Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I really need extra eyes right now, and I'm asking for your help.

On May 29th, 2008 I was to bring My big '99 F3 Albino (Aurora) into the vet for blood work, due to her not really acting her usual self. She was eating, but with none of the gusto she has had for the past 9 years. So I load her into my green ARMY laundry bag, and take her in.

I stopped at the Circle K to grab some coffee, and as a last minute gesture, I rolled down her window for airflow, as it's been 100° out here already.

I drink black coffee, so I know I wasn't in there more than 2 minutes max. When I returned, I noticed the whole bag was missing from the vehicle. I'll leave out all the cussing that took place between me and the 911 operator and the police when they finally showed up. Suffice it to say, I wasn't in very good control of myself at the time.

Police report has been filed, animal control notified, all the vets in town have been given pictures, and asked to keep a look out, the Zoo also has been notified, and some of the pet shops in town that I think would actually call me if she came in. Other pet shops in this town, unfortunately, are not to be trusted, and would keep her, stolen or not, just as fast as she was brought in.

I don't really think they even know what they took. I don't see how anyone COULD know, as I didn't exactly announce my intentions. My biggest fear at the moment is that they opened the bag, saw a huge boa and dumped her on the road somewhere. I can only hope someone who is into reptiles got her, and will make an effort at keeping her, or try to sell her and I'll get word about it.

I am coming to the idea that she is gone, and I'm not likely to get her back. But in the off chance that the culprit is familiar with reptile classifieds, I have come here asking for people to keep an eye out. I am fairly certain I am the only person in this town with an Albino Boa, and for sure the only one in this town with a full grown adult female. So if one should pop up for sale in El Paso, I would ask that I get notified immediately, and I'll take it from there.

Aurora is 8 ft plus a few inches, she weighs 25 lbs last weigh in, and she just had a litter, so she is still a little thin from that. She has a microchip, and a 13 inch scar that runs down the right side of her neck from surgery.

Her scar

Last picture I have of her

This is not just some brood female albino, she is my dearest pet. Even without the fondness I have for her, she is not a replaceable animal. She is one of the last Albino's with a very close relationship to the original WC albino male that started this whole mess. Her mom was one of Pete's original F1 Het albinos, and her dad was one of the first F2 albinos born in the US. She is not a replaceable animal by any means.

Like I said, I am trying to face the idea that recovery is a lost hope, but it ain't in me to just give up trying. Please, this is an important animal to me, and if any info happens to come up, if anyone happens to see an adult albino for sale coming from El Paso, TX, PLEASE, let me know via email at rick@sunsetbci.com or by phone 915-276-3384.

Thanks for any help that you may be able to offer.

A really sad Dad.
Rick

Edited on June 1, 2008 at 12:45:14 by PHGinger.

I hope you find her man. I would try places like Craigslist or local papers if you think someone might try and move her. Good luck!
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Brandon Nixon

Case is closed. I can't even talk right now.

The reward is now $500 for any info leading to me to the sorry SOB that done this.

I hope you understand me not wanting to get all detailed. Turns out the number they called from was a pay phone, so no tracing that out.

I'm gonna go turn on some Soulfly and just be angry for a while.

Later

I hope you find those SOB's that is just ridiculous!
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Brandon Nixon

I just feel disgusted that someone could do something like that. I'm sorry that you have to go through this. That hurts. I'm really sorry

So So sorry for the lose. Thatjust discusts me. Just remember karma is a b*%#$. Best of luck.

Oh my god! I am so sorry! I know it would just kill me to see one of my babes like that... It is shocking that someone could do that to an innocent animal, especially when they got themselves into that mess. I am so sorry and I hope you catch whoever did this and make them pay for what they've done. Good luck

That's just disgusting and sick.To take that
animal for no other reason then to do that.I
bet their parents are really proud of them,
looks like rotten kid syndrome to me.Really
sorry this has happened.
. . . . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

Rick:

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

Brandon has some great ideas, but I would also check in with the local pet shops for any word of her. You could also leave photos with the owners of the pet shops.

Good luck on getting her back.

Keep us posted.

Brian
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

you find her. I know this must be tough. I know I would be crushed. Best of luck!
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Ty
Rat Race Solutions
www.ratracesolutions.com

I'm really sorry this happened to you and her.It scares me
to think someone with no experience getting ahold of her.Just
because they think its cool. Hope this works out for you
and her.
. . . . . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I want to thank everyone for there support. No word yet, but by going public many have shared ideas that I hadn't thought of.

Thanks again. I'll post any progress.
Rick

Rick,

Another thing you could possibly try is this. Ask if the store has cameras out side you know for people that would say steal the gas or what not they just might have the guy who took the boa from you? Just another option that might be a bit far fetched but never know.
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Brandon Nixon

Also ATM machine right in front there will have
camera during a transaction.
. . . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

Thanks guys. Police thought of that. It was sorta busy at the time, and I had to park over to the side somewhat. No cameras hitting that area at all. Store actually only has one camera pointed at the register.

Appreciate all the ideas though.

Thanks again
Rick

Usually, they'll have cameras on the gas tanks.

If the gas station doesn't have exterior cameras, what about adjacent businesses?

What about the street corner itself, for light runners?

There could be other cameras around you that can capture who came in and went around those times, and by process of elimination, these things are sometimes solved.

Chances are there are regulars who come there and gas up often... sometimes same day, same time, everyweek.

Chances are, these people are easily identified and they can be asked if they saw something out of the ordinary.

If you , let's say, post a missing flyer, post one on the actual bag too, not just the snake.. "Anyone seen a huge army bag being carried around on xxxday at x:xx time in the xxx area?"

There are many indirect ways of getting where/what you want.

Other than that, search all local forums or online dealers. People with a rare or desireable snake usually can't keep their mouths shut about it.. it's tough.

Maybe check some vets within a week or two to se if they brought it in to check for issues you had described...

If they had to steal it, maybe they wouldn't do this, but it's another chance..

Check the classifieds/forums for someone looking for a breeder male compatible for an albino.

You get the idea...

Hope your luck turns around for you.

Take care, Joe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

Loosing pets that are as dear to you as that is very tough. I'm sorry to here. We lost our two female am staffs for a couple days. They were our children before we had children. I know how you feel and wish the best for you and her. Keep us posted.

What a dilemma, I sure hop things turn out okay for you and the snake. Only suggestions I have are placing ads in local papers and seeing if the news channels might air something for you. The radio stations locally where I live will sometimes put out a little blurb for lost pets. I think I might even contact the Fish and Wildlife Department in case they receive any info.

Wishing you the best of luck in recovering your snake.

>>I really need extra eyes right now, and I'm asking for your help.
>>
>>On May 29th, 2008 I was to bring My big '99 F3 Albino (Aurora) into the vet for blood work, due to her not really acting her usual self. She was eating, but with none of the gusto she has had for the past 9 years. So I load her into my green ARMY laundry bag, and take her in.
>>
>>I stopped at the Circle K to grab some coffee, and as a last minute gesture, I rolled down her window for airflow, as it's been 100° out here already.
>>
>>I drink black coffee, so I know I wasn't in there more than 2 minutes max. When I returned, I noticed the whole bag was missing from the vehicle. I'll leave out all the cussing that took place between me and the 911 operator and the police when they finally showed up. Suffice it to say, I wasn't in very good control of myself at the time.
>>
>>Police report has been filed, animal control notified, all the vets in town have been given pictures, and asked to keep a look out, the Zoo also has been notified, and some of the pet shops in town that I think would actually call me if she came in. Other pet shops in this town, unfortunately, are not to be trusted, and would keep her, stolen or not, just as fast as she was brought in.
>>
>>I don't really think they even know what they took. I don't see how anyone COULD know, as I didn't exactly announce my intentions. My biggest fear at the moment is that they opened the bag, saw a huge boa and dumped her on the road somewhere. I can only hope someone who is into reptiles got her, and will make an effort at keeping her, or try to sell her and I'll get word about it.
>>
>>I am coming to the idea that she is gone, and I'm not likely to get her back. But in the off chance that the culprit is familiar with reptile classifieds, I have come here asking for people to keep an eye out. I am fairly certain I am the only person in this town with an Albino Boa, and for sure the only one in this town with a full grown adult female. So if one should pop up for sale in El Paso, I would ask that I get notified immediately, and I'll take it from there.
>>
>>Aurora is 8 ft plus a few inches, she weighs 25 lbs last weigh in, and she just had a litter, so she is still a little thin from that. She has a microchip, and a 13 inch scar that runs down the right side of her neck from surgery.
>>
>>Her scar
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Last picture I have of her
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>This is not just some brood female albino, she is my dearest pet. Even without the fondness I have for her, she is not a replaceable animal. She is one of the last Albino's with a very close relationship to the original WC albino male that started this whole mess. Her mom was one of Pete's original F1 Het albinos, and her dad was one of the first F2 albinos born in the US. She is not a replaceable animal by any means.
>>
>>Like I said, I am trying to face the idea that recovery is a lost hope, but it ain't in me to just give up trying. Please, this is an important animal to me, and if any info happens to come up, if anyone happens to see an adult albino for sale coming from El Paso, TX, PLEASE, let me know via email at rick@sunsetbci.com or by phone 915-276-3384.
>>
>>Thanks for any help that you may be able to offer.
>>
>>A really sad Dad.
>>Rick
>>
>>Edited on June 1, 2008 at 12:45:14 by PHGinger.
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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

I got a call last night from what sounded like a teenager, saying the kids in the neighborhood found her behind the maintenance facility near by the circle K. He said she was "chopped", but still wanted to know if they could get the reward.

I couldn't locate her in the dark last night, I'm gonna try again today with the help of PD I hope.

I don't think I've ever felt so sick in my life.

Thanks for all the help.
Rick