Anyone have room for an Iguana?

[snakelady]

This iguana looks to be in a pretty horrid living state. Please, if you have the time and resources, go get this kid. It's currently living in a rabbit/rat cage, with no sign of UV light, and one small clamp lamp for heat. Please!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pet/925705117.html

[aja]

Snakelady

You sound very passionate about this, however, the response on CL may have put these people on the defensive and rather then dealing with hostile herpers they just might release the animal to the wild.

I have room for this creature, if someone else can come up with an enclosure and the bail out fee. I also work in Woodinville and can take it to the vet in Bothell whom I think is an exotic vet. I will pick up the vet bill.

[dalvers63]

I personally would not pay them for it, if it was me.

I'd offer to take the animal only and see what they say. I have great aversion to paying for animals that will possibly need vet care especially if they haven't been kept in the right environment.

[aja]

I am not an Iggy person, but I found this different ad on CL

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/pet/914967058.html

That tank is very nice, however, it looks like the Iggy has the black scales on top of his head as well. So my question is, what is wrong with the Everett Iggy?

Just trying to understand the situation.

[cecilia]

.......So my question is, what is wrong with the Everett Iggy?

aja, it's hard to tell from the photos what, if anything, is wrong with that Iguana. It looks a little thin, but it's really hard to tell. There are several reasons, though, that people would be reserved about taking him.
Most of the people in this club have seen a lot of "rescue" iguanas. There are certain things that send up alarms about potential problems.
What kind of conditions has the animal been kept in? If I see an Iguana being kept in a cage like that, I always assume the people have not bothered to investigate basic husbandry needs. If the iguana gets it's tail caught in the bars and starts thrashing about in fear, the tail can break off and an infection can set in. Also, humidity can't be controlled in a wire cage, and these are tropical rain forest animals- they need humidity. If the pet owners don't care enough to find out what he needs, What else have they neglected? Does he have parasites? Has he seen a vet, ever?
The most glaring deficiency is the light/heat, or rather, lack of it. At that size, he is just about the right size to start showing signs of metabolic bone disease from lack of UVB and calcium. It looks like all they have for heat is a light bulb, and no UVB bulb. Iguanas with MBD need expensive vet care, and sometimes even then they don't survive.
PNHS has been running a herptile adoption program for close to 20 years. During that time, I have come to the sad conclusion that it is ALWAYS a mistake to pay for a sick animal in order to save it's life. If it's at a pet store, they simply order more animals. If it's a private individual, they are saved from having to face the consequences of their carelessness.
It's very difficult to find homes for healthy, strong iguanas that come with expensive habitats. Sick iguanas with no decent caging are impossible.

[Emily]

Hey guys...just a reminder: If you want to help rescue and/or foster herps in need, our adoptions program actually has a waiting list of animals who need foster homes. It's great that you guys are so enthusiastic about rescuing these iggy's, but we've got plenty of other animals waiting, and are lacking halfway housers to take them in. If you're interested in becoming a halfway houser for a herp in need, contact Aimee. You can PM her here, or find info in the adoptions section of the website. :)

[dalvers63]

Good thing to point out, Em. I'm pretty sure that no one was saying we, as a Society, should be the ones to get this animal - which is good, because we don't have anyone to foster iguanas anyhow.

[aja]

PNHS has been running a herptile adoption program for close to 20 years. During that time, I have come to the sad conclusion that it is ALWAYS a mistake to pay for a sick animal in order to save it's life. If it's at a pet store, they simply order more animals. If it's a private individual, they are saved from having to face the consequences of their carelessness.
It's very difficult to find homes for healthy, strong iguanas that come with expensive habitats. Sick iguanas with no decent caging are impossible.

Thanks Cecilia, I withdraw my offer and will focus on being able to become a 1/2 way house. It still is sad. :( There is a little Greek tortose at Petco that I want to take home, but I don't want to give "demand" to their "supply"
:( :( :(

[cecilia]

......It still is sad. :( There is a little Greek tortoise at Petco that I want to take home, but I don't want to give "demand" to their "supply" :( :( :(

I'm not suggesting that no one should ever buy pets from a pet store or private individual- just that there is an obligation on the part of the seller to only sell healthy animals, and that we should never act as enablers to people who neglect animals and then try to palm them off on soft-hearted people who want to "save" them. If you want the little guy at Petco, buy him, just make sure he's healthy.