Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This August, I will shipping out to start my Army career. Pretty excited.

However my excitement dies out pretty quickly. I have a few animals under my care and it breaks my heart to be separated from them for even a little while...

Now, it may be for a long time.

My dogs are staying with my mother with no problems.
However I also have a ball python, a blue tongue skink, and two ferrets. They seem to be some less than "common" pets who my family will not care for in my absence.

I considered finding someone to temporarily "board" my animals, but I am starting to feel like that may be a bad idea. Not only would it be someone who I do not know and am not familiar with, but it may cause more troubles than not.

The other option is to re-home my animals. At least with boarding, I get to see my animals again. If I re-home them, I will not.

Does anyone else have any experience doing this? I'm in need of advice!

Please feel free to comment!

>>My dogs are staying with my mother with no problems.
>>However I also have a ball python, a blue tongue skink, and two ferrets. They seem to be some less than "common" pets who my family will not care for in my absence.
>>
>>I considered finding someone to temporarily "board" my animals, but I am starting to feel like that may be a bad idea. Not only would it be someone who I do not know and am not familiar with, but it may cause more troubles than not.
>>
>>The other option is to re-home my animals. At least with boarding, I get to see my animals again. If I re-home them, I will not.
>>
>>Does anyone else have any experience doing this? I'm in need of advice!
>>
>>Please feel free to comment!

Check with local reptile rescues or herp societies. I have two boas right now in my possession that I am "boarding" so to speak. One for a marine and one for seaman. Both surrendered their animals to me. Both are actually sending me occasional fees to care for their animals. I have had the snakes for a few years now and the owners check in. I took them as a surrender if for some reason they pass away in my care or need veterinary care, I have ownership. When the guys get back they will re-adopt their animals back. Both are under the understanding that these animals are under my care and with exotics there may be issues (IE Crypto, power outage, etc) that are beyond my control and may cause their animals to expire under my care and will not hold me responsible.

I have done this several times in the past for members of the armed forces. Other rescues or herp societies may be able to do the same.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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i have in many cases seen where people like yourself left their animals in the care of others, many they new and some they did not.
in 90% of the cases the animals were not cared for properly. if you care about your animals find some one like PhFaust suggested or sell them out right. if it was me id sell them, but then im a breeder and only a few of them are pets. when you have less animals its much harder to sell them so i see your point their as well. if you dont have a herp society then you could try a local spca or shelter to see if they have reptile people that may do it. DO NOT LET SOME ONE WHO IS NOT EXPERIENCED WITH REPTILE TRY TO TAK ECARE OF THEM ITS NEVER A GOOD IDEA.
adam jeffery
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Ask friends or the nearest herp store (if there is one near you.) Do you know ANYONE that's reptile savvy that would be kind enough to watch your reptiles for you?

Ferrets are a little exotic and over my head so can't help you there..
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Reptiles:
2.2 Leopard Gecko Morphs
1.0 Bearded Dragon Morph
0.1 Box Turtle (Rescue)
0.1 Albino Ball Python (BHB line)

Bird:
0.1 Jenday Conure

Pups:
1.0 Black Lab/Pit Bull
1.0 Maltipoo

and lots of tropical fish!

-Patrick

I can speak from experience. I too served in the military, and was sent overseas back in 1997 to Europe (which i've been ever since)

Growing up in South Florida, exotic animals are all around...and i had plenty as pets. But the moment i had to leave i had issues in trying to have someone watch them. Many people are not up to watching someone else animals, and even if you can find someone who would be willing to watch/care for them....it will not be the same care as you would give your own animals.

Once you get in the military...your mind will focus on to the military lifestyle as well as the upcoming deployments to Iraq and/or Afghanistan...12-15month rotations.

My advice to you as a veteran would be to sell off your animals, and once you become stable again i.e....no movements. Get back into the animal keeping. The animals are not going anywhere, and the hobby may be even better than when you got out. For instance when i was keeping reptiles back in the day...the only ball python morph available at the time was the albino. Every year it gets better and better.......

How many years did you sign up for? what's your MOS?

Pitoon

>>This August, I will shipping out to start my Army career. Pretty excited.
>>
>>However my excitement dies out pretty quickly. I have a few animals under my care and it breaks my heart to be separated from them for even a little while...
>>
>>Now, it may be for a long time.
>>
>>My dogs are staying with my mother with no problems.
>>However I also have a ball python, a blue tongue skink, and two ferrets. They seem to be some less than "common" pets who my family will not care for in my absence.
>>
>>I considered finding someone to temporarily "board" my animals, but I am starting to feel like that may be a bad idea. Not only would it be someone who I do not know and am not familiar with, but it may cause more troubles than not.
>>
>>The other option is to re-home my animals. At least with boarding, I get to see my animals again. If I re-home them, I will not.
>>
>>Does anyone else have any experience doing this? I'm in need of advice!
>>
>>Please feel free to comment!
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Homepage
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2010 European Shows

As one who took on the care and well-being of a pair of Columbian Boas six years ago for someone I did not know, I would advise you to sell or rehome them. If you can do it like PHFaust did, where the animals belong to the boarder during your absence, that would be acceptable too.

The man who owns these now-very large- boas is currently stationed in Ft Bragg,NC. He did spend two years in Iraq but returned three years ago. After returning stateside, he had to attend "war school" in DC, so he could not take them back. I was always thinking, okay, he'll take them after he finishes the school, etc, but there was always something else. He is a Lt. Col and the head of a special forces unit. Each year he pays me a "board fee" and each year tells me he cannot take them back yet. I really get the feeling he never will take them back, especially if the boa constrictor falls under ROC legislation and he'll need a permit to keep them. He did buy them as babies in Columbia and raise them to adults....I think there is sentimental value but he has not seen them in six years!

Susan
SSNAKES Reptiles

It is starting to look better to sell these guys. It's just really difficult.

I'm doing 4 years as a network systems operator.

ha! network system operator.......i guess they didn't tell you about ALL the other stuff too!!!!

being past military.....i would just say this....be on time, at least 10-15mins prior for everything and you'll be alright....and if you can run....that's a plus!!!

Pitoon

>>It is starting to look better to sell these guys. It's just really difficult.
>>
>>I'm doing 4 years as a network systems operator.
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Homepage
My BLOG
2010 European Shows

when you get back, your life will not be the same
when you get back, IF you want..you can always buy new stuff...there is always stuff out there...
ball...buy a better ball....a pair that will make you food money ?...

...good luck...head low....!.shoot straight......>>>>>>

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......JY

Selling these guys is going to be very difficult, but it is starting to look like the better option. I suppose I should start now instead of holding it off.

I appreciate all the advice! Thank you.

>>Selling these guys is going to be very difficult, but it is starting to look like the better option. I suppose I should start now instead of holding it off.
>>
>>I appreciate all the advice! Thank you.

Yep selling may be best. I know my rescue will hold indefinately, however in that 4 years the ferrets may already be too old so to speak. I also know my rescue's stance on military is very different, but I am from a military family. May be hard to find someone to hold those snakes for four years. I took 4 snakes from a marine this year, he signed full custody and requested I place the animals, with the condition that he could re-adopt when he comes home. I also found someone to take his 2 iguanas and I know the guy who has the iguanas has kept in touch. I still have his ball python, so once I place that snake I will let the guy know. I will say seeing a marine cry as he surrendered his animals was a hard day. Those devil dogs are supposed to be the toughest folks in the world.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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