Update on Flame

Flame has been SO grumpy lately. His eyes have been half closed and he's been lethargic. I did a fecal test on him yesterday and am treating him now for coccidia. 

I took him to the vet today for a blood test to make sure nothing else was going on. 

Guess what?!

It came back totally perfect. 

The entire staff commented that they've never had such an aggressive, angry bearded dragon before. Nice, huh? 

So I'll let him finish shedding and leave him alone for awhile to see if he'll calm down. At least I know he's okay inside. 

Another GoFundMe Update on the Fire Victims

I just posted this on the GoFundMe campaign I've been running on the fire victims. To see that campaign, click HERE. 

The blasting post (see HERE) I reluctantly wrote 10 days ago earned us almost 2 weeks without phone calls or harassments. It's been nice.

But today one of my rescue partners' bosses received a call "promising" a news crew coming to their work on Friday to interview my partner (and I) about why we had not surrendered the fire victims yet. It's yet another attempt at harassing us into giving them up.

The original owner, as far as we know, is still homeless and living in a car. This guy (who has never been the owner) who called the boss has been evicted from at least 4 cities in the last 12 months with another city "discussing" wild animal code enforcement at this month's City Hall meeting.

The 2 Burmese pythons are still receiving antibiotic injections to treat a stubborn respiratory infection. They are starving all the time. The large red tail boa has an impacted gland that we are trying to treat first before taking to the vet for surgery. The sickly Savannah monitor still refuses to eat on his own and the "healthier" one is not eating as consistently. The Nile monitor finally got into a big enough cage and is eating on his own. The bearded dragon is shedding and needs a fecal test run because, all of the sudden, his poop is almost liquid. Phoenix needs another tube feeding because he's still not eating. The King snakes are fine, but have to be fed several times a week because they are SO hungry. The other younger red tail is okay.

The last vet visit was yesterday: the next one is tomorrow. They've been to the vet multiple times and are still under vet care/guidance, and will be for the present time.

So again I am the bad guy because I refuse to take these 11 reptiles out of a stable, warm, caring environment to give them to a friend or a friend of a friend or somewhere else where they can stay for a bit until they are moved again to another place.

Yeah. I'll be the bad guy.

A letter has been written and will be delivered this week to the persons in question (I'm not even sure who is claiming to be the "owner" at this point) on the things they will need to do for the reptiles to be returned. After the letter is mailed, I will post the contents of the letter here. I feel like we have an obligation to you guys who so generously donated the $1,225 for their care. It's not just about satisfying what I want; I owe you the respect of making sure your money is ultimately used for good.

Thanks again for all you've done to help us. smile emoticon

Sarah
who has all the reptiles smile emoticon

MIA

I have been and will be on the quiet side for a few days. Wednesday wasn't such a good day for me. Got my hand crushed and ended up in Instacare. Then a couple hours later I'm pretty sure I broke one of my toes. 

I'm hobbling around and taking lots of naps. My hand is okay -- just has some pretty crazy bruises on it. My toe hurts but there's not much I can do about it. 

Anyways, I'll get back to posting updates next week for sure. 

Big & Little

7 year old sulcata and a 1 year old sulcata 

I purposely took the pic while the big one's face was buried in greens and keep the baby off to the side. They were together for less than a minute. 

Just do you know I'm being safe. 

Before and After Shedding, Scorch

Last night-- 

Today-- 

I love keep the old sheds--

Before and After Shedding, Kindle

Kindle before she shed-- 

Kindle after she shed-- 

She's so soft and fresh! Her mouth looks great. Such an adorable girl!! Her eyes are clearer too. 

Shedding is such a good sign of health for them. 

Ouch

Sometimes checking out at the vet is more painful than others. 

Here's the receipt for another round of antibiotics for Kindle & Scorch (the 2 albino Burmese pythons). 

Yep. Just antibiotic shots. $166.99. 

Ouch. 

Big Snakes

I've never been a fan of BIG snakes. Fine for others, not my idea of a snake. 

Kindle & Scorch, the 2 albino Burmese python fire victims, have changed that. 

I love these guys! They are so fun and have such distinctive personalities. 

We had to unexpectedly move them last week even though they were shedding. The stress of that brought back both of their respiratory infections. :( We discovered them bubbling at the mouth again tonight. 3 more weeks of antibiotics start tomorrow. 

Scorch has taken up residence in his water dish. 

But we bathed Kindle tonight. She was not a fan. 

After bathing, she let us cuddle her for awhile. 

We put her back so she didn't get too cold. 

It's easy to hold them now because they are both grossly underweight. Kindle is 16 pounds, Scorch is 19 pounds. They should be at least double that. Then it won't be as easy to snuggle after bath time. 

Dragon Surprise!

This little stinker is doing the one thing I thought he'd never do--- 

He's actually growing!!! 

See? 

March 16th

Today

He just shed again and he's bigger! I'm thrilled! I thought he'd stay a tiny peanut. Nope. He's going be "Snack Size" instead of "Bite Size." 

I've reached my Breaking Point. I am FURIOUS over the Harassment because of the Fire Victims

I've reached my breaking point. I've tried to be calm and nice with the reptile rescue, but today they bullied and threatened one two many times. For those of you who have wondered about all my vague posts, here you go:

(this was posted on my GoFundMe campaign today)

Friends--

This is the hardest update I have had to write . But it must be written.

The news story sharing the improvements of the fire victim reptiles has unleashed a fire storm.

I have been threatened. My animals have been threatened. My rescue partners and their animals and houses have been threatened. We have been harassed and badgered and threatened for 4 days now.

Why?

Because we said that the reptiles appeared to be in poor shape and that we wanted to make sure that they went to a good home where they would be cared for.

My rescue partner has installed a security alarm. She sleeps with her phone so she can call 911. We've already had to call the police, animal control, and the Division of Wildlife Resources. I have tried to be honest and fair. I've offered every evidence that what I am doing is legal and above board.

And now, because I am caring for these 11 reptiles, I am being threatened.

Today it ends.

The previous owner of the reptiles is a known drug user. He currently has 8 outstanding warrants for his arrest and, last we were told, was living in his car. It has been reported to me by two independent investigations that more than a hundred reptile bodies were found in the house that he may (or may not) have been legally allowed to live in.

I have had many anonymous reports from people who visited that house and found dead & dying animals (not just reptiles). I've been offered copies of neglect reports filed by other rescues. I have been BEGGED to NOT return these animals. I have seen the Utah state government website with the dates and jurisdictions who have filed warrants for his arrest.

Where does he get these animals? From a person known in this community for killing more than he rescues.

And now I am being attacked. I am being threatened and called names. My rescue partners are being harassed.

Why?

Because we are doing the best we can to make sure these 11 reptiles-- 11 out of who knows how many that have died-- are being cared for.

It stops now. I have kept all of this information private. I have worked with Animal Control and the local police to make sure that I am 100% above board on the law. I wanted to make sure that *I* am doing what is right and I have been given the assurance that I am fine.

If I need to get a lawyer on Monday, I will get a lawyer.

This is me calling out the Previous owners-- whoever they actually are--

STOP THE HARASSMENT AND THREATS!!

We will work with you as adults and talk to you as adults. If you continue to bully and threaten, the conversation is over and I WILL have a lawyer contact you.

I will play nice-- to a point. But when my rescue partner tells me there is a gun on the nightstand because she is so panicked

I A.M. D.O.N.E. being nice.

Sincerely,

Sarah

the rescuer who has all the reptiles.