Story of Twiggs

[dnsdeb]

Well, I can honestly say I have never been so ashamed to be human.
I went into the local garden centre yesterday and yet again saw the poor amazon tree boa looking thinner and more rotten than usual.
There is also a sign saying "Not Feeding" "Not for sale"
This boa has been in a mess for about 3 months.
Initially this boa was housed with a common and kept far too dry.
So it got skin problems, stopped eating, stopped sh*tting.
Went through its second shed since it got there and now both are retained, inc eyecaps, so on top of everything else it is blind.
So the snake is moved into its own viv, but basically given no attention.
It is offered a mouse every week but of course doesnt eat cos it is so uncomfortable, its pits are blocked with shed and it cant see.
Matters get worse when the girl with anything about her who works there is on holiday for 3 weeks. (She has been providing moist hides for it at least).
Now it gets worse, and is cronically dehydrated too. It has no muscle mass and its jaw has receeded. (may be congenital, but not sure).
Anyway, I go in yesterday and this girl are there along with a manager of another department.
I have a major rant expecting them to defend the pet shop manager but they dont.
The girl tells me she goes home crying every night, and the guy tells me he has spoken to his superior, but as the pet shop guy is the one with the pet shop liscence, the mamagement wont do anything about him.
They have even asked me to complain and report him as they feel it is the only way to get anything done now as all their avenues are closed.
The guy then tells the girl to get a box and asks me to take it saying that if I can do anything at all it is better than just watching it die. So I have.
The snake has been to the vet, who is now writing a letter for me to go with my letter of complaint.
I have now got the momouth task of looking after this poor snake.
he cannot eat for himself so is needed to be assist fed. It needs daily baths and a libberal coating of KY jelly.
I am going to have faecial samples taken if and when it finally does something.
I am just soo angry.
I have been advised that the best line of action to take is failure to provide necessary veterinary attention.
If anyone has any othe ideas on the essay I am going to send the company and the council then please do reply.
I want this guys liscence.
I dont necessarily want to shut the place down. I just want the animals cared for propperly.
(On another note he has lost half a dozen beardie babies as he has only been feeding them twice a week while the girl was away and the biggest has killed all the others trying to eat them).
Any advice on the way to go would be really appreciated
Cheers.
Deb

[dnsdeb]

If it was just the ATB not eating I would not be so angry. They are often problem feeders, but this man has seen its deterioration and has done NOTHING!

Nor has he seeked veterinary care for an animal very obviously in need of it.

I want to string him up.

His neglect of all the animals in the centre has been cause for concern on many occasions and I have told him as much several times.

Including basic heating, lighting and feeding.

I can not express how angry and upset I am about the whole thing.

There is a bearded dragon still in the shop with what looks like its back broken from a run in with the Alpha beardie who killed all the others because it was not being fed enough. (Twice a week for a 8 wk old).

He needs to be put to sleep to be honest, he is paralysed from mid back downwards and looks down right miserable.

I am torn between anger and tears, but this has gone on for long enough now and it is about time something was done about it. So thats exactly what I am going to do.

I just hope I dont end up with my head against a brick wall.

[dnsdeb]

My vet came round today (Sunday) with the letters, he is a wonderful vet thankfully and has extensive reptile qualifications.(one of very few in the country) so his letter should help alot.
I have all the material I need so far including pics of the snake, who doesnt look half so bad with less shed skin on him, its amazing what afew baths excessive amounts of KY jelly and a bit of TLC does. I even got 2 pinkies down him (assisted). He is just soo thin.
I have called him Twiggs on account of his weight.
I will be sending my letters recorded delivery tomorrow after work, just to make sure they get to where they are going, then its just "wait and see".
I will ofcourse keep you all updated, and I have contacted Eddie so hopefully he should be able to give me some guidance too.

[dnsdeb]

Just to update all.

The letters have gone off.
Twiggs is doing ok and loosing more skin that i thought he had on him, there must be at least 3 sheds there.

He has had 2 feeds assisted, but has started striking so i am getting some response from him now.
He must be feeling better if he wants to bite me

[dnsdeb]

Well, just to update you.
Twiggs has had two unassisted strike feeds now and has also had a poo...Im so happy
As for the pet shop. They are getting a new pet shop lisencee in by January at the latest as that is when the other runs out and it is not being renewed So hopefully they will get someone who knows what they are doing.
Anyway, heres a pic I promised. Looking much better!!

[dnsdeb]

Just to update on the situation.
Twiggs is getting on really well. He has lost most of his shed now and is strike feeding He is lovely. We just need to build his weight up now.
The lisencee at the pet shop has lost his lisence and someone else is now in charge.
There has been a big clean up at the shop and aparently head office have been in and given the guy a good telling off too. So I'm quite pleased with the outcome.
It just goes to show, if you see something you dont like in a shop, SAY SOMETHING, if enough people speak up then we can make a difference.

[dnsdeb]

I wanted to share this with you because it does show that every little thing you do helps. You may feel like a lone voice but you can make a difference

[John Pilling]

That is a good but sad read debs, keep us updated on the further pogress, and thanks for sharing.

[lee]

debs your a star:)
great that the twiggs got a good home and is recovering well
looks great
lee

[lozzer]

Thats so sad ive seen cases like that but not as bad.I hope he recovers and good on ya!

[Shrimply]

It is so sad to hear of animals being treated badly but for some reason a lot of rescue animals become the best pets.
When I was in the reptile shop they were telling me that the best coloured and most friendly beardy they had seencame from a box of 20 babies they rescued that had all been kept in the same tiny box and had been without food so long they had started to take bites out each others tails.

I wish you the best of luck with the animal and from now on we will want regular updates.

[dnsdeb]

Thanks folks.
Will keep ya posted

[meths]

Why would a guy WANT to run a pet shop if he had zero interest in his animals? There are other ways of making money, which don't involve being so cruel...

[jason]

Oh yeah, how is twiggs doing Deb?

[dnsdeb]

He is doing great, had his first shed with us, it was still bitty and off in pieces but considering he had 3 sheds attached to him when we got him, im pleased with the progress.
he is strike feeding now like a pro. amd his jaw deformity seams to be healing so i do think it was basically due to his total lack of muscle mass as he was soo underweight.
Anyway, i will take more pics soon, so will post them here..
Take care all
Deb

[John Pilling]

Great news, and thanks for the update.