Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you remember my last post, there's a guy in my neiborhood with a uro that's in bad shape (has a skin infection, dirty tank, and from what I've heard...no lights). Well I've been trying like hell to get a hold of this guy but no one knows his phone number and he's never home when I go by his house (it's a long walk down the street and I can't drive, so i can't go down there all the time). I'm starting to feel really guilty and it makes me sick to my stomach to think about the poor little reptile which is all the time. I really need to get in touch with this guy. What should I do?

suggestions?

-ryan

you can only do what you have been doing,however you can leave a note on his door to contact you when he arrives home.If he wants to give it away ban enough he will call.
-----
1.3 Leopard Gecko's
1.0 mali uromastyx
0.0.3 tokay's(adults unsexed)

my suggestion would be to live your own life, do your own thing...

you couldn't possibly be "Captain Save a Uro" to all the neglected animals out there. perhaps offer a good caresheet to the guy, and then leave it at that.

the reality is that many "pet" owners don't give a crap about what you or anyone else thinks, and they are often offended and po'd by you sticking your nose into their business.

if he doesn't want your help, there is nothing you can do. do your best with your animals, and offer to help those that are looking for help. you can force good husbandry on anyone.
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

My dad was the one that saw the uro and noticed it was in bad shape (and he's not even into reptiles), and he asked the guy why it was in such bad shape. The guy said that he "doesn't have the time to care for it anymore", and went on to say that if I wanted I could have it plus a bigger tank he has somewhere that he hasn't been using (it's in a 10 gallon right now). My dad didn't take it though because he didn't know what my stance would be on the situation.

I guess I'll have to leave a note if I can't get a hold of him quick enough. From what I heard, the skin infection is rather bad. My dad said that he didn't see any lights on the tank, but the lizard was moving around a lot. I just assume it's a uro from the description he gave me. "It looks like a tortoise without a shell and with a fat spikey tail).

I hope there's something I can do for it. I'm not good at just letting go of something like this.

I agree with Kalidraven - leave him a note on the door to remind him that you're still interested in helping out. As I recall, he was willing to give you the bigger tank as well as the uro, so it's not a lost cause and you shouldn't have to abandon this uro to the misery he's in.

Even if the guy was hostile and didn't want you to butt into his business, you could still do something - humane societies abound. Neglect and animal cruelty are still crimes and every little bit that every single person can do helps. Maybe there isn't a Captain Save a Uro (hmm...new secret identity?? ), but what each person does every day makes a difference!

Granted, sometimes you will have to suck it up and let something go, but if you have to do that, at least you'll know you did everything you could.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
-----
Torey
1.1 Uromastyx Geyri (Joe and Arthur)
1.1 Anolis Carolinensis (Bowser and Leeloo)
1.0 Betta Splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis Domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

I have to agree with Robyn. You should probably mind your own business and stick to caring for you reptiles as best you can, as I'm sure you already do.
-----
Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

well look at it this way.

if you knew of a baby being neglected would you just ignor the situation,no you wouldnt so whats the differnce....?

go ahead ask me if i take in any animal that being abused....yes i do and i have been for years wether it be reptiles,birds,cats or whatever i have taken them all in and i even taken wildlife from the street in due from injury.

maybe you can ignor it but ryan nor i cant,if i was ryan i would have sat there from 6am till he got home if he left before then.

ryan is a good guy for this and i commend him for his effort for saving a neglected animal.

here is another neglected animal i just took in sunday afternoon for being under feed.

and a bearded dragon coming soon for the same reason.

here he/she is,not named yet but a real pretty Water Dragon

-----
1.3 Leopard Gecko's
1.0 mali uromastyx
0.0.3 tokay's(adults unsexed)

I work in the cruelty investigations department of our local Humane Society, and while I agree that "you can't save them all" (nor should you try), I also agree with el_toro that animal cruelty is a prosecutable offense, regardless of species. We recently successfully prosecuted someone for severely neglecting two uro's and then failing to provide necessary vet care. We have taken people to court for neglect of mice, lizards, rabbits and guinea pigs...The species doesn't matter, the neglect does...

If it's a case of someone failing to provide the brand of multivitamin you prefer or not providing a large enough tank I would say "let it go"...but if it's life-threatening neglect or lack of vet care, than I'd say do whatever you have to do, including calling the Humane Society.

SR

Since I know about the reptile and the condition it's in, I feel partially responsible now just because I know if I don't do something the uro isn't going to live the nice, long life it should.

I think I'm going to have to take a couple field trips down there, hopefully today, and leave a note if he's not there.

thanks for the suggestions everyone.

-ryan

I go to a school where pets are allowed on desks, and I see this sort of crap all the time. I usually tell teachers about it, and they go kick some ass and make them do the right thing. As far a a 'real world' situation, granted you can't save them all, but when you see something going on you have an obligation to do something. I agree with the person who works with the humane society, tell the humane society. They usually sort this stuff out pretty well.

you mean like their actual pets? On their desks? What kind of school do you go to? At my school we have the crappy old desk/chair things from the 70's that you can barely fit a book and a sheet of paper on.

later

I go to a school where everyone has their own desk. We have like group cubicles where there are 10 desks in a bunch. The desks are big enough for me to put a 20long tank on it, and still have enough space for all my junk.