I'm sure we all have debated this when we have seen a beardie in much need of being rescued. We also love getting from the many great breeders here at BD.org. As many of you know I recently paid what I concider too much for a dragon that was in terrible conditions at a petshop, but am I the only one that has paid too much when some1 refuses to lower their price on a neglected or mistreated beardie?
The ***** I bought Galadriel from was charging 110. for him and his wildly stinking viv. They didn't have UVB on him, and were completely unaware that their 4 year old dragon had any health problems! I paid it, and got him out of there!
We were able to get the pet shop owner we rescued Sweetie-Boo from to drop her price $40.00, but agreed, we would have paid the full price just to get her out of there.
Besides Galadriel, I should also note that while I have bought several of my dragons, from 20.00 on up to 149.00, (not all rescues) I have been given 6 of my 11 rescue dragons, from 4 different owners, as the owners knew they were in over their heads. I consider all the dragon that have come to me free as coming from responsible owners, as they did what they needed to to cover their dragon's needs. Two, not free, including Fib, were from pet stores under less than ideal conditions. The store where Fib came from does not regularly carry beardies, but has greatly improved their tanks (at least four times the size of the one they had Fib in, now!) and are working on the details of their husbandry, so if one does come in, they have much better conditions for their very short stay. Kang, while looking perfect and not specifically a rescue, was in a tank with another dragon, and had mites, as I discovered after I got him home. The others were from owners who were downsizing, (foreclosure, moving) and wanted a minimal charge for relatively healthy dragons.