Sad rescue

[fl_orchidslave]

Our herp club had a small dinner meeting tonight (Wed) and one of the members asked me to take a leo that a kid had surrendered to them. They had been peeling off layers of stuck eye shed but really didn't want to deal with a gecko rehab so......... it's the most pathetic gecko I've ever seen. Not able to really look at it at the restaurant, just hurry up and put the container in my purse, then back to work for a few more hours (no outside animals allowed in a rehab hospital for people), home at midnight- after feeding my healthy animals, in a bath he went. He is so skinny not only is his spine showing , but his temples are sunken in. A prolapse. He's so dehydrated his skin is sagging at his sides. Nubs for most of his toes. I thought he died in my hand after i got the last of his shed off. I cried. Pumped his little heart gently. Softly blew in his face. When I tried to open his mouth to force a little air he came to and resisted. The only thing that's not wrong with him is he doesn't seem to have an eye infection. At one time he was a beautiful Super Snow. If he lives thru the night I'll try and get some photos up. This is one time I'd like to take someone out to the woodshed.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

It was too late. He didn't make it thru the night The parasite infestation was so bad there was an oocyst floating in his bath last night freed from the filthy prolapse. He died peacefully in his sleep, warm and moist. Too late to name him. RIP little one.

 

[Desdemona]

Poor little Leo. At least he had a little more comfort than he probably would have otherwise.

 

[rubym]

I am sorry. Those kind of rescues are the hardest. Take peace in knowing that you tried and it better that they pass with someone who cares then alone in some box.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Thank you. Hopefully there will be peace when I get past the anger. I don't understand why people wait so long before finding someone to take a sick animal if they can't care for it. If I'm in over my head it's not hard to contact a vet. There's half a dozen herp vets in Jacksonville, Fl, where the leo came from. I don't get it. Poor litle thing lived on sand, a bit of dirty sand in the box he was given to me in, and had been eating crickets. The old shed came off easily in a warm bath, all of it, because it was loose already. Prolapse and parasite load needed a vet, which would have been provided. The whole thing makes me both sick and angry. How can people be so heartless and cruel to neglect an animal that depends on them for everything? I needed to vent. Thank you.

 

[prettyinpink]

I'm so sorry he didn't make it. RIP little one.

 

[Reborn]

Aww thats to bad he didnt make itD: But alteast now he's not suffering anymore. You easied his will to live knowing someone actaully cared for him. I cant answer why people do it but its just wrong.

The 2 rescues i took in the people admittedly said they were leaving them out to die. I live in northern MN so it does get very cold. One had a terrible eye infection, MBD, and nubs for toes(not to mention they ripped off her tail "to see what would happen") the other has irreversible damage from MBD, was dropped and broke both her jaw and front legs. I tried to turn them in for it but the animal control people said "there not domesticated animals" so they couldnt do anything:/ its descusting and cruel! Fortantly there still alive now and staying with me.

Humans are the cruelst and most heartless creatures alive. Thats why i prefer my animals to humans.

 

[roger]

Thank you. Hopefully there will be peace when I get past the anger. I don't understand why people wait so long before finding someone to take a sick animal if they can't care for it. If I'm in over my head it's not hard to contact a vet. There's half a dozen herp vets in Jacksonville, Fl, where the leo came from. I don't get it. Poor litle thing lived on sand, a bit of dirty sand in the box he was given to me in, and had been eating crickets. The old shed came off easily in a warm bath, all of it, because it was loose already. Prolapse and parasite load needed a vet, which would have been provided. The whole thing makes me both sick and angry. How can people be so heartless and cruel to neglect an animal that depends on them for everything? I needed to vent. Thank you.

Yeah its pretty frustrating when a beautiful animal dies of neglect.No reason for it to happen.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Thank you for the kind words. I've never had one die in barely over 12 hours He must have suffered so much poor little boy

 

[Merriweather]

I've been eying craigslist, and I already have two people who have told me that their children have geckos that they don't really take care of and they, the parents, are tired of having to care for them. I've been subtly hint hinting that I'd help them with said, ahem, "problem". 8\
I hate people thinking about these "cheap" and "easy" animals as throw-away pets, just because they arent a "real" pet such as a dog or a cat. Same thing with hermit crabs, pretty muchly no one buys one and actually cares for it as it needs with the proper humidity and heat. Just a cold cage and a slow death.

 

[Reborn]

I've been eying craigslist, and I already have two people who have told me that their children have geckos that they don't really take care of and they, the parents, are tired of having to care for them. I've been subtly hint hinting that I'd help them with said, ahem, "problem". 8\
I hate people thinking about these "cheap" and "easy" animals as throw-away pets, just because they arent a "real" pet such as a dog or a cat. Same thing with hermit crabs, pretty muchly no one buys one and actually cares for it as it needs with the proper humidity and heat. Just a cold cage and a slow death.

Exactly! the 2 i took in were from craigs list:/ i drove 4 hours one way just to get them! they actually wanted money too! But thats not necessaryly true about the real pets thing being cats and dogs. If ya read half them one of the major reasons is "my son/daughter isnt caring for him/her properly" or "my son/daughter isnt giving it the attention it should get anymore" cats and dogs are rehomed there then they want 200+@.@ its amazing how cruel humans are....Craigs list is a evil thing now-a-days allowing people to dump there pets on someone else who can afford there "rehoming fee".

 

[Merriweather]

\Craigs list is a evil thing now-a-days allowing people to dump there pets on someone else who can afford there "rehoming fee".

Yes and no to this part, I think it CAN be, but I also think its a great tool for people who realize they are suddenly moving, or they are going to be in a situation that will involve no gecko, or they just plain realize they aren't taking the best of care of their pet anymore. Word of mouth through your friends and work place can maybe hit 20-50 people give or take, and after that where will said pet go? Craigslist can hit hundreds and hundreds of people, and hopefully the person getting rid of the pet is responsible enough to be patient and screen all the people who reply going "free pet?? me want!"

I have two cresteds, and the second one I have is an older female, 2.5 years old that I got off craigs. The owner knew what he was doing with geckos and took good care of her, but was traveling too much and had too much going on. He screened me, and I passed, and he gave her to me for free.
So in that regards, it was a good tool for someone who needed it, and he used it well.
Apologies for possible sloppy grammar, me want sleep.

I DO agree that the "I have an unwanted bearded dragon, small rehoming fee of $150, doesnt include cage or accessories" is crazy. Its not a pet-selling site.

 

[Merriweather]

Exactly! the 2 i took in were from craigs list:/ i drove 4 hours one way just to get them! they actually wanted money too!

Thats incredibly awesome of you, you get many karmas for that. But seriously, kudos to you for rescuing those two little babies from the clutches of evil. 8(

 

[Reborn]

Yes and no to this part, I think it CAN be, but I also think its a great tool for people who realize they are suddenly moving, or they are going to be in a situation that will involve no gecko, or they just plain realize they aren't taking the best of care of their pet anymore. Word of mouth through your friends and work place can maybe hit 20-50 people give or take, and after that where will said pet go? Craigslist can hit hundreds and hundreds of people, and hopefully the person getting rid of the pet is responsible enough to be patient and screen all the people who reply going "free pet?? me want!"

I have two cresteds, and the second one I have is an older female, 2.5 years old that I got off craigs. The owner knew what he was doing with geckos and took good care of her, but was traveling too much and had too much going on. He screened me, and I passed, and he gave her to me for free.
So in that regards, it was a good tool for someone who needed it, and he used it well.
Apologies for possible sloppy grammar, me want sleep.

I DO agree that the "I have an unwanted bearded dragon, small rehoming fee of $150, doesnt include cage or accessories" is crazy. Its not a pet-selling site.

Yes that maybe true not everyones trying to dump them but a large majority is. I get charging some kinda fee to ward off people looking for free things just to get them but to charge so much, like you said 150 for just a dragon, is crazy. Specially if they know they dont want it, cant care for it(or wont care for it anymore), or are moving cant bring it with/ or similar. You can easily tell the fakes and the real ones that way. Personally if something happened like that i know i wouldnt worry about money rather that my geckos go to a home that knows what there doing and can handle them. A good thing in some cases but with people now-a-day its becoming a place to sell unwanted pets. Not only reptiles but dogs and cats, ferrets and rats, fish and well anything else. To whoever sold ya your crested good for them! Of the 5 geckos and 1 dog ive gotten off there only the dog person screened me:/ the others wanted money. But this is compeletly off topic my apologize OP^^;

May the little guy rest in peace knowing someone cared. Hopefully next time the next person doesnt wait so long and you can save the little guy(s).

 

[rubym]

We havent done a rescue in awhile. Some of them take too much out of you.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

You're right Ruby, some do take a lot out of you, especially if there are several at once requiring multiple daily treatments. Sometimes it turns out well but sometimes there are further complications and has to be euthanized.

The popularity of Craigslist has helped a lot of reptiles find new homes instead of them ending up in worse shape, then surrendered to our herp society rescue. It's also a good way to gain rehab experience when taking in neglected animals since a lot of times, maybe most even, they aren't healthy. Especially free animals, are usually sick to some degree. I feel obligated to our herp club to take a gecko if someone asks me to help as this case was, but at this time it's a referral only until I have more space to keep sick animals further away from my groups.

As a sidenote, anyone who rescues for rehab please read all you can about crypto, understand its signs and risks, and practice impeccable quarantine. That is the uncurable disease that can wipe your collection out!