that is soooo very sad! if you didn't say he was alive I would have sworn he was already passed. i've worked in a pet store a year or so back and i've never seen something so bad. i hope everything works out for the best please keep us posted.

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That poor little thing made me cry. How could ANYONE be so cruel as to let that poor little guy end up like that?

Hat off to you Ricardo and the brave girl in the pet shop - someone had to do something - and as much as it pains me to say this but I think maybe it would be kinder to put the little guy to sleep than have him deal with the problems he will face IF he recovers form what the evil horrible people have done to him

Surely if he gets better he will suffer great problems from being allowed to get that stick thin and lacking in goodness - is that really what he should have to endure every day?

On the flip side, he has fought it this far - he obviously has a great will and a lot of spirit. I wish I was closer Ricardo as I would LOVE to visit the store in question - I would have quite a lot to say to the manager there!!

Just for sheer interest, how much are they asking for him??

I sincerely hope that whatever the girl decides to do for him that he is comfortable and safe - and please extend my regards to her for having the courage to stand against the commercial bigwig that makes her choose between her job and her morals every day

If the slurry is used I would replace the squash with meat, I used chicken. The squash was just while I was in a pinch.

I'm leaning towards thinking that he should be euthanized. He looks terribly dehydrated which has probably done a number on all of his organ functions.

One thing to keep in mind is that forcing the slurry into the gecko will probably result in him aspirating it and getting an upper respirtory infection, so it is best to drop it on the tip of his nose and let him lick it off.

The runny feces on the leg makes me think that on top of everything else he probably has a parasite infection.

He looks terrible and for his own sake I'm afraid to say that I hope he doesn't adjust to the stress of being moved into his own tank and passes on. I've had some really bad off lizards, but if I saw that lizard in a tank I would assume it had been dead for a week.

The best of luck, and I hope you do decide to contact the authorites before the gecko passes and the evidence is thrown out with the trash.

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Personally I think it would be best if the poor animal was put to sleep. Yes it's got alot of fight but 3 to 4 months of no food is horrendous!
As for giving anti-parasite meds once every 6 months thats like give a healthy human chemotherapy once every 6 months just incase!
I bought a sick water dragon... in not quite as bad condition as the leo your looking at.... and she has been an uphill battle ever since. I've also grown VERY attached to her because of the intensive work I've put in but know there's a long way to go yet before she is anywhere close to being well.
Reporting the pet shop may not get you anywhere... i reported the one close to me for cruelty to their animals but nothing was done.
There is a critical care formula that vets have... seems to be for all animals. if this is mixed through the slurry mix it seems to make it more paletable to the animal.
all the best
Andy

That is also on my mind but it's not my call. Yesterday I told the girl that the recipe I was going to give her should show some improvements after a few days but if nothing changed, then he should be put to sleep.
And that is another thing that is troubling me. When they have to put an animal down, they put it in the freezer.

As for speaking to the manager, this is a large store network and there isn't ever a "manager" in the store. Every once in a while someone with a higher rank shows up just to look at numbers and to communicate to the employees the latest managerial decisions regarding various subjects. They don't have any power or ability to take decisions.
It's the perfect business model: a faceless management represented by powerless individuals.

The price tag on this leo is 62 pounds (roughly $105 USD). And going back in this conversation to the first reply, Savannah, I hope you don't think less of me for saying this but I don't believe in rescues. I believe in calling the proper authorities.
This little leo is the perfect example of the consequences of rescuing. It should have been treated in the beginning and put to sleep a long time ago but because people prefer to rescue than to call the authorities, the stores adopt a policy of not caring because there are no consequences. At this extreme point, this policy becomes an internal rule that will get you in serious trouble or fired if you remove an animal like this from display, waste your time treating it or put it down to sleep.

Thanks Lacey, I'll make sure she gets it right.

Andy, I told them the same thing many months ago regarding another animal but what to do? Considering all the rest, at some point you'll find that better than no meds at all! =(

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That is a very sad thing Ricardo. I know that the larger chains don't have the attachemtn to their animals that some smaller shope do but surely they have to show some degree of care????

As for thier means of putting him to sleep - even that would be kinder than leaving the little guy to starve to death in his own poo

I am actually very angry and upset about this and feel very mad that I don't live closer or speak Portuguese as I would be on the phone to them telling them how disgucting they really are.

Please keep us informed on the little guy who I have decided to call Spirit (not my call but he has captured my heart strings )

Thanks Ricardo

I've just received a text message from the girl saying that he was dead when she got to the store today. He died during the night most probably due to the enclosure change. I guess it was for the best this way...
Thanks for all your help but seems I got there a little too late =(

I'm exchanging text messages with the girl to see what can be done to report this to the authorities.

In the meanwhile I guess you can move this thread to the leo's forum. There's no need anymore to be here. Thanks!

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I'm sorry Ricardo, you tried.

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:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Ricardo, I am so srry he has passed but I do agree that maybe it was for the best for him.

You have not however failed in any way - now this can be brought to the authorities attention and maybe they will do something about it. Could you contact the head office people for the shop??

I think you are a credit to herp keepers - you offered the girl in the shop the right advice as soon as this little guy was brought to your attention - what more could you do?? Pass on everyones thanks to her also, she did a very brave thign going against her bosses to support her moral.

R.I.P little Spirit

Sorry to hear that m8. But really best, in my opinion, in the end.
Hopefully someone in authority will actually listen and do something about this.
keep in touch and let up know if any action was actually taken.