Please take care of your pets.

[Syn]

I know many of us take great care of our pets, but this is just a reminder to some who may not be so apt.

I recently took in a rescue, he was in rough condition.
I knew it wasn't a good idea, but I figured I'd give it a try.

He was a male veiled chameleon, terrible MBD.

I decided to take him to the vet two days after getting him (yesterday) in hopes to get a good diagnosis, something like "with some time and patience, he will get better."

Instead, I was told it was better off he was put to sleep. It turns out he had internal problems as well.
The vet didn't go into much detail with me (he talked more to my mom since I was a little upset and decided to leave the room).
Today, I opted to let him go.

It's heart breaking to see animals come in that you want to help but can't.

Please take the best care of your chameleons as you can.

 

[ChameleonRave]

I agree that vid. from youtube makes me want to take so many rescues! where would I find them? I live in SD but there is hardly anyone that has them! could you help me rescue them?

 

[Warrix642]

Sorry to hear you had to deal with that. Maybe your Veiled will be re-born in one of my clutches and he can be spoiled!

Dustin

 

[Syn]

I agree that vid. from youtube makes me want to take so many rescues! where would I find them? I live in SD but there is hardly anyone that has them! could you help me rescue them?

Be sure you can take care of the chameleons you already have before taking in more. Unfortunately the person I had gotten this one from had several chameleons, they were more focused on their other chameleons that they had let this one get down hill.

If you are really interested in adopting chameleons, there is a member, Elisa, who runs a chameleon rescue in California. Contact her.

 

[ChameleonRave]

Oh trust me I have everything down with my Cham. right now he is pretty simple and how do i find her on here? and would she ship it to me? or how would I do this? my parents would never drive there to get it lol.

 

[Syn]

Oh trust me I have everything down with my Cham. right now he is pretty simple and how do i find her on here? and would she ship it to me? or how would I do this? my parents would never drive there to get it lol.

http://chameo.org/ Here is the website..

You could also check with your local herpetological society..

 

[ChameleonRave]

sadly there is no herp society in SD and thanks for the site!

 

[Cawagula]

Please, everyone, definitely do.... I have been an owner of multiple pets everything from mammals to reptiles to birds. I am upset by nothing more than when someone blindly takes in a pet without knowing how to properly take care of them. I still, own no Chams, I've been researching them for the last 3 weeks and am just now starting to order and prepare the cage and food. Please, know how to properly take care of your pets and follow EVERY step in pet care, skip nothing.

 

[reptimom]

Having worked with my local animal shelter for 20 years, I have seen things that would rip your heart out. It sometimes makes me think people have no hearts anymore. Then there are people that are so good and kind and work so hard to save these poor neglected creatures, that me heart feels better. God gave us diminion over his animals - that is, he made us their caretakers, not their rulers to do with as we please!

 

[beeze]

Sorry to hear that you weren't able to save him but at least you were willing to try.

 

[FroggtheCham]

That sucks.....sorry Syn. I know we can't fix stupid, but it makes it increasingly frustrating and heart wrenching for the rest of us who are left to pick up the pieces and try to fix the mess.

 

[Monkeykungphu]

Please, everyone, definitely do.... I have been an owner of multiple pets everything from mammals to reptiles to birds. I am upset by nothing more than when someone blindly takes in a pet without knowing how to properly take care of them. I still, own no Chams, I've been researching them for the last 3 weeks and am just now starting to order and prepare the cage and food. Please, know how to properly take care of your pets and follow EVERY step in pet care, skip nothing.

Yes!!! Someone else on here who's not yet a chameleon owner!!

On Syn's topic, I've been reading on CF.com for a couple of months now trying to understand & learn as much as I can about keeping panthers as I plan to pick one up later this summer.

In the short time I've been here, it blows me away how many post I see on here in the Health Clinic forum where someone's first post is a short one about how their chameleon is sick and won't eat, etc. Seems like they always fail to fill out the form that list all of their husbandry details too. Then, when they finally fill it out, it's obvious they're doing all kinds of stuff wrong.

You would think that if they could find this forum after they find out their chameleon, that they know nothing about, is sick, they could have got on here beforehand, figured out what they should have been doing, & then got a chameleon.

I understand some people probably get excited at reptile shows or pet shops & pick them on as a spur of the moment decision sometimes, but it doesn't take that long to learn how to properly care for a chameleon. It's really not rocket science! Honestly, I think anyone who is selling any pet, anywhere, should provide an really detailed care sheet with that animal. Just makes sense, especially with exotic pets with special particular needs.

And, even with all of the knowledge out there, even when some people know better, they will continue to neglect animals out of laziness and a lack of compassion or care for the animal. Sad, but that's the way it is.

Sorry to hear about your loss Syn. Sad that they neglected the one, while paying better attention to the others... I'd be concerned about that keeper's other chameleons if he/she neglected this one...

 

[pssh]

Blah! I really wish I could help with rescues at local shelters. Unfortunately I am not old enough, so I adopt whenever I get new animals (supposing I can with the species.)

Don't breed already over populated species of animals, and screen completely anyone you sell to. Also, it helps if you do not support pet store that sell animals! They are a main reason why many animals are in shelters and it's terrible. Only support pet stores that don't sell animals. Adopt don't buy and spay and neuter your dogs and cats and other mammals that are hard/difficult to sex or that are housed with others of the opposite sex.

 

[Miss Lily]

Oh, Syn, that's awful. I too see many chams advertised locally but I just don't have the room for more, otherwise I would rescue them too. I might be missing something here, but what I don't understand is how someone can care for the other chameleons but not that one?! Are you sure the others are being properly looked after?

 

[justjumpit621]

I got a job at a humane society so not I can help all the reptiles that come in, we just got a B&W Tegu and my friend is going to adopt her.

 

[alvora]

Compassion led you to rescue the cham and also led you to end the cham's suffering. Your experience has given us all a reminder to help others when we have the chance. That little chameleon would still be suffering if you hadn't saved him.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Syn, you will rewarded in the afterlife for your good works here on earth. Keep up the good work, and dont get down about it. As others have said you at least saved the poor creature from days or weeks of suffering.

 

[Syn]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I'm glad to see people on this site do their research, even if it's not every single member.

I keep telling myself I saved him from suffering more, but it just seems like there's more I could/should have done.

Either way, I just hope this can remind people to keep taking great care of their pets.
If you think you can't do it any longer, or aren't giving it enough attention, adopt it out to someone who can (and screen them).
Don't let it make you feel like you aren't capable, but understand that you really care about your animals by letting it go to a better person.

 

[Syn]

Oh, Syn, that's awful. I too see many chams advertised locally but I just don't have the room for more, otherwise I would rescue them too. I might be missing something here, but what I don't understand is how someone can care for the other chameleons but not that one?! Are you sure the others are being properly looked after?

To be honest I am now asking that myself. I guess I'm to the point, do I become ignorant and try to save myself the grief, or do I try to help, but end with all the grief?

 

[pssh]

If you can afford it both physically with expenses and emotionally, then do it. The least you can do is offer a care sheet and a maybe your email if they have any questions. If I could, I'd be fostering animals left and right and helping to adopt them out almost 24/7