Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Back in May I got back into reptiles after many years by taking one of my sons to Raliegh for the reptile show. At the age of 5 he diligently helped to pick out a young BCI and promptly named him Henry. Henry did well for a while but then went through a bout of regurg that I'd never experieced with prior boas, pythons, etc. After work with our vet we came to the conclusion that we were dealing with a bowel obstruction and took concervative methods to deal with it. My sons (8 & 5) along with my wife helped with a period of tube feeding which was followed by a couple of weeks of good intake and no regurge. This week he wouldn't take the food...only strike awkwardly. This morning he was holding his head funny and tonight he was dead. A lot of people think, "how can you have feelings for a snake?" Well if they had seen the sobbing my sons went through for more than an hour they might better understand. They couldn't come to understand his death because they had helped him get better. As they drifted of to sleep about an hour ago they talked about what they would miss and how to put a cross on the grave we dug tonight. I know many of you are excited about the experience of creating genetically beautiful creatures but for two little boys and their dad, it's just about having a pet and a common interest. I hope you don't overlook that part for yourselves.

Kudos to you, sir, for having a respect for wildlife that is undoubtedly being transferred to your sons. We need more young people like them, and more parents like yourself.

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am terribly sorry for your loss, however hopefully in time you and your boys will find it in your heart to give another boa a great home. It is always hard to suffer a loss of this sort, but you must remember that you probably gave a sick snake more love and comfort than most anyone else would have in the same situation. That snake suffered less because of you and your boys. We need more keepers like you and hopefully you will give another boa a great home one day.

Matt Crabe

I'm very sorry to hear of your family's loss. While I cannot take away the pain of losing a pet that was/is so loved perhaps I can help ease your loss. If you'll kindly contact me I'll be happy to send the following animal out to you at no cost. Follow this link to your future pet if you'd like him. He could be at your doorstep Tuesday morning!
http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=8&de=125953

Thank you for your kindness. I'm going to decline your very generous offer just to let some time go by. While we certainly will purchase another snake soon, I want my boys to understand about grief and that the snake is not just another replacable toy. I know from their reaction that they get this but feel compelled to work with them a little and get them involved in the research about our next boa. Thank you, again!

something to send as well. As I started to read the replies, I was thinking just the same thing as you suggessted. I feel for the boys and am very happy to have someone like you in the herp field that cares as much as the boys do.

I hope they take you up on the offer and remaing Boa enthusiasts.

Best of luck to you all. Hope to see you in Daytona.

Shawn Morelan
SouthernBoids

I am so touched as i sit here and read these posts.. Everyone here truly cares for the others that post here. It is a wonderful sight to see in a world which is filled with back stabbing people who just want to get ahead.. I think in everyone’s mind we can all imagine looking into the eyes of our children and having to tell them that here beloved snake will not be coming back... and then watching the tears well up in there little eyes... I’m so sorry for you loss but i hope you know that you are teaching your sons wonderful life lessons and i can only hope that when i am ready to bring a child into this world i will have as much strength and compassion as you have soon to have... good luck with the grieving and i send my condolences..

Sincerely,
Rose & Steve
SR Snakes

Thank you for sharing that with us. Having 3 boys myself,(10,8 and 7) I understand the bond that happens when you add a special animal to the family. The herp world isn't always about breeding and morphs and field studies. Sometimes, it's just about a family and their pet.
I'm sorry to hear about your snake. Give the boys a hug for me. You sound like a good Dad.
Also, this community is awesome. The offers of sympathy in emotion and replacement of a lost pet show the character and integrity of all of you. You all rock.
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1.1 Ball Python
0.0.1 corn snake
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
0.0.2 fish
1.2 cats
3.1 kids
1.0 husband

loss of a beloved pet is never easy, no matter what kind of
pet it is.
My b/f lost his Red Devil fish last year, he had raised him for
over 8 years and he was heartbroken. Not many people understand
unless it's a dog or cat, but we do and our sympathies are
with you and your boys.

You have my deepest condolences for your recent loss. I know that it is hard to loose a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, bird, or reptile. I know that I speak for most of the breeders here when I say that we never forget our first snake and it is a hobby/profession built around our love for the animals that we work with. Thank you for being such a caring herper and parent. It is wonderful to hear that such values will be passed on to your children.

AND BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I STOPPED WORKING AND CAME IN TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT. I WAS TOUCHED AFTER READING YOUR POST. WE ALSO HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. TWO OF WHICH ARE BOYS THE SAME AGE AS YOURS, WELL ACTUALLY MY BOYS ARE 5 AND 7, AND THEY BOTH LOVE REPTILES TOO. I KNOW I CAN'T REPLACE HENRY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HELP EASE THE BOYS PAIN BY SENDING THEM A NEW BABY BOA. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE WHEN BUYING FROM SOMEONE AT A SHOW. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME PEOPLE AT THE SHOWS ARE SELLING JUNK. I PERSONALLY DO NOT DO SHOWS, BUT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A FEW EACH YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SHIP YOUR BOYS A NEW BOA FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE EMAIL AND GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND THE BEST DAY TO SHIP.

YOUR FRIEND AND FELLOW HERPER, BILL

I tend to get 'down' now and then because our modern society seems to get more cynical and selfish with each passing day. I see the natural world succumb to the hands of man and wonder where our collective hearts are. Then I read your story about how you and your boys were so touched by the passing of what many people would consider, "just a silly little snake". Thank you for sharing your story. Though it is sad, the fact that there are people who can have such depth of heart does much to give me hope. If your boys can appreciate the joys of nature now, at their young age, then they will grow up to be men of great character in my opinion. Thank you! And look forward to the day when you'll invite into your home a healthy boa that will share many years of your lives together...and bring you much amazement and wonder.

Steve
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Nature - the original Master Planned Community!

...The amount of compassion you have all delivered is amazing and wonderful. I will print each and every response for my boys and I to read together. Offers of another boa were unanticipated but appreciated more than I can put to words. At this time I'm going to decline such offers for a couple of simple reasons. First and foremost, I just want the boys to understand more about their loss and participate in the process of choosing another pet. The second is less imporant but salient in my mind. My family and I do well financially and it would not be a problem to purchase a new snake. While I was tempted to accept just so the boys could have a concrete expression of everyone's compassion, I thing the forum notes are even better. Others should know about the compassion and caring that this community has. For those of you that thought about providing a boa to my boys, at least consider other young boys and girls in your own communities that don't have the option of having such a wonderous pet and perhaps options for getting them interested and involved through education and a donation. With crazy laws like those proposed in Chicago, can we have too many thoughtful, education and enthusiastic reptile owners to carry this tradation forward.

Many thanks, again!
Eric

Sorry for your loss.

Dave M