deep enough to draw blood... lol... I called my physician and she said it would probably be a good idea to come in :main_laugh:. I wanted to put the previous owner through the same treatment as they did the poor chameleon and send them my vet and doctor bills. Sadly, he was in such bad shape he didn't make it.

He came to me with a female mate who also had sepsis, parasitic issues, AND egg bound. I thought she would be the one not to make it and I hand fed her for almost a month and she was so weak she could barely hold on to her branches. She laid her rotting eggs (yes rotten) after a couple of weeks and I had a complete successful recovery! She was one of the very few incredible success stories. I ended up naming her Zena which means "alive." So rescuing can be very rewarding when the outcome is successful. She ended being adopted from me to a happy home.

I applaud you Hannah for wanting to take in the girl... I hope all goes well with her recovery and I'm sure she will have a happy life with you as her new owner . It's people like you that make this world a better place.

Seriously... I think a telephone call is in order. :furious3: