A Sad Story - Warning If Easily Upset Avoid!

Last year we had a call out for help with a bearded dragon. This young man was desparate for help. He had tried the RSPCA and had no luck and didn't know which way to turn. He told us that the beardie had belonged to his mum but she wasn't supposed to keep animals because she wasn't well enough to look after them, and her nurse had rang him to get some help. He told us that the beardie was in a bad way and that he didn't know when it had last eaten etc. as his mum was mentally ill. We told he him would be there straight away and off we went. The jouney only took 40 mins drive, so wasn't that far away.

When we arrived we was greeted by this nice young mad, who was very nervous. Right from the start it was obvious that this young man too wasn't well in himself either. I kinder got the feeling he was embarrassed by what we would see when we saw the little beardie and was keen to show us his royal pythons etc to show that he wasn't responsible for how the little beardie had been treated. They was lovely and well cared for.

The he passed me this shoe box, that he had taken out of a nice wrm viv. Well inside this shoe box was the poorest sight I had seen so far. Sure i have seen some pretty badly burmt reptiles and othe sick animals but what i was about to see would affect me dearly. At first glance i though the poor love had already passed away, but ever so shallowly he was still breathing. Now we had a rush to get back to see what we could do.

It was obvious that the little beardie was suffering from MBD, stavation & dehydration. We administered electrolytes, once we got him warm and put him under some UV. The slowly we built him up with baby food and carefully gave him reptile vitamins and nutrobal. I had to feed him with a syringe as he was far too weak to try and feed himself. I aslo gave him waxworms by hand to get him slowly used to solids. After a few weeks he began putting on weight and was able to even catch his own crickets.

He was doing ever so well and was able to walk, were as before he could only drag himself about. I was so pleased with his progress. Then one day I noticed that he was passing undigested food, obviously the damage to his internal organs was now showing it's ugly head. To give you an ideal of time scale this was some 6 months later from when he arrived. The same night he died in his sleep.

When he first came in...


After 3 months... still under weight but improving.

Here he is chasing crickets

Aww the poor thing,

I'm not going to say "how can they do this to an animal" as the lady had a mental health problem and I understand more than most what it's like and how hard it is, all I'm going to say is that it's a shame that she was too unwell to know anything was wrong and that her family didn't notice that the beardie was suffering sooner.

Sad story Denise You did everything you could and he did look like he'd improved before he passed away

Thanks tony - looking after this special fellow broke my heart xxx

Obviously you'd get attached having worked so closely with him.

Were any charges brought against the mother? I'm asking from a mental health position

I'm amazed you got him as far as you did. I've cared for beardies in a much less sorry state that din't pull through. Well done.
what a shame

Thank you xxx

Sorry Denise

Unfortunately that happens too often. Here in the Western Cape we need permits for everything, and I think the positive side of it is that there is that feeling that youve gone through a lot of trouble to get the animal, that you take extra care of it, well most of us in any case.
Denise once you have rehabilitated the animal, what do you do with it, and whats the process if someone is interested in "adopting" a rehabilitated animal from you?


Saw a documentary last night, a woman rescues monkeys, and she has like hundreds of them, she refuses to give them away, and says that should she die, they have tp put them down, and put their ashes in a memorial garden, she couldnt stand anyone else abusing those animals again. :cry:

Thanks Bogga.

Soma animals we don't put them up for adoption. These are the ones who have been mis-treated so badly that I do fear that they may not get the care they deserve.

But if I was to die I wouldn't want the animals put to sleep like the lady in the program, as I feel that is a bit much and in all honesty selfish. Being a rescuer doesn't mean that you are a rare breed, there are many rescuers out there who could provide the same care as we do... it's just fear knowing that once you have got an animal so far that any repercussons would certainly mean death.

At my rescue I tend to rehome any animal that is fit and well, so I can continue rescuing. If I didn't rehome I simply wouldn't have the capacity to give another animal a chance of a healthier happy life.

Ja, thats true, you need the space and time as well, so, do you rehome to sunny South Africa? I think there are some African Animals you rescue as well?

Sadly only to the UK.
We have had several animals that orginate from Africa yes.

so sad denise such a shame as he seemed to be doing so well xxxx

Thanks Lorraine xxx

You do good work. It's nice that there are people like you to be found.

Thanks Bam, as you know being a rescuers is something, I feel, that you are born with and if you have got the time, dedication etc then putting it to good use is valuable. I will look forward to hearing some of your stories too.

Reptile Rescue Den wrote:

Thanks Bam, as you know being a rescuers is something, I feel, that you are born with and if you have got the time, dedication etc then putting it to good use is valuable. I will look forward to hearing some of your stories too.

Not tonight! I think I've used enough finger power for one day. I'm going to try and get a few hours of sleep, if I can. I will return tomorrow with a story or two - after my doctor's appointment.

(Sometimes I think I'm in worse shape than some of the rescues!)

Bam

Bam good luck at the docs and try to get a good nights sleep. Stay safe and take care.

well done for the stirling job there!!!
A friend who takes in unwanted reps has a leo that turned up last week in better nick but not much! Its a sad situation but at times the owner cant be blamed.
Much respect to you!!!

8x1 wrote:

well done for the stirling job there!!!
A friend who takes in unwanted reps has a leo that turned up last week in better nick but not much! Its a sad situation but at times the owner cant be blamed.
Much respect to you!!!

Thanks
You are right not all the blame lies with the owner.

Poor thing at least the last months of his life were better for knowing you and the gr8 care you gave him enriched his poor existence for a while, you do a fantastic job respect to you

Thanks Carrie.