Its sad how many lizards end up dying from lack of proper care. Even in "reptile oriented" stores I see animals in poor shape, and I am NOT talking about fresh imports here!! My very favorite lizard came from such a place, and was very near death when I obtained her. That got me to looking more closely into cages where ever I am, and while I realize its not good to pay for poor quality animals (and thus "reward" the person selling them) I find that it is not within my nature to condemn to death a creature in need. Yes, I know we cant save them all, but I am reminded of a short story someone once told me.
Its a hot day, and a man is walking along a beach. The sand is covered in dying starfish that an unusually high tide has left above the water line. He sees a young girl running back and forth and asks what she is doing. She tells him she is taking the starfish back to the water so they wont die. "What difference does it make" he says..."you cant possibly save them all" and the girl says "To the starfish I save, it makes all the difference in the world"
I dunno, but I kind of think its a good way to operate...you cant save them all, but when you see something in need, you help it as best you can. Because to that particular creature, it makes all the difference in the world, right? *grin*
AAAAAnd now I'll quit with my feel good speech. Save the starfish!! Heh heh!!
I save the "starfish" every chance I get.
I'm a sucker for those sad, sick little creatures.
Even if they don't pull through, their last days are filled with love, gentle handling, healthy food, a name. and someone who will miss them and mourn their loss.
Consider this story-
The Rainbow Bridge for Rescuers
One day, a person who has given tirelessly and made it their life's work to save and succor sick and abandoned animals and find them happy homes came to pass away...
Meanwhile, unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined.
All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before.
But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.
They knew this was something special.
It wasn't too long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung heavy and low and tail dragging along the ground.
The other animals, the ones who had been there at Rainbow Bridge for a while, knew the story of this sad creature right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.
He approached slowly, although it was obvious the animal's heart was leaden and he was totally overcome with emotional pain and hurt, there was no sign of injury or any illness.
Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again.
As he walked toward The Bridge, he approached slowly and painfully, watching all the pets who were by now watching him.
He knew he was out of place here.
This was no resting place for him.
He felt instinctively that the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.
But alas, as he came closer to the Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who spoke softly to the old dog and apologized sorrowfully, telling him that he would not be able to pass.
Only those animals who were with their special people could pass over the Rainbow Bridge...and he had no special beloved people...not here at the Bridge nor on Earth below.
With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge.
There, in a separate area nearby, he spotted a group of other sad-eyed animals like himself...elderly and infirm.
Unlike the pets waiting for their special people, these animals weren't playing, but simply lying on the green grass, forlornly and miserably staring out at the pathway leading to the Bridge.
The recent arrival knew he had no choice but to join them, and so, he took his place among them, just watching the pathway and waiting.
One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge who was waiting for his special people, could not understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.
"You see, that poor animal was a rescue, sent to the pound when his owner grew tired of him.
He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding.
He never, ever made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love and comfort that his rescuer could give him as he left his miserable and unloved existence on Earth for good.
Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge."
The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"
"Watch, and see.", said the second animal.
As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the all-invasive gloom lifted.
Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person-a person who, on Earth, had seemed quite ordinary...a person who, just like the elderly dog, had just left Earth forever.
This figure turned toward a group of the sad, older animals, and extended outstretched palms.
The sweetest sounds they had ever heard echoed gently above them and all were bathed in a pure and golden light.
Instantly, each was young and healthy again, just as they had been in the prime of life.
From within the gathering of pets waiting for their special people, a second group of animals emerged and moved toward the pathway.
As they have waited for their loved ones, they have told the story of their rescue from loneliness, neglect and impending death, and the wonderful people who helped them until a special loved one could be found.
As they came close to the passing figure, each bowed low and each received a tender pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears.
Their eyes grew even brighter as the figure softly murmured each name.
Then, they all walk to the gate of the Great Master's garden and say "This is a person whose name surely is entered on the roll once for each of us whose life was touched."
Then, the newly-restored rescue animals fell into line behind the figure and quietly followed this person to the Bridge, where they all crossed together.
The recent arrival who had been watching, was amazed. "What happened?"
"That was a rescuer.," came the answer.
"That person spent a lifetime trying to help pets of all kinds.
The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work.
They will cross when their families arrive.
Those you saw restored were those who died in their loving care or never found Forever Homes.
When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue.
They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't help on earth across The Rainbow Bridge.
You see, all animals are special to them...just as they are special to all animals."
"I think I like rescuers," said the recent arrival.
"So does God," was the reply.
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Yeah-I'm a sucker. I cry every time I read that.
Any ideas? Other than the whole, fly to australia, nab one, attempt to make it back into the states, get nabbed myself, then get to explain to everyone why I have to "go away" for a while. Not a good idea...I think I'll stick to legal ways of obtaining animals.