The Ontario SPCA is looking for those responsible for leaving two tiny lizards for dead outside in their freezing cold aquarium.
Ontario SPCA Inspector Nicole Driscoll has dealt with many abandoned animal cases before, but she has never seen one like this.
Driscoll says last week they were contacted by Miller Waste shortly after they were picking up the trash on Sylvan Crescent. Amongst the rubbish at a communal area was a 10 gallon aquarium which sadly was not empty.
“Thankfully the driver was wise enough to look in the tank and he saw one gecko and that is what was reported to us,” said Driscoll.
“I attended and discovered there were actually two of them in the aquarium. Both of them were freezing. It was minus 8 that morning, these types of reptiles are used to 30 to 35 degree weather so this was extremely cold for them both in emaciated body conditions.”
Driscoll says they rushed the two lizards, which are actually Leopard Geckos, back to the North Bay & District Humane Society where they were placed in a warm tank with a heating lamp and a heat pad to try and bring the cold blooded geckos’ body temperature up.
“We have been feeding them on a pretty regimented schedule here and providing calcium to improve their body condition,” she said.
“To be honest I was not sure they were going to survive, especially one, the one was in much worse body condition than the other, both emaciated but one was really emaciated so I was not convinced one was going to survive but I am happy to report that they are actually doing phenomenal.”
While she is pleased to see the animals recovering, the Ontario SPCA is still looking for the individuals who abandoned the creatures and left them for dead in below zero temperatures.
“We are pleading to the public to come forward with any information,” she said.
Those responsible could face a number of charges under the Ontario SPCA Act including cause an animal distress, fail to provide appropriate food and water and fail to provide care necessary for the animal’s general welfare.
“Whether it is a reptile or a dog or a rabbit, regardless of the type of animal, when we choose to bring an animal into our home, the animals don’t choose to live with us, we choose to bring them into our home and there is a level of responsibility that comes with that decision,” said Driscoll.
“Discarding these animals out in the trash is obviously completely unacceptable and really discouraging that a member of our community would choose to do that. There are a number of rescues, shelters, pet stores within our community. You just need to pick up the phone. There are a lot of different options available. When we are unable to care for our animals any longer and the first step is just to pick up the phone and ask for help.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Driscoll at (705) 474-1251 or email to [email protected]
