The Problem With ‘Disposable’ Exotic Pets
These are complex animals with highly specific needs that are often ignored
There’s something about filling out an adoption certificate at any chain pet store that just feels a little morally off. There’s no space for the name of your new pet, just the species and price — and how long you have to get a refund if it passes away. I’ve always tried my best to steer clear of these places, knowing how often animals are treated badly. But shortly after my girlfriend’s bearded dragon passed away, we ended up in a chain pet store just for supplies — and our eyes caught a tank awkwardly placed on the side of the store. Upon closer inspection, it contained a baby bearded dragon with healed injuries — after being carelessly placed with much older and larger dragons, he was missing the vast majority of his toes. He couldn’t be sold — he was classified as “damaged merchandise.” And so, despite not really having a preexisting interest in bringing a new animal home, we took him home with no fee and no guarantees. I don’t regret that decision — but all the factors leading up to it are nauseating. How many animals do we lose yearly to circumstances like this? If a higher-up had come to visit the store, would they have still put him on the sales floor for adoption, or would they have had to find a, well, different solution?
