Burns / Infection / Unknown Disease : One of the Worst Snake Owners

Also--- how ironic is it that his name is Scorchmuffin:rolleyes:

Trisnake, I usually find myself climbing for dominance in unstable friendships and I'm usually the one to cause the fights and to tear down who I thought were my friends. Yes, I can be very kind and considerate - to animals. She's done plenty to piss me off and if she gets in the way of me saving this poor guy then tough luck. My mother says to not call animal control because, mostly, she doesn't want me to lose a friendship but I'm losing one anyway so why bother? She also doesn't want them to get mad and target us.

What's he going to do? Shoot me? He owns guns. If he wants to spend years in prison then be my guest. I doubt he's the type of person to do that, though. The most he'd do is never welcome me to their house again.

Oh, but Ariana. I gave her a rat quite a while ago that was originally a feeder rat but man, the little guy was so sweet. The others usually are untamed and bite fingers but this one was so loving so I let her keep it. I would feel bad if they were eaten. That and her dog is the only animal she cares about. She's always buying things for her rat such as a play pen, a hammock, and she's always taking her out. That's good and all but why can't you treat the snakes like you treat her? Her room is in the basement where the snakes are so it's not like the leopard geckos on the second floor that she never gets to see. I thought she likes Scorchmuffin but honest to God all she cares about is pissing me off with her anime and her rat and dog.

The only reason I feel bad is because of my mom. She's always pushing me to make new friends but, you see, I don't like people. I already found my soul mate and we've been together for 5 years now. She agrees with me on this whole mess. God, I wish she was my sister. She lives in Washington and I'm all the way in Illinois. I could only cope last night because of her.

Anyway, I realized I was on a snake form. My mom said that Ariana's mom replied but she didn't say that she said yes so I'm a bit anxious about the answer. Wish me luck.

And yes, very ironic.

They said no. They said "he's getting better" and "we'll take him to a vet if he gets worse."

I absolutely doubt it. They said they don't want us to interfere but right now I am angry. They said they don't want their information online. Well, too bad. "Art has been taking care of snakes all his life."

Are...
Are you lying to me now?
Do you really expect to believe that the man who caused two snakes to almost (and one might) meet their maker? Sadistic. Real funny, Tiffany. All your family does is mistreat animal, vape in front of children, and mistreat your daughter until she takes it out on her friends. A real happy picture.

But, guys. My mom is really pressing me to not call animal control. She's trying to make me promise, but I said that promises are nothing. I'm so confused on what to do at this point. They say they're doing things but God, I highly doubt it. Infection is set in. It could be already too late. And they're going to get away with it. I really can't do it. I can't disobey my mother but at the same time it's so easy; and so right. Oh, if only Ariana was still on my contacts so I could give her a proper, "goodbye. Her whole family is a mess. You can't expect to collide two storms and expect good results. Just a week ago I went her birthday party and it was so much fun.

This stress is killing me.

I don't think I can call animal control. Honestly, I'm afraid.

Nixon, I responded earlier saying you needed to get involved, but honestly, I think the best move now is to completely detach yourself from the situation.

The animals are important, but you are more so, and this has all of the indicators of a potentially very ugly situation. I completely commend you on your caring for Dave, and all you've done for the other animals still in the :cens0r: care. But this one won't end well for you. What you are attempting to do is the 100% right thing, but at this point, without the support of your parents, it becomes exponentially harder. If they can't be convinced to back your move, then please just walk away from this fight. Do try and convince them to go to the authorities. Pull the "what would you do if this was a puppy or a kitten?" However, if they are adamant that they don't want to cross this guy because he is dangerous - well, there might be a valid reason for it. We out here on the web aren't in a position to judge that. Though, I would ask if he was so dangerous, why do they allow you to visit in the first place? In the end though, it is their house, their rules, and it sounds like they have your safety in mind (good parents). I'd respect their wishes. At the very least, you gave the :cens0r: a wake up call that there is legal jeopardy in what he is doing.


As for the friendship, I'm sorry dude but that is toxic. I've had very few true friends, so I know exactly why you don't want to lose someone you think of as a long term friend. It doesn't work when one person puts in all the effort. I've been there too. She's not really a friend, and you deserve better.

I just hope for the best with Scorchmuffin. When I get back into contact with Ariana I'm going to quite literally give her the giant middle finger. Her entire family is nonsense on unneeded stress. As long as I have my one friend who talks to me frequently then I'll be alright. But I feel the problem was the pushing. Most were telling me to call animal control which, yes, is the right thing but I got my whole life ahead of me and I don't need this @$$ of a family targeting me throughout.

Sure, I'm mean. I'm a little messed up. I piss people off. But, God, at least I try to stop. Ariana went from borderline rude to an enemy.

I'm sharing about this family when I go to the reptile show. Dave is the main part so of course they'll be mentioned. One by one they'll be hated - but never truly known. (Obviously, not going to give out their last name.)

In the end, at least I saved one. Dave is slithering around right now, curling about his hiding log. He's happy; comfortable. I recently fixed my gram scale. I got him at less than 395 grams (2 and half foot snake) and now he's about 750. Thank you all for the support, though, through both of these stories. It's been an emotional roller coaster. I wish we could've rescued Scorchmuffin but those chances look slim now. Maybe somebody else will knock sense into them.

Thank you, everybody. It's been a journey.

Nothing about what Nixons mother has supposedly said concerns his or their safety in any way. What I am inferring here is that she just wants her child to have friends and be normal and make things easy on everyone. Not taking into account and quite frankly not caring that they're literally torturing animals in their basement. I'm sorry but I would have to disobey my parents on this one, it is absolutely not right what they are asking of you.

Ignoring the situation and forgetting about it while these animals continue to suffer, when you very well CAN do something about it, is wrong, and that's what they're asking of you. Maybe I am bullheaded, maybe I am crass, you could even consider me to be rude. But I honestly don't care what I am as long as those animals are rescued, whatever fate they meet.

I wouldnt worry about retaliation; its the quickest way to earn yourself more interactions with law enforcement, and I doubt they would want anything to do with that if they get their house raided and their animals taken. Which, at this point, is what I fully believe should happen.

You could even do it anonymously. Just don't warn them or they may let them go before it happens. Things like this just really make my blood boil...

EDIT: you could even blame it on me, nasty old Trisnake turning them in since you posted the story on the internet ;)

Same. I AM a parent, and I would absolutely be 100% behind my kids if any one of them came home to tell me about a sick, neglected animal at a friend's house. If it were me, I'd be going down there to have it out face-to-face with the other adults, because that's not something a kid should have to worry about weighing on their conscience, and if they resisted then AC would be called. Friends come and go.. The good ones are willing to talk and listen. I married my best friend from high school, but cut loose another freind that I had been practically siblings with since grade school because she wouldn't respect my boundaries. Number is never so important as quality.

Though as a note: if you are worried about animal control taking all the animals including the dog and rat, my experience is they will not seize right away unless the animal is in clear danger and will instead require the owner to seek vet care, then do wellness checks from that point on to see if the situation is getting better. If the rat and dog have no signs of neglect they usually won't be seized, but they will keep tabs on the other animals in the house just in case. Scorchmuffin is bad enough they may seize him on sight and leave the other one with instructions to clean up their act or else.

I don't care if they're all taken. From all the crap she's put me through I'd love to see their reaction but my mom is saying how they told her specifically for us not to get involved. She says at that point we can't do anything because of consent? (Obviously, you don't need consent but still...) I really don't want to go against my mother. I get it. You guys really feel for these animals but I'm sixteen, already stressed as it is and I can't handle this situation alone. I'm in the dark.

Right now, all I'm feeling is pressure from everybody telling me to do the one thing I can't do. I'm sorry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nixon

my mom is saying how they told her specifically for us not to get involved. She says at that point we can't do anything because of consent?

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Of course they don't want you to get involved and call animal control; animal neglect and abuse is a crime. That's like a bank robber asking you not to call 911! And consent has nothing to do with it, if you see a crime you can report it and leave the investigation up to the authorities.

Now, I can tell you that most animal control folks don't know much about reptiles. They can handle dogs, cats, and livestock just fine, but reptiles and birds aren't their area of expertise because they don't come across those types of animals very often. That's why I suggested contacting a rescue to see what they recommend.

The only thing you would be doing alone is calling the relevant people; they will handle the rest.

I'm going to be honest here. You did great with Dave, and I understand that you're young. But quite frankly in this instance I don't care. Age isn't an excuse, and stressed or otherwise, if you turn away here youre in the same boat as them.

You justifying not acting is the same as you justifying the abuse that's taking place. There is literally no reason for you to let this go on, yet that is the choice you're making. You have the ability to save this animal and do the right thing, but you withhold that from a poor suffering creature. And why? Because you don't want to rock the boat? Because you're "stressed"? Gee, I wonder how much stress Scorchmuffin is going through... I'm sure he'll understand.

and before you think "oh, look at that mean old adult picking on a poor 16 year old! put yourself in his shoes!", I'll leave you with this; I'm 19. I still live with my parents. I am enrolled in school full time and I work part time. Big whooping deal that you're stressed, everybody who lives life is. Doesn't keep them from doing the right thing.