I knew I shouldn't have looked...

[Lurhstaap]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/pet/3463564826.html

This just makes me want to cry. I will be on the phone to this person tomorrow. What the hell are they THINKING? How can they be keeping that poor dragon in a 20gal tank? Don't they see that something is horribly wrong? "Beautiful"... that poor dragon. ;.; I don't have the money for this but I feel like I can't just leave it there. Is there anyone in California who can take this guy permanently after I rescue him? I don't think my mother will let me keep him. I JUST bought a dragon from a breeder at the beginning of the month. x.x She probably won't even want me to rescue him. But I don't want him to just... die!

Ugh... all I wanted was to see if anyone had any inexpensive supplies I could pick up for my babies... I knew I shouldn't have looked... I knew there was a risk I'd see something like this...

*SIIIIIIGH*

Why do I have to be penniless right now?

 

[Spikey92]

God that is soo sad
Poor little thing is in such a bad shape
Maybe you can message the owner and ask if you can get him for free since hes in such a terrible shape.
Show your mum the pictures and explain to her that he looks waay to skinny and dehydrated, they keep him in a small tank with SAND and his eyes are closed so he probably doesnt get the right uvb . Im sure your mum couldnt say no to helping this little guy

 

[Lurhstaap]

They didn't mention what sort of fee they have in mind... I'm hoping it's not too outrageous. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and after that I'm going to go cruise the payday loan places and see if I can get one of them to give me an advance. I hate doing things like that but this poor baby needs someone to help it and I don't think there are many other people in stupid Vacaville who have anything close to the knowledge and experience to help this dragon.

As for my mother... it's gonna have to be one of those 'do it before she knows it's happening and then engage her sympathies' kind of things. x.x If I can get the dragon to the house I know she'll let it stay, at least long enough for me to, at minimum, find it a forever home. I know once she actually sees the poor baby in person she won't be able to resist wanting to help it, but as long as it's an abstract she'll worry about money. Which is fair... we're in bad shape right now. But... x.x

EDIT: Hooray! Good news! I wrote the person an e-mail and he called me within ten minutes of my sending it. We worked out an arrangement for me to come pick up the dragon tomorrow, and if I can't get the cash I can leave collateral with him until I get paid at the beginning of January. So I am very pleased. I'm going to have to keep Sunny and Pele well away from the rescue baby, of course, in case it's ill with more than neglect... this will be a challenge. I'll have to rearrange my setups and make a bunch more bleach-water. But it's worth it. I even remembered that there's a person in Vacaville to whom I might be able to pass the rescue baby as a more permanent arrangement, or who may know somebody who can take him/her permanently.

Good thing I have lots of butterworms, collard greens, and squash! I've got plenty of phoenix worms, too. I should buy more crickets if I can get that payday loan... *plans* Mom was surprisingly accepting of the whole thing, too. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. She's the one who bought me my beardie when I was a kid, and she loves Sunny and Pele. All she said was stuff like 'That's so sad' and 'Are you sure you can save the poor thing?' So my family's with me too. I feel good that I'm able to do something to help.

Also it turns out that the current owner has five kids, is in school and working, and basically made a bad judgment call about whether his children were ready for this kind of responsibility. I feel rather bad for him and I'm glad he was willing to work with me about the adoption fee. A lot of people would not have been willing to accept an offer of collateral for two weeks from a perfect stranger.

Now the question becomes, do I bleach down the 55gal I usually keep Pele in? She and Sunny have been getting along well enough out of tank, she literally only goes in there when I have to leave the house. But... then what will I do with her when I have to leave the house? I guess I'll have to have Mom watch both her and Sunny until the rescue baby is rehomed. I'll figure it all out.

 

[Lurhstaap]

Well, I brought her home. The previous owners think she's female so that's what I've decided to call her for now, but she's so thin I honestly can't tell. x.x She's about the same length as Pele, but her growth has probably been stunted, so I am going to guess that she's around six months old. She is extremely thin, but her eyes are bright and she is very alert and aware, so I have no doubt that she will make it. She just needs proper care and TLC. I'm grateful that I got to her in time, though! I hate to think how bad it would have been if the owners hadn't been willing to relinquish her immediately.

She ate three phoenix worms, but snubbed butterworms and salad. So I made a slurry with the salad, plus I added the rejected butterworms and phoenix worms. It seemed a bit odd making a slurry with veggies and live prey together, but it worked -- she ate several nose-drips' worth before, eventually, snubbing the slurry. But now I've got her in the cricket tank and she's eating them! I am delighted to see this. I think that's what she's used to being fed. Her appetite is much heartier in the cricket tank than it was for the live worms or the non-slurry veggies. I will keep feeding as much of the slurry as I can get her to swallow, but I'm happy she is eating the crickets.

I am astonished by how much she's changed in appearance already. In the Craigslist ad, the photos show her as gray and almost lifeless-looking. But now she's developing wonderful yellows, golds, and bronzes, especially on her legs and face. She is capable of standing up tall like normal, too, so she isn't as weak as I feared she was at first. She's skin and bones, and majorly dehydrated, but those appear to be her only real problems. She is missing one of her toes on her front foot, but it's long healed, so I can only assume it's a nip from the pet store.

 

[Spikey92]

Im so glad everything worked out and you could rescue the little girl
I wish you all the best & good luck! She'll appreciate it & its probably the best christmas gift shes ever gotten

 

[Lurhstaap]

Thank you so much! Her appreciation was immediate and obvious from the moment she entered my custody. They just brought out her tank and put it in the backseat of my car, with her in it! I was a little appalled, but we had two stops to make on the way home, so at our first stop I just got out and took her out to get a good look at her, assess her condition, and give her a chance to get some sun (yes, it was actually warm and sunny enough here today for her to bask! Our "winter" weather is most place's spring/autumn weather... ) Within moments of taking her out of the tank and holding her in the sun, her color went up visibly! She went from all lifeless grays to having lemon yellow on her legs and face! She was so obviously happy just to be in the sun for such a brief time that I wanted to cry. It would have taken SO little for her to have gotten the right care. At least she is happy now. From the way she looks right now, sharing the basking area (from a distance, not close enough for them to touch each other or interact in any way) with my other two, you would think she's been here her whole life (except for how thin she is, of course...)

 

[snazzyglasses]

Wow. :shock: I went from near-tears at the beginning of the thread when I saw the pictures, to super excited and relieved once I read through it!

That poor darling. Thank you so much for saving her <3 <3 <3 (or him ) I'm sosososo glad you were able to, and that your family is supportive, and that the owner was awesome about the collateral, and everything! You are awesome!

 

[Lurhstaap]

Thank you! I was very relieved to be able to help her. The change in her is amazing! Pictures:

 

[BlazeDarkling]

Wow shes looking better already congrats ! hope it contuse to go well!

 

[lauraj1055]

So glad you got her! Can't wait to see some pictures with some weight on her. Thank you for saving her.

 

[Lurhstaap]

This is one of the most miraculous things I've ever experienced. I started a donation drive for Goldie at the website where I work just hoping to get a few dollars toward paying for her first vet trip... and so far people have donated a total of over six hundred dollars for her care!! I have literally been crying out of gratitude and amazement. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that people would be so generous and kind. So you guys can rest assured that miss Goldie will be getting the absolute best care available. I will post new photos soon once she has put on some weight.

She is doing better than I dreamed possible. Her appetite is still lower than I would like but it's a lot higher than I expected it to be. Her legs have already begun to lose that stick-figure look and she is holding them in a more normal way now I guess because of the liquid calcium and UVB treatment. She is remarkably alert and active given her condition.

 

[Spikey92]

That is so WONDERFUL & honestly Im actually surprised that people donate so much money for "a lizard " as many people sadly refer to them. But its just amazing.
Im just so happy for you & the little fella

 

[snazzyglasses]

I love her name! My first dog growing up was named Goldie, and she was seriously the best dog I've ever known

And,

This is one of the most miraculous things I've ever experienced. I started a donation drive for Goldie at the website where I work just hoping to get a few dollars toward paying for her first vet trip... and so far people have donated a total of over six hundred dollars for her care!!

Yay! That's so amazing!! <3 <3 I'd be crying too.
Sending plenty of hugs for you and little miss Goldie <3

 

[AHBD]

Wow, that's great that you took this girl, and equally great that so many people have donated to help her. You say she's thin, and her only visible problems are her weight , but she's eating slurry + crickets already ? That's also fantastic. It sounds like things are really going to turn out O.K. for her. It would be a good idea to let her gain weight and settle in well before a vet visit. Her only real needs right now may just be some good grub and TLC. Once she's filled out you will see if her poos are abnormal and she needs a deworming, but for now she will be fine with gaining weight with your good care.

 

[carlisv]

I predict that with her personality and beautiful colors you'll find it too difficult to give her up! Now with a few dollars to buy supplies and pay vet bills, maybe you have room for her after all?