As many of us are aware, there is always a need for animal rescue. Someone is always buying a pet
burmese python "because it's cool", or "because my son really wants one. He knows all there is to know
about them!" or any number of other horrible reasons to buy ANY pet.
I find that a lot of people are actually shocked when I tell them I rescue reptiles. It seems to me that
people just don't think reptiles would need to be rescued. I never hesitate to point out that any species that
is in the pet market has many specimens direly in need of rescue. Especially exotics.
People tend to buy these animals before doing any kind of research or even before buying the
appropriate caging neccessary to provide a decent (let alone good) quality of life.
Unfortunately, that's where I come in. I get so many calls all the time about people who have reptiles
that "got too big", "got too mean", "my kids outgrew it", "it's too expensive", and so many other excuses that
all translate to one thing: "I didn't think this through."
To the people that recognize this, and come to me personally, I thank them for doing what is right for
the animal/s in question. It's the other type of call that I hate to get. The call from the second- or third-party
person stating that they know a person with an animal they don't want anymore, and could they please bring
the animal to me?
These cases are always difficult. I usually have the funds and space available for an animal in need, so
I usually say yes. Nine times out of ten, these animals are in desparate need of immediate veterinary
attention. Whether due to infection caused by being bitten by a live prey item(UGH!!!), malnutrition(when
looking at a 5' boa, "Oh, it eats four mice once a month."), dehydration, parasites, or some kind of
illness(usually respiratory infections)... The person giving me the animal almost always has absolutely no
idea that anything is wrong.
Sometimes, I get those people that know something is wrong, but are trying very hard to feign
ignorance. Half the time these people make me very angry, but the other half the time, they just make me
very, very sad on behalf of the animal. There are people that would argue about it with me, but in my own
personal opinion, neglect is the worst kind of cruelty there is. To this day, after having spent over a decade
doing animal rescue, neglect is the one thing that can still make me cry.
Here is where I will be detailing my current rescues; each will have a description of what I know of his
or her background, the current health issues being addressed, pictures, and of course progress updates as
often as they occur.
burmese python "because it's cool", or "because my son really wants one. He knows all there is to know
about them!" or any number of other horrible reasons to buy ANY pet.
I find that a lot of people are actually shocked when I tell them I rescue reptiles. It seems to me that
people just don't think reptiles would need to be rescued. I never hesitate to point out that any species that
is in the pet market has many specimens direly in need of rescue. Especially exotics.
People tend to buy these animals before doing any kind of research or even before buying the
appropriate caging neccessary to provide a decent (let alone good) quality of life.
Unfortunately, that's where I come in. I get so many calls all the time about people who have reptiles
that "got too big", "got too mean", "my kids outgrew it", "it's too expensive", and so many other excuses that
all translate to one thing: "I didn't think this through."
To the people that recognize this, and come to me personally, I thank them for doing what is right for
the animal/s in question. It's the other type of call that I hate to get. The call from the second- or third-party
person stating that they know a person with an animal they don't want anymore, and could they please bring
the animal to me?
These cases are always difficult. I usually have the funds and space available for an animal in need, so
I usually say yes. Nine times out of ten, these animals are in desparate need of immediate veterinary
attention. Whether due to infection caused by being bitten by a live prey item(UGH!!!), malnutrition(when
looking at a 5' boa, "Oh, it eats four mice once a month."), dehydration, parasites, or some kind of
illness(usually respiratory infections)... The person giving me the animal almost always has absolutely no
idea that anything is wrong.
Sometimes, I get those people that know something is wrong, but are trying very hard to feign
ignorance. Half the time these people make me very angry, but the other half the time, they just make me
very, very sad on behalf of the animal. There are people that would argue about it with me, but in my own
personal opinion, neglect is the worst kind of cruelty there is. To this day, after having spent over a decade
doing animal rescue, neglect is the one thing that can still make me cry.
Here is where I will be detailing my current rescues; each will have a description of what I know of his
or her background, the current health issues being addressed, pictures, and of course progress updates as
often as they occur.
Slither 'n' Squeeze
| Slithering and Squeezing since 2006 |
Rescues
Phoenix
Marilyn