Ok to clarify...
I appreciate so much all of you who had actual info to offer me. Advice, opionions or sharing your own stories...if you did it politely without judgement or trying to "lecture", I truly do appreciate it.
To those few who decided instead to "lecture" ...
A) I am very well aware that he could and probably will use the money to buy more. But I am of the way of thought that if you see something in front of you that needs help, you HELP. I have been a vet tech for 9 years and am well veresed in how horrible people can be. I was simply trying to reach out looking for anyone who may have suggestions or possibly be looking for a new sully and might want to save a soul. Sue me for trying...
B) Yes. Animal control in fact does know. They just don't do anything about it. I am not so simple as to not contact them.
C) So sorry for all of you that said I can't "not do anything". If you had read a little closer you would have seen that I am in fact trying very hard to do all that I know to do to help. Financially I cannot take 3 tortoises in. Sorry I am not rolling in the dough.
There were some great answers and responses and for those I am extremely thankful. Like I said though, if you decided to try to "preach" instead, I am not interested. I joined this forum for feedback, information, to learn and to meet like minded people with kind hearts.
Thank you for all of your help and info!
Thank you very much!
Not a bad idea!!
I am quite familiar with puppy mills etc. I have been a vet tech for sometime now. Just trying to help something that's right in front of me. No, no resuce groups in the area that I know of (I have been asking around). And animal control doesn't seem to care all that much. It's kind of on the people. I am doing what I can.
No worries, rant away!! Glad to see someone who was selling that actually cares!!
I appreciate so much all of you who had actual info to offer me. Advice, opionions or sharing your own stories...if you did it politely without judgement or trying to "lecture", I truly do appreciate it.
To those few who decided instead to "lecture" ...
A) I am very well aware that he could and probably will use the money to buy more. But I am of the way of thought that if you see something in front of you that needs help, you HELP. I have been a vet tech for 9 years and am well veresed in how horrible people can be. I was simply trying to reach out looking for anyone who may have suggestions or possibly be looking for a new sully and might want to save a soul. Sue me for trying...
B) Yes. Animal control in fact does know. They just don't do anything about it. I am not so simple as to not contact them.
C) So sorry for all of you that said I can't "not do anything". If you had read a little closer you would have seen that I am in fact trying very hard to do all that I know to do to help. Financially I cannot take 3 tortoises in. Sorry I am not rolling in the dough.
There were some great answers and responses and for those I am extremely thankful. Like I said though, if you decided to try to "preach" instead, I am not interested. I joined this forum for feedback, information, to learn and to meet like minded people with kind hearts.
wellington said:Although I don't really think the heckling will do much for the animals care once he packs up and leaves, it is something. However, you could also print up, something about his care ethics of his animals and pass them out to everyone in the flea market you can get to take one. I would also print up some good care info, put as much correct info you can to better their lives that you could hand off to the guy himself. Let him know, that if he doesn't take better care of his animals, you will go to the top to put him out of business. Leave your name off of any of the printed material if you want. However all this should be done after the nice approach and some helpful care instructions.
Thank you for all of your help and info!
JayMillz said:I think heckling his customers, well to him it would be heckling, to you it's informing, would be a good approach. If I was looking a flea market animals and someone spoke with even a little knowledge in their tone I would listen to them over the vendor. Bring up points like "This guy is selling sick animals and will die soon in your care." or "you can get one for cheaper at BLANK, down the street from somebody more knowledgeable." tell people not to waste their money on his animals, even the people who obviously just looking with no intentions to buy anything. The more bad publicity he gets, the sooner he will pack up and move on.
Thank you very much!
JayMillz said:Go stand by his stand and tell any potential customers what a d-bag he is and for them to not help promote him by buying his animals. After a while of not making a dollar and wasting all that time maybe you can drive him to a new product at the flea market like Avon beer mugs or something.
Not a bad idea!!
wellington said:Do you know that animal control knows about him or have you heard. The only way to know for sure is to call them yourself. If you can get enough people to call and complain, like all the ones you said had nothing good to say about this guy. Really, how do people say those things and just keep walking and ignoring, kinda sick to me, any way, enough complaints and they have to do something and if they don't you go over their heads. Do you not have any no kill animal shelters in your area, reptile rescue groups, tortoise rescue groups? Any of them can help you even if it is in advice of how to go about shutting this guy down or making him higher his standard of care. There are so many things that can be done to try and help not only the animals he has now but those in the near future. It takes some work but you in the end would be helping more lives then just the couple you want to buy. Which, sorry again it to harsh, but buying them is taking the easy way out and not really helping the ones you aren't buying or those to come in their place.
I no it's hard to resist the buy to save mentality, but because people don't resist it, we still have puppy mills, kitten mills, pet stores selling sick puppies and kittens, heartless animal brokers and poor caring conditions in the housing of all of these animals.
I am quite familiar with puppy mills etc. I have been a vet tech for sometime now. Just trying to help something that's right in front of me. No, no resuce groups in the area that I know of (I have been asking around). And animal control doesn't seem to care all that much. It's kind of on the people. I am doing what I can.
Vishnu2 said:acrantophis said:In the past i had two reserved tables at the White plains ny, and Pottstown p.a. and the Hamburg p.a. Reptile shows for 8 or so years. I would sell what I bred. Poison dart frogs, bearded dragons, geckos, milksnakes, salamanders, uromastyx, etc... I displayed them in deli cups and 10 gallon aquariums. It may seem cramped but they are often comfortable that way. Also that is what I would ship them in. The reason I left the business after 20+ years is the customers. I realized no one loves them like I do. No one collected termites from dead trees to feed their frogs. No one would spend hours making fruitfly cultures. The animals were no more than a passing interest to most people. And so, many probably died due to neglect. People would come to my table and say things like, "what's the cheapest thing you got?".
Disgusted, I retired from something that I was very good at and loved so much. I miss it. But when people who live in apartments buy sulcatas or caimans and think they will be able to care for this animal properly...it's not ok. Sorry for the rant ;-)
Thank you for sharing a "sellers" side of the story. I think it's important to hear your side. We obviously can't hear this guys story whatever it may be...
No worries, rant away!! Glad to see someone who was selling that actually cares!!