Rehoming a lizard...great

[zombiequeen]

SO, my best friend's mom is deciding she wants a red-tailed-boa. So she put me in charge of rehoming her male bearded dragon. First off, I'm not super excited about this, because I mean...beardies are super-personality type lizards, and Quigley (his name) is bonded with her. So, because she wants a new pet, she put ME in charge of getting rid of her old one.

I can't take him because of Ryuu, his male hormones would cause her to produce eggs and she's too young to do that without getting sick. So now I get the fun job of asking people all over and interviewing people to get her lizard.
Maybe if I'm lucky, brother and his girlfriend will have a good friend who will want it. Or maybe they'll look into getting an apartment together and they'll take Quigley. I doubt it though, they can hardly afford food for their other lizard.

Anyone want a lizard? He's cuddly and likes to attack fringed rugs.

[ArcticChicken]

Wish I could afford him, he sounds cute.

Why the hell is rehoming him your responsibility? She's the one who wants an incompatible pet.

[zombiequeen]

Because I use the internet...I dunno. She feels guilty for getting rid of the lizard because she loves him, but not enough that she wants to keep him. Instead she's giving him away so she can get a new pet she'll get rid of in a couple of years. It's how it works with her.

He is a sweetheart though, a bit of a picky eater, but he loves cuddling and watching movies. I really wish we could adopt him, but we are barely able to keep Ryuu.

[Eisa]

I wish I could. I've never thought of having a lizard as a pet, but he probably wouldn't affect my allergies and if he's cuddly...

Unfortunately, I live in the dorm and we aren't allowed pets. And I couldn't take him home with me 'cause we have a German Shepherd at home who would probably try to eat him.

But I hope you can find a home for him, he sounds adorable!

Also, I think your friend sounds like an irresponsible idiot if that's how she treats her pets--gets them for a few years and then gives them away. Sorry.

[Cat]

Years ago I dated someone who had Nile monitors....one was actually very docile. Anyway, it made me really want a bearded dragon. But I'm not allowing myself anymore pets til I get a house. (and I may rehome my hermit crabs)

Good luck....I hope the dragon finds a better home....sorry you have to deal with it

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Because I use the internet...I dunno. She feels guilty for getting rid of the lizard because she loves him, but not enough that she wants to keep him. Instead she's giving him away so she can get a new pet she'll get rid of in a couple of years. It's how it works with her.
.

If I were you, I'd walk away from that irresponsible situation with a quickness. It's her responsibility, let her deal with it.

[zombiequeen]

If I were you, I'd walk away from that irresponsible situation with a quickness. It's her responsibility, let her deal with it.

Unfortunately, I can't. I just found out she had asked my mum about it a while ago, and mum never told me, but told her that I would do it. I'm going to try to help, but I have other things to do too.
I guess I also feel guilted into helping because this lady is the only person in my church it seems that doesn't think I need to be pregnant right now.

I am going to let my friend know (her daughter) that it's wrong for them to keep doing this to thier pets when they get bored with them. It was originally my friend's lizard, she stopped caring so her mum got it. Last time this happened was with a bird...they left it's cage outside and it died...the rat was the same thing, and she gave her frogs to my brother in law, who killed them and blamed her for it.
Said friend's mum also shot her horse because she didn't want to keep it anymore, it was older so it needed a LOT of care, and she was bored with it. They butchered all their goats too.

I'll just let her know I found nobody that was interested, but I will take him to the pet store for her so she doesn't kill him.

[Soulstealer]

Unfortunately, I can't. I just found out she had asked my mum about it a while ago, and mum never told me, but told her that I would do it. I'm going to try to help, but I have other things to do too.
I guess I also feel guilted into helping because this lady is the only person in my church it seems that doesn't think I need to be pregnant right now.

Your mum can't make decisions for you and you don't have to do what she says. You can help in some ways if you want but the onus of the work should be on your friend since it's her responsibility, not yours.

[zombiequeen]

Yeah, I'm really upset at her thinking that because I can't take him, that means I have to find someone else who will. I mean, I would be doing this if it were my pet, but I wouldn't be getting rid of it because I was bored. I don't do that.
I'm thinking that I'll call the local pet store and see what they can do, and then tell them if they want to take the lizard that it's because the owner was bored with it and wants to get a snake. Hopefully that store will spread the word.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I do agree with the poster who stated you should put the word out among breeders about her. She should not be owning pets at all.

Still not sure why this is on you to do clean up her mess, but that's your business. However, reputable suppliers ought to be put on notice that she considers living animals disposable toys.

At least someone who doesn't think like this is involved so maybe the animal has a chance and finding a decent home. I don't agree it's your responsiblity, but it's good for the lizard that someone who cares is involved.

[Ellain]

Petfinder.com may help you find a new home for him.

[Aethian]

Last time this happened was with a bird...they left it's cage outside and it died...the rat was the same thing, and she gave her frogs to my brother in law, who killed them and blamed her for it.
Said friend's mum also shot her horse because she didn't want to keep it anymore, it was older so it needed a LOT of care, and she was bored with it. They butchered all their goats too.

Isn't that all criminal?

[terakhan]

I would remind the owner that constrictors do not bond with their owners, and have a pretty unpleasant statistic about the number of owners killed by their 'pet' every year. If I remember the numbers right, for 6 foot and above, you need a person for every 3 feet to handle it safely or pull it off if it goes aggressive.

Sounds like a midlife crisis pet to me, and I would seriously be doing everything in my power to convince them that the snake was a really bad idea.

[zombiequeen]

He's from a great breeder stock, and I don't think the lady they got him from is breeding anymore, so I think I could give him to a breeder or something. I hope I can, because that's all I can think of that will still give him a decent life.
I'd offer him to my father-in-law because I know he loves lizards, but he almost killed Ryuu by insisting she could eat things she's not supposed to, so no. He's not getting even told that Quigley is up for adoption. Plus, they're just as bad for bringing pets home all the time and then not taking care of them very well.

I'll wait to make any phone calls until after Christmas. I don't need anymore stress right now and frankly, I'm afraid of getting pissed off at everyone and doing something stupid.

This lady is a super close friend of the family and she's also the type to hold grudges for someone looking at her funny. As mad as I am at her, I can't say anything because she will ruin me.

[Solumina]

If I remember the numbers right, for 6 foot and above, you need a person for every 3 feet to handle it safely or pull it off if it goes aggressive.

Pretty much, but it can be fairly breed dependant. Large snakes can be great pets but they are not easy and they are not to be gotten lightly. They are pets that you will have to be extremely careful with and that you will need a lot of help with, it doesn't matter how great of a handler you are for a snake like that you will need help, and that will be around for a long time. They can be very hard to place if you decide that you don't want it after a while (which this lady's track record makes a pretty strong possibility) and they are not as exciting as some people seem to think. There is absolutely nothing that indicates that this family would be a good one for a large snake, if they are intent on a snake a little corn snake or something would be a lot better as they are much more manageable, they are more active, and they have much shorter life spans.

Please see if there are any reptile rescues in the area and talk to them about the lizard as well as mentioning that the reason she is getting rid of him is because she is bored and wants to replace him with something else. They should be able to contact local breeders (or you could ask them if they know any local breeders that you could contact) because most likely she will be doing the same thing with her new pet in a few years. Also some of what she did in the past is criminal animal abuse you may want to pass that on to the breeders as well as the SPCA or any other animal protection agencies that may be in your area.

I know you are worried about back lash from this woman but she doesn't have to know that the issue is you, besides people tend to give less credence to someone once they find out that person abuses animals.