Reptile shop swapped my bearded dragon

Tangible

If you offer a boarding facility the least you expect is for your pet to be returned healthy and alive, that being the one you originally deposited. Though a non-reptile lover may not understand, offering a replacement is not a satisfactory offer, as much as having a different child being returned to you from the nursery.

I almost suspect that perhaps the OP may not be getting the whole story, and maybe it's not possible to have the priginal pet back, but who knows ? What the pet shop clearly lacks in competence is made worse by their lack of empathy.

Many pet shops rely on boarding as a major income source, so it will hurt them badly if they are evidenced not to be competent in that task.

arcon5

Tangible wrote: »

If you offer a boarding facility the least you expect is for your pet to be returned healthy and alive, that being the one you originally deposited. Though a non-reptile lover may not understand, offering a replacement is not a satisfactory offer, as much as having a different child being returned to you from the nursery.

I don't think anybody disagrees.

But ultimately if it cannot be resolved, it comes down to what remedy they can offer op...

So op needs to decide what actions the pet shop owner could take to resolve and satisfy her.

Gavin83 wrote: »

What would you expect then?

If only science was more advanced.......... :think:

Elle7

Hmm...

I'd agree that it sounds like your reptile has passed away. If there was another person, I'm pretty confident they'd want their own reptile back too, especially if it was worth more then yours.

Have you asked straight out if yours has died or been lost or sold? And what does your contract say with regards to this? My reptiles have never been into boarding but I've thought about it before and have a few leaflets from places near me...one says that on the event of death there will be a full investigation, any vets fees resulting from miscare will be paid by the boarding company and I will be offered the cash value or another reptile of similar or more value. The other says that they will return the boarding fees and that I should ensure that my reptile is adequately insured.

Did you provide your reptile in it's own vivarium?

3110tracey

The more I think about it they are trying to hide something- Either he died ( and if it had I would rather them be honest ) or they have sold him ! It was a male dragon and as far as I know it was just an ordinary one not a special breed or anything. To date they have nothing they have not even called me back once ,I am the one doing all the ringing. When they gave me the mans number I thought they were breaking data protection. I have contacted trading standards who have told me to write to them stating that they have breached their contract which I am going to do. I know in my heart or hearts that I will never see connor's pet again ! But in terms of compensation what would I ask for ? I have not paid the boarding fee as that was due on collection and there was no bearded dragon to collect so I would not be asking for the boarding fee back.The bearded dragon only cost £45 but it's my childs pet and he is really upset and it's the emotional distress they have caused us with lack of help in assisting us it getting it back. I will also go to the papers as I do not want anyone else going through this.

3110tracey

Hi it went in theirs but i noticed that they had no names on the vivarium's . My husband also pointed out why was ours male and theirs female put in the same one ?

Azrael_1701

Are the vivs that house the boarded animals viewable by the public? If so, you could get his pet shop lisence revoked.

17. Boarding of animals

17.1 The licensee can only board those species of animals for which they are licensed to sell. Animals boarded shall not be displayed or accessible to the public unless with the written authority of their owners. Animals are not allowed to be boarded in the isolation areas of the premises at any time

http://ww2.reading.gov.uk/documents/consumerservices/environmentalhealth/Pet-shop-licence-conditions.pdf

Edit: That is only for one council, so you will need to look up your own one, but they are all pretty much the same, do consult your own councils document to check. What council are you under and ill see if I can find it for you?

Elle7

3110tracey wrote: »

Hi it went in theirs but i noticed that they had no names on the vivarium's . My husband also pointed out why was ours male and theirs female put in the same one ?

My initial thinking was that if the viv was not well cleaned and steralized between reptiles, yours could have caught a fatal infection.

Now you've said this, I'm wondering if they fought to death. Dragons can be very possessive, and rarely live happily together...even if they did, the female could pass parasites to yours, or vice versa.

I'm really sorry for your loss.

Azrael_1701

Also, this might apply:

The following offences and penalties apply to the pet shops.

1. Any person found guilty of keeping a pet shop without a licence may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
2. Any person found guilty of failing to comply with their licence conditions may be subject to a fine not exceeding £500 or to three months imprisonment or both.
3. Any person found guilty of obstructing or delaying an Inspector, or authorised Veterinary Surgeon or Veterinary Practitioner in the exercising of their powers of entry may be fined up to a maximum of £500.

If found guilty under this Act, the defendant's licence may be cancelled and they may be disqualified from keeping a pet shop for such length of time as the Court thinks fit.

3110tracey

There was also another one in there with one arm !

3110tracey

Ours was put in the shop in a vivarium of it's own . Bit when we came back they were mixing one's they were selling with ones that were boarding !