Today we went to a traveling display that was put on by Animal Planet in Sarasota, Florida. One tent was so disgusting, with neglected animals, it was sad to see the conditions and shape they were in. Some people left the expo with their children after seeing the shape two lizards were in. We tried to talk to the person who was running that tent, to see if he realized that these lizards were not the norm and needed medical care. He insisted the bearded dragon and blue tongue skink where fine. Either the person knows nothing about them, (he misnamed them and did not seem to know much about them) or just does not care as I have seen rescues in better condition that these.
We tried getting help from the Animal Planet Promoters to get them rehydration, medical care for both and removing them from display and the stress they were under. Not only were the lizards ill, they were being allowed to be handled by small children! Animal Planet Promoters Mark Russel and Brian Nuehouse who were in charge of the Animal Planet Expo, stated that the tent called "Animal House" was a independent contractor hired by them to display animals and they had no control over them or what they did to their animals.
Several local agencies were called by us and other to get authorities involed and they passed the call off to others, until it was too late get someone in to help. Just prior to the close of the Expo, Fish and Wildlife returned a call and apologized that no one had repsonded, but they had just got the call and were almost an hour away and could not get there til after the expo closed. Over several hours the call went through The Humane Society, Sheriff's Department, Aminal Control and finally to Fish & wildlife. The person in this "Animal House" tent of Animal Planet, refused to give his name, claimed he was part of a company called Wild Wonders out of California (whether this is true or not has yet to be verified), so who knows, but they sure would not give any info or his name, even after we talked to Fish and game and they wanted more info.
We were able to get pictures of the animals, the man displaying them, his Auto tag and we will follow up with Amimal Planet, Wild Wonders (if in fact he is involved with them) and the officials involed (who did respond via phone and assure they will follow up with Animal Planet and finding out who this is). This to me is very bad conduct on the part of Animal Planet... they are suppose to care about animal, not stick their heads in the sand or make abuse profitable for someone. Here are the pictures of the lizards they paid someone to display
The bearded dragon: note the dehydration, collapsed fat pads on the head... more than collapsed, they are concave and the wrinkled side skin, his bones on the hip also are sticking out. That does not happen over night or even in a short time and certainly not to a healthy bearded dragon. Yes, that is a adult dragon in a 1/2 height 10 gallon tank!! Even with all the bearded dragons we have taken in that were in sad shape, I have NEVER seen one with fat pad this poor
Here is the blue tongue Skink, either several repeat injuries to the spine and tail or possibly MBD, the lower spine is indented, the tail is very jagged throughout the entire spine and tail area is knotted.
Person who claims to own them
IMO, these animals need medical care and have been neglected for some time. Their cage smelled terrible and was outside in the open air. Animal Planet should be ashamed of their part and indifference in this, if they are paying someone to display ill and neglected animals, they encourage this type of abuse and make it profitable for others to continue it, they should be held accountable. They also give the public a false impression of what a healthy animal is , often leading people to buy animals in poor or dying conditions, because people thought "knowledgable" experts showed them this a normal
Animal Planet tent with sick animals pictured above
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