dezismom
Juvie Member
Introducing...The Penny Dragon, Dezi's new sister!
Yes, it was bound to happen; I have become a multiple beardie owner! I rescued a little one and so Dezi has a new little sister.
My hubby and I were in a big pet store to buy Dezi food, when I saw a sign on a beardie viv stating that one was a "special needs" beardie, and was "up for adoption", to please enquire. In the far back of the enclosure was a tiny one, flattened against the back, completely black with distress! I could not even see her markings, because she was so black...I saw no obvious physical problem--no toes missing, no injuries, she seemed a bit thin, but not starved. What could be the problem, here? I should have run away. quickly...but I had to enquire...
The very sweet sales girl said the dragon was completely untameable, very vicious, had badly bitten several employees, could not be held or calmed. Anyone who took her home would be required to sign a form stating they understood it was vicious and would bite, and never would be a pet to be held. I could not believe that, at such a young age, any animal could be labeled as untameable!! I have worked with injured adult wild animals who were tameable to holding! This little one was no bigger than my hand. Her head was the size of my thumb; how much damage could she do, even if she bit me with all her might? I asked to hold her, but no one could pick her up. So, I gently reached in, picked her up, and held her. At first, she showed her open mouth, and was defensive (good, I thought, she should defend herself against a total stranger! That meant she had not totally given up on her life! good for her!)
After a few moments, some of my magic beardie shakes (a gentle back and forth motion with beardie held nose up, in between hands like a sandwich--a very experienced beardie rehabber showed it to me to calm any stressed dragon) and calming sounds, (it is a low "cococo" sound, made mostly in the throat) and some breathing on her, which they seem to like, (maybe I have dragon breath, ha, ha!) and I had a sweet, calm, relaxed little beardie in my hand. Either I am a good dragon whisperer, or my breath had completely overwhelmed her, poor dear
Several of the staff had gathered around as I calmed her, and I was so deep into being calm for her I did not know they were even there. They were totally amazed. Said she had never been held so long, ever!
I asked what they meant by "up for adoption"? Thinking maybe it was a clever ploy to suck me in, and only actually a ten percent discount or something. The sales girl said they usually sell the special needs animals for a penny, if it is to a person who has the experience and desire to work with the animal. Also, the person must sign a contract stating there is no return no refund, for that animal. The manager, suddenly thinking there was more money to be made, butted in and said they could sell it for a discounted price...The salesgirl, who has worked with me before, and has shown special care for the reptiles, let him talk, then when he left, she leaned over and said, "she's a penny" and smiled at me.
Well, I had to take her home, now, didn't I? Even my husband,who has expressed numerous times that we must not add any more critters to our little zoo, agreed that this dragon was in trouble, and its best hope for a decent life would be for me to take her home...otherwise, she would probably end up in an aquarium, untouched and unloved, for the rest of her (short, unhappy) life. How could I leave her to that fate? She was clearly terrified; stressed to the point that she thought she was about to die. I do not know what was going on in that viv, but it was very bad for her. Maybe the others were picking on her, maybe a sales clerk had dropped her or "punished" her for biting him, who knows? But I do know that, when a beardie turns completely black, they think they are about to die. And she was as black as coal. So, I kissed her little head, tucked her into my palm, and welcomed her into my life.
I have named her, appropriately, "penny". Here she is, The "Penny Dragon"...
does this look like a vicious, untameable beast to you?
sound asleep! Her markings are quite lovely, almost a paisley pattern Very different than Dezi was. The sales person said she was in with the "fancy"ones, what ever that means...
If she grows into those feet, we will have a big girl!
I think she is such a lovely little one. This photo was taken after she had several days to get used to her new viv. She loves it. She is ready to shed, and has already grown a few inches!
Yes, it was bound to happen; I have become a multiple beardie owner! I rescued a little one and so Dezi has a new little sister.
My hubby and I were in a big pet store to buy Dezi food, when I saw a sign on a beardie viv stating that one was a "special needs" beardie, and was "up for adoption", to please enquire. In the far back of the enclosure was a tiny one, flattened against the back, completely black with distress! I could not even see her markings, because she was so black...I saw no obvious physical problem--no toes missing, no injuries, she seemed a bit thin, but not starved. What could be the problem, here? I should have run away. quickly...but I had to enquire...
The very sweet sales girl said the dragon was completely untameable, very vicious, had badly bitten several employees, could not be held or calmed. Anyone who took her home would be required to sign a form stating they understood it was vicious and would bite, and never would be a pet to be held. I could not believe that, at such a young age, any animal could be labeled as untameable!! I have worked with injured adult wild animals who were tameable to holding! This little one was no bigger than my hand. Her head was the size of my thumb; how much damage could she do, even if she bit me with all her might? I asked to hold her, but no one could pick her up. So, I gently reached in, picked her up, and held her. At first, she showed her open mouth, and was defensive (good, I thought, she should defend herself against a total stranger! That meant she had not totally given up on her life! good for her!)
After a few moments, some of my magic beardie shakes (a gentle back and forth motion with beardie held nose up, in between hands like a sandwich--a very experienced beardie rehabber showed it to me to calm any stressed dragon) and calming sounds, (it is a low "cococo" sound, made mostly in the throat) and some breathing on her, which they seem to like, (maybe I have dragon breath, ha, ha!) and I had a sweet, calm, relaxed little beardie in my hand. Either I am a good dragon whisperer, or my breath had completely overwhelmed her, poor dear
Several of the staff had gathered around as I calmed her, and I was so deep into being calm for her I did not know they were even there. They were totally amazed. Said she had never been held so long, ever!
I asked what they meant by "up for adoption"? Thinking maybe it was a clever ploy to suck me in, and only actually a ten percent discount or something. The sales girl said they usually sell the special needs animals for a penny, if it is to a person who has the experience and desire to work with the animal. Also, the person must sign a contract stating there is no return no refund, for that animal. The manager, suddenly thinking there was more money to be made, butted in and said they could sell it for a discounted price...The salesgirl, who has worked with me before, and has shown special care for the reptiles, let him talk, then when he left, she leaned over and said, "she's a penny" and smiled at me.
Well, I had to take her home, now, didn't I? Even my husband,who has expressed numerous times that we must not add any more critters to our little zoo, agreed that this dragon was in trouble, and its best hope for a decent life would be for me to take her home...otherwise, she would probably end up in an aquarium, untouched and unloved, for the rest of her (short, unhappy) life. How could I leave her to that fate? She was clearly terrified; stressed to the point that she thought she was about to die. I do not know what was going on in that viv, but it was very bad for her. Maybe the others were picking on her, maybe a sales clerk had dropped her or "punished" her for biting him, who knows? But I do know that, when a beardie turns completely black, they think they are about to die. And she was as black as coal. So, I kissed her little head, tucked her into my palm, and welcomed her into my life.
I have named her, appropriately, "penny". Here she is, The "Penny Dragon"...
does this look like a vicious, untameable beast to you?
sound asleep! Her markings are quite lovely, almost a paisley pattern Very different than Dezi was. The sales person said she was in with the "fancy"ones, what ever that means...
If she grows into those feet, we will have a big girl!
I think she is such a lovely little one. This photo was taken after she had several days to get used to her new viv. She loves it. She is ready to shed, and has already grown a few inches!
