A Day in the Life: Saving the Common By PHFaust
“We have an 8 foot white boa python type of snake that has cigarette burns and mites. Can you help?” No matter what is going on, my answer is always yes. I shuffle animals. Prepare a bag with mite treatment, and since I am in the midst of a move, I sniff around for a ride for this snake. The humane society is nervous. They do NOT like handling reptiles, especially ones this big. I rely on friends in the rescue community here in my state to help. In a way I am lucky. I have a lot of friends who also rescue who don’t mind grabbing a properly packaged reptile (as long as they don’t have to touch it). However, I cover a lot of ground. This month alone my rescue has taken in 11 snakes, 2 lizards and 2 turtles with a promise to take three more lizards in the next few weeks. I have placed one. I know my fees are higher than what you would pay in a pet store. But I put a lot of vet work into each of my animals. Every animal I take in goes to the vet. Every animal gets a fecal, blood panel and most have something that needs to be fixed. 90 percent of all snakes have mites and 60 percent have Upper Respiratory Infections. 95 percent of all iguanas that come in have either MBD or kidney disease. Then there are the incidentals. You know, open sores from rodent bites, facial abscesses from repeatedly banging their heads into the corner of a too small aquarium, hot rock and cigarette burns, DECLAWED IGUANAS. Everyday stuff here. Some animals come with caging. Some come with nothing but the scales on their backs. My fees are higher for a reason. But sometimes people don’t realize that.
When thinking of getting a common and normal animal, consider a rescue. Looking at my current animals, we are no longer just Iguanas and Burms (although I still get those with frequency). I get things in like Leopard Geckos, Russian Tortoises, Taiwanese Beauty Snakes, Corn Snakes, Bearded Dragons, and the list goes on. If you are a lover of a run-of-the-mill “Red Tail” Boa check with the rescues. Many have several to choose from. Usually they will have adults, but on a rare occasion, babies are available. Support your local rescues. If you have old caging, extra feeders, or even extra money to give please do. Most reptile rescues are run out of the people’s homes. They live and breathe their work and their hobby. If you can foster for a period of time, that would be wonderful also. Popular belief is that all rescues are government funded. This couldn’t be further from the truth. My rescue is in the process of becoming non-profit, but even then it will not be government funded. It will just mean donations are tax deductible. Not sure where to find a rescue in your area? Start with kingsnake.com's Rescue Network. It is a great online resource. Another good idea is to check with local zoos, herp societies, vet clinics, nature centers, and even humane societies. Talk with the rescue president, ask for references, and follow up. To an ethical rescue, finding a GOOD home is their first priority, not making money. I still hang on. I still have days where I want to quit. And when that happens I get a call like I did with Bianca. The white 7-foot boa python type of snake with cigarette burns. Turns out she did have those burns, she was dehydrated, underweight, covered with mites and had an upper respiratory infection. See she was picked up at a drug raid. I knew what she would be before I even saw her. And I was right. She is a beautiful albino Burmese python. She needs some work. But she will be OK. When I take those calls after I swear I am going to quit, I stop and think. What if someone wasn’t there who loved those unlovables? Would they ever find a safe place? At least this way, exhausted from all the cage cleanings and feeding schedules, I know they do.
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My family has decided I am unequivocally insane. My friends think I am a little off. My husband just rolls his eyes and shakes his head. There are times I feel overwhelmed. There are times I cry. There are times I threaten to quit. And then another call comes.
There are people who love the common animals. My favorite is still an iguana. I love the majesty of a wonderfully healthy adult male. The sheer power they have. The communication with them through head bobs. They were my first. I still hold a special spot for them. Many folks love them. I also adore the feel of a large boid. The heavy body, the strength, the slow and concise movements. Many people adore them. Yet unlike dogs and cats, reptile rescue is still in its infancy. People don’t always think there is one near by. But we are closer than you may think. We all have at least 1 iguana, 1 chelonian, 1 large snake. Some of us specialize in things. Until recently I was an Iguana rescue, then I realized I was needed for more. I made do with my resources.
