News item: Reptile rescuers home vandalized, herps hurt/killed

That's a most terrible tragedy. I hope they catch those kids. Poor Gloria!! :( I wish he lived locally, cause I am about to switch from tanks to racks, and I'll have oodles of glass tanks that I would think are useful. shipping them would be insane!

This is so sad. I wish I had money to donate, I just dont at this time.:sigh2: I hope they catch who ever did it. I dont know what I would do if anyone hurt, let alone killed any one of my animals.:( :mad: :confused:

I talked to a woman who was close with the owner, and yesterday she said gloria was hanging in there so far. I really hope she makes it:( I made a small donation. I only wish I lived closer so I could go and help out in person

Here's a bulletin posted on Myspace from the woman I was talking to:


"UPDATE:
Roy called me today (I'm trying not to call him too much and let him call me mostly because his and Mike's phones have been ringing incessantly!)
He said Gloria is still hanging in there... she was a bit more lively today.... she has urinated a couple times so that's a good sign that her bladder isn't destroyed... she has yet to defecate but let's cross our fingers that she won't have any problem there either and that all her "plumbing" is functioning properly. They are going to wait a few more days before trying to offer her a meal... her mouth is still pretty sore. But she is perking up, which makes me very happy! She is a sweetheart... and beautiful.
Roy also told me that a lady from the Governor's office called him and informed him that the governor is outraged and will be pushing for the maximum fines and sentences/penalties on all charges plus any additional charges they can stick them with. I hope to hell they catch them!! Of course I'd like to see the public have their way with 'em before they are sent to trial! As far as donations go... he wanted me to pass on his sincerest "thank you's" to all that have helped... so far they have pulled in about $900 in donations ... a far cry from the $7000 in damages/losses but still nice to know there are people out there that still have a heart and love reptiles like we do! I am not going to stop until the reptile rescue is back up and running... he is getting a few more snakes in soon and I'm sure I will buy a couple off him... not that I don't have enough with the 27 I do have... (8 of them are babies and I won't be keeping all of them) but that's okay, I love all of them! Even my two :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r: milksnakes... haha ;o)
I will be going to Roy's tomorrow to bring him some cages I have collected and the cash that has been donated to me... I'm not sure if I will get to see Gloria but if there is any current updates I will be sure to keep you posted."


I'm glad Gloria is doing a bit better :)

Thanks for the update:cool:

i'm in tears as i write this. i've made a donation and hope they'll be able to rebuild soon... so they can assist more critters in need.

here's the email address to donate to:

admin@awesomereptiles.com

and remember... every little bit helps! if you only have 5 bucks... that's great, if you have more, then donate more. 10 people donating $10 brings in $100 - so please don't see your donation as small!

i need to go wipe my eyes... :(

Why has their web site gone down? It's been down for a few days now...

Here's another update from Jodi (from yesterday)


Just wanted to let everyone know that I went over to Roy's today with some money and donated caging/supplies... Gloria (the 10 foot albino burmese python) is hanging in there... I got to see her today while we were there. The deepest puncture wound is on the very top of her head... the other stab wounds are still bad but not as ugly as that one.

So far she has urinated twice which is a good sign! We know her bladder is still intact and functioning. She has yet to defecate but hopefully she will not have any difficulties there either.

Her mouth is still very sore so Roy and Mike are going to wait a few more days before trying to offer her a small meal. She has perked up some and is showing signs of liveliness and recovery. *fingers crossed* she is so beautiful... I took a couple of pics of her with my camera phone... going to compare them with my sisters and see whose came out better and then I will supply a new pic of her.

Sadly, Roy informed me that the people that attacked these reptiles also stole about 30 baby red eared slider turtles... not to mention the ones that they destroyed the shells of by throwing rocks at them. :(

It's going to be a long road to get the reptile rescue up and running again... and it will take a lot of money to do so... I am devoting my free time to collecting donations and supplies for them.... I will keep everyone posted on the condition of Gloria and the financial status of the reptile rescue. For those of you that live nearby, please remember that caging/supplies/donations can be dropped off to me at the bar where I work...

If anyone wants to forward the story from the rescue's homepage or make a donation/call to the rescue here is the link:

http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/tragedy.html

Take care!!

~xo~

Jodi

This is so sad, we sent a donation as well to help out where we can.

It is sad to see so much wasted youth out there!

I see kids like these all the time skipping school, doing drugs around the community pool/parks, doing absolutely nothing but looking for some trouble! What is even worse is, these are middle & upper class kids thinking it's cool to be scum! Kids who's parents drive BMW's and Mercedes, living in $500k-$1MM homes, yet these kids are breaking into their neighbors houses for beer and vandalism!

A few weeks ago I saw this guy, maybe 17-23yrs old running out of a gas station as he stole a 6pack of beer. As he ran he jumped in his buddies $50,000 Corvette!

i've contacted Roy Thibodeau to see how Gloria is doing... and they've caught the two boys responsible but in New Mexico it isn't illegal to harm a snake as they "don't have feelings" so they can't be tortured.

Quote:

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Here is some interesting news for all of you: in the state of New Mexico reptiles are
specifically excluded from the list of animals that warrant charges of animal
cruelty in such cases as these. In other words, Reptiles Must Not Have Feelings
Or Experience Pain! Isn't that a load of hog-wash!!!??? We at the LCRR are interested
in pursuing getting the laws changed here in New Mexico. As most of you know, reptiles feel
pain and suffer just as much as any other animal, and not being able to charge someone with
animal cruelty if they torture or kill a reptile is absolute nonsense.

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Roy shared this with me:

Quote:

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She (Gloria) is doing much better, healing well. She actually ate her normal meal today for the first time, an 8 pound chicken. We're slowly putting our rescue back together. Thank you again for your generosity, we greatly appreciate it.

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there is more updates on their site: http://www.awesomereptiles.com/lcrr/tragedy.html

and if you made a donation and will allow them, they would like to put your name on their thank you page - so email them and give them permission.