Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey yall remember when i told you about a friend that has a MHD and wasn't taking care of it?!?!? Well i've talked him into getting another cage but the one he wants to get is still to small! Another thing he's only nine and can't save up enough money and his parents won't help! He also just recently decided that he wanted a Mali Uromastyx. He NEVER looks up a herp before getting it so thats why he doesn't take care of his MHD like he's supossed to! His parents don't even care! What should i do?!?! Katie
-----
Owner of 1.2 Leopard Geckos, 3.0 Fire Belly Toads, 0.0.3 Treefrogs, 1.1 Bahaman Anoles, 1.0 Japanese Fire Belly Newt
and 0.0.1 Turtle

What if you offered to buy it from him?
or show him how to sell it over the internet so he can get money for his Mastix (that hopefully no one will sell him)
There is not much that can be done, Humaine societies are not good about the care of exotic pets
JMHO
-----
Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

He's nine and can save up enough money for a Uromastyx but not a bigger cage?That should cost about the same. Uromastyx are liek $90 aren;t they? Take that dragon off that little boy and slap his parents in the face. I hate idiots like that.

I agree!!! I WOULD like to slap his parents in the face!!! He would NEVER give up his MHD even if i told him the only way that it will live is that he gets it a cage, does reserach on the internet not the local petshop ASAP or sell it to me for what it's worth in it's condition. He told me today that he had asked an expert about how to tell the difference in boys and girls (to him an expert is the guy at the local petshop)and the guy told him that on girls there are bumps on there backs. I had done some research and had found out it was a male. ( by looking around the vent area not bumps) He said it was a girl cause it had bumps. The bumps are from it's bones sticking out so you can count them all!!!! He says he's takiing care of it! Right he is but not well enough!! I really wish he would come out to reality!!! SOON!!!!!!!! Any other ideas?!?! He would Never sell it to me so that is out. Thanks, Katie
-----
Owner of 1.2 Leopard Geckos, 3.0 Fire Belly Toads, 0.0.3 Treefrogs, 1.1 Bahaman Anoles, 1.0 Japanese Fire Belly Newt
and 0.0.1 Turtle

Well, I don't know if the Oct. issue of Reptiles is out yet but the cover story is about MHDs. (I wrote it) If possible buy the issue and make him read that entire article from start to finish. I am betting that if you can see all of the bones that he hasn't had it treated for parasites yet and it won't be with us much longer anyway. I hate to see these wonderful animals suffer but I don't know what else you can do. You have tried to educate him and his parents either don't care of won't take the time to get involved so they won't provide much help either.

The only other possibility is your local humane enforcement. Some states have very strict abuse laws and actually enforce them. If you look at the links page of my site you can find links to the animal rights pages and see if your state is one of those that will protect the animals. If so you can try to get them involved by reporting this as a case of neglect. I don't know that this would be any better for the animal but it is bound to die at the hands of the 9-yr-old so it can't be any worse. If you are able to take this sort of action you may want to provide a copy of my caresheet so that they know what they are dealing with and can better evaluate the MHDs conditions and environment. I have found that most humane societies will take proper care of any animal, reptiles included, if they know what care is needed.

On the other hand, I don't want to see a young person's interest in Herps squelched, but he does need to learn that keeping reptiles isn't just a cool thing, but it takes knowledge, equipment, time, medication, and a real commitment to keeping that reptile healthy.

Hey, I know, show him some of these posts!

Marcia
www.froggieb.com/MHDLinks.html

I'll try giving him your caresheet. I'll also try to buy the reptile mag (i've been secretly wanting to get it anyways) and make him read it. I want to help it sooooo bad but if he won't beleive me and i have to take care of my herps also he will probly learn his lesson when it passes on. I have told him and his parents about this forum and told them that there is a lot of peple ot help and tons of info. They just look at me like thats the worst idea i've ever heard of and then tell me someone will get his idenity and kidnapp him! OH PLEASE! Thanx for the help. I think i'm going to break down and tell him the WHOLE truth! Any other ideas?!?! Katie

>>Well, I don't know if the Oct. issue of Reptiles is out yet but the cover story is about MHDs. (I wrote it) If possible buy the issue and make him read that entire article from start to finish. I am betting that if you can see all of the bones that he hasn't had it treated for parasites yet and it won't be with us much longer anyway. I hate to see these wonderful animals suffer but I don't know what else you can do. You have tried to educate him and his parents either don't care of won't take the time to get involved so they won't provide much help either.
>>
>>The only other possibility is your local humane enforcement. Some states have very strict abuse laws and actually enforce them. If you look at the links page of my site you can find links to the animal rights pages and see if your state is one of those that will protect the animals. If so you can try to get them involved by reporting this as a case of neglect. I don't know that this would be any better for the animal but it is bound to die at the hands of the 9-yr-old so it can't be any worse. If you are able to take this sort of action you may want to provide a copy of my caresheet so that they know what they are dealing with and can better evaluate the MHDs conditions and environment. I have found that most humane societies will take proper care of any animal, reptiles included, if they know what care is needed.
>>
>>On the other hand, I don't want to see a young person's interest in Herps squelched, but he does need to learn that keeping reptiles isn't just a cool thing, but it takes knowledge, equipment, time, medication, and a real commitment to keeping that reptile healthy.
>>
>>Hey, I know, show him some of these posts!
>>
>>Marcia
>>www.froggieb.com/MHDLinks.html
-----
Owner of 1.2 Leopard Geckos, 3.0 Fire Belly Toads, 0.0.3 Treefrogs, 1.1 Bahaman Anoles, 1.0 Japanese Fire Belly Newt
and 0.0.1 Turtle

The whole truth as in what?His parents are morons? He's 9 years old, I can understand his point of view. We were all very nieve when we were 9. Maybe you can get a cop friend or osmethign to sort of scare things into him. Even if the cop doesn't know a thing about MHDs or animals for that, just have the officer tell him he needs to take proper car eof the animal or he is obligated to call the SPCA. SOme kind of garbage. Write him a fake letter from the SPCA or some sort of animal rights organization. Put in what they "require" him to have for his MHD. Say theyll check up on him or something. little kids are so gullible,it is too easy to trick him into things like that. The parents are the obstacle of course. What exactly does he keep his MHD in anyways? And what are their requirement? I honestly know nothing about them(i do hae a Chinese Water Dragon if that helps,and they need BIG enclosures,larger then chameleons even)I just liek checkin in on all the boards so i can learn as much as i can.Good luck

The truth as in sit him down and tell him that if he doesn't get a new cage start feeding it and take it to the vet ASAP that it WILL die. I will tell his parents that also but that might be a little harder. (i'm only 13)I could get my parents to since they feel the same about this little lizard. I do know a game warden i could get him to call him lol. He keeps it in a 20 long tank (full grown lizard) half filled with substrate and only feeds it about a dozen crix a week! I am going to try to talk to them again and see if they will understand how important this is. Thanx for the help, Katie
-----
Owner of 1.2 Leopard Geckos, 3.0 Fire Belly Toads, 0.0.3 Treefrogs, 1.1 Bahaman Anoles, 1.0 Japanese Fire Belly Newt
and 0.0.1 Turtle