Gary Hastie was on his daily walk with his cocker spaniels down the River Annan when, just off the path, his dogs started sniffing at an area. Upon closer inspection Gary realised there was a bearded dragon lying in the mud.
He took the freezing animal home, heated it up and called the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).
However, things soon became even more bizarre when, six days later, in the exact same spot, Gary noticed another member of the same species.
He said: “I was walking the dogs at the time, they found the first one. They started sniffing about the area where it was.
“It was freezing. I took it home, heated it back up and it perked up a bit. I then phoned the SSPCA and they took the animal.
“Six days later I was walking along and there was another one. I was told it was highly unlikely they were both abandoned on the same morning.
“Given the cold climate, these reptiles, which require warm and controlled environments, were in serious danger.
“They could have been a mating pair as well. It would have been easy enough for someone to phone the SSPCA like I did.”
Gary added: “With Annan being a small town I thought I would’ve heard something, but no.
“I had a few folk asking me if I could give them to them, but I thought it was best to get the SSPCA to take them.
“I’m relieved that the animals are now in safe hands, but this raises important concerns about exotic pet ownership and the responsibilities that come with it.
“I had a Thai Water Dragon when I was young, so I know a wee bit about them.
“Bearded dragons require proper care, including heating, UV lighting, and a suitable diet.
“When abandoned in the wild, they have little chance of survival, it was sheer luck that I came across them when I did.
“The guy from the SSPCA was quite surprised, he said if they were left any longer they might not have survived.”
