Found a sad cham!!

[wendysjungle]

I've got a pic of a Nosy in my gallery. 2 as a matter of fact.

You know, that may be a good approach. There was this pet store by my old office, and it used to upset me every time I went in there because they had this "store bird," a big scarlet macaw, and the poor thing was just ragged looking and stood on a rope all day with no toys. My polite inquiries and suggestions were going nowhere, so I started taking my big ruby macaw, Fancy, in to the store with me every now and then. All the employees were fascinated by her, going on about how beautiful she was, and how did I get her feathers to look so glossy? I told them all about Fancy's diet, and conditioning baths, and toys to keep her busy with something other than chewing her feathers. Every time we went back, I noticed the store bird looked a little better, and everybody would have more questions for me. Last time I saw her, the bird was eating fresh fruit, playing with toys, and looking MUCH happier and healthier. Sometimes just seeing what a healthy example of the critter looks like is a BIG wake-up call.

I know that there are probably 1000 more birds out there like that one, but at least I helped the one I knew about.

 

[BocaJan]

A big pat on the back for doing something when a problem came your way. You probably saved that bird's life.

 

[bg77]

The guy that owns this shop(Amazon) was an old employee of the last owner. The last owner sold it to him and then went and bought Aqua Tropics I have had some problems with them. I went in and bought a ball for my son with cage and all accs. and it died within 3 days. He would not help me out at all. I bought another 1 from a proven local breeder and my ball is healthy as a horse. Petshops SUCK. I sure wish I had some money to have my own, so I could show them how to do it. I will stop by Amazon on saturday and give him some HELL.

 

[Kat77]

YAY! I wish I lived in or near there so I could go with you to give him hell! I really hope something happens here.

Brad, I know that there are thousands upon thousands of other people to punch out there. If I had a thousand fists I would punch them all. I guess I don't really think of it as a losing battle, because even if you help one animal, it made a difference to them. Education is a powerful thing but only to people who are open to it. Sometimes, force is a much more effective thing.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I don't want anyone to think I don't care ... I have just become "burnt out" as far as trying to help and even educate in these kinds of situations.
I love the scarlet Macaw story .... that has never happened to me. Even when it feels like things will change, and maybe they do for a short time, it never lasts.
These people do not want to work as hard as is required to properly care for a chameleon ... and no matter what you do or tell them ... they won't.
The corporate "big box" pet stores have specs that don't allow for proper chameleon care.
Even in all those states where there are laws to protect animals in pet stores (My state is one of them) there are chameleons suffering and dying from neglect of their specific needs.
I wish I could maintain my idealism and keep trying to "help just one, and make a difference" but when even that doesn't happen over and over ... you just stop.
I take care of the ones here and try to help people if I can (on the forums) and that's all. I don't even go into most pet stores anymore and if I have to, I certainly don't look at the reptiles.

-Brad

 

[hawaiianice99]

i called animal control but it didnt really make me feel any better because whoever i talked to didnt really sound like they cared, kinda like they were just workin a job. some other stuff i observed today...
-they guy put crickets in the cage while i was there, probably so i wouldnt give him crap about feeding.
-cage was dry dry
-feces still all over
-he actually moved the cages around the cham cage.
-cage was still on the floor
-chams tail just hangs down, doesnt curl like most i have seen.
... i dont thnk this guy is listening at all.


* I will probably be in on saturday too, during cool desert nights, if the store is open.

 

[wendysjungle]

I don't want anyone to think I don't care ... I have just become "burnt out" as far as trying to help and even educate in these kinds of situations.
I love the scarlet Macaw story .... that has never happened to me. Even when it feels like things will change, and maybe they do for a short time, it never lasts.
These people do not want to work as hard as is required to properly care for a chameleon ... and no matter what you do or tell them ... they won't.
The corporate "big box" pet stores have specs that don't allow for proper chameleon care.
Even in all those states where there are laws to protect animals in pet stores (My state is one of them) there are chameleons suffering and dying from neglect of their specific needs.
I wish I could maintain my idealism and keep trying to "help just one, and make a difference" but when even that doesn't happen over and over ... you just stop.
I take care of the ones here and try to help people if I can (on the forums) and that's all. I don't even go into most pet stores anymore and if I have to, I certainly don't look at the reptiles.

-Brad

Brad, I don't think anybody thinks you could do the job you do here and not care. I know that what happened with the macaw was unusual, just a private pet store where the employees meant well but had no idea what to do for their "pet." There is another pet store near my house where I don't bother to try to tell them a thing anymore because they NEVER listen, and I would never even take Fancy into that filthy place for fear of what she might pick up. You pick your battles where you can maybe have a shot at making a difference, and try not to look where you can't. And most importantly, you take care of your own and try to help those who are interested to do the same.