I am so MAD!

A little while back I posted about a Ball Python and a Rosy Boa that a guy wasn't taking care of. When I took them in the Ball Python had layers of stuck shed on him, was thin, dehydrated, and just down right sad looking. They had been left in an unair conditioned building in one of the worst Texas summers in a long time. It took me 2 weeks to get all the stuck shed off this guy, with soaking and running through a towel, and feeding him on a schedule. The snakes looks great now. The Rosy faired better than the Ball at the building.

So today the guy tells me he wants them back. I told him I would be interested in buying the Ball Python from him, since it took so much work to get him healthy. The guy goes on to tell me that he doesn't believe that the snake was in bad shape. And that it was because I was misting the tank that there was mold in the tank. Never mind that the cedar bedding hadn't been changed in probably close to 6 months. I was not misting the tank or doing anything to the snakes and tanks while they were there at the building, up until the office manager informed me that the tanks were nasty. Than I went out and got some snake aspen and changed the bedding. That was when I saw how bad off the Ball was. Than this guy tells me that the snake wasn't thin because they can go months with out eating. And later this guy tells my father, who owns the building, that the snake was thin because I wasn't feeding it. I was the only one who would take food down for those snakes. No one asked me to feed them. He didn't arrange for me to feed them. I am so mad that this guy is blaming me for the condition his snakes were in. I have put out a decent amount of money and time to get these snakes looking better and in good setups. This guy is a friend of my father and when my father even told him that I was upset about this, and that the snake was in bad shape when it came to my house, my father was the one to bring them to my house, this guy told him that he was mad too because I caused this. Oh, I am so angery about this. I can do nothing but give him the 2 snakes back, but I am so mad that he is accusing me of this stuff, when if I hadn't taken these snakes in I don't think they would have made it through the summer. Sorry for the long vent.

I would not give them back to him - he has proven that he is incapable of caring for them properly - please don't send them back to his care for them to suffer once again.

Possession is 9/10ths of the law - you've got them - I would keep them.

I just can't stand to see any animal suffer at the hands of an ignorant human being.

Wow, what a complete jerk. I would probably refuse to give the snakes back. I don't suppose you took pics of them when you first got them to prove what horrible condition they were in? People like him make me so angry. :mad:

I don't want to give them back:tears: But my father/land lord wants me to give them back, since this friend of his is also his business partner. He is afraid of how me keeping them against his friends will will affect the business and their friendship. I am torn, I love the python because he had been my snake before this guy took him, and I had only given the python up due to a nasty exhusband that hated all the animals, and I felt that I couldn't give this python the care at the time. I never would of dreamed that this guy would of treated my python this way. I don't want to put my dad in a bad spot. And since he is the landlord he has the final say. He is upset too, he didn't think this guy would ask for them back.

I sadly didn't take any pictures, I was so shocked and upset that I just started to work on making them healthy. My father saw how bad they were and the guy just told him that it was my fault. It just makes me sick to my stomach.

Wait, so this was your snake originally? And your dad is forcing you (a grown woman) to give them back because his so-called friend might hold it against HIM?!

Now that I've pointed out how outrageous your situation is - would the dirt-bag be willing to let you buy him a replacement for the BP?

Sending good Karma your way. I wouldn't be able to give the snakes back if they were in that bad of shape.

My feelings with my animals are, I am their caretaker. I have to make sure they are well taken care of because they did not choose their situation and are practically helpless. I have to make the best decisions for their well being, even if it is not what I want for myself.

Maybe agree with that horrible man that you will surrender them to a reptile rescue or somewhere they can be adopted out again to a good home.

Didn't you say it was your snake to begin with?

Under no circumstances do you surrender an animal to a known abuser just to avoid hurt or angry feelings.

It it was me - since you live with your dad - I would just find a suitable home for them and give them up to someone else. When they ask where they are - you simply say you don't know.

What can they do - beat you up!!! Your first responsibility is to those snakes - they cant speak for themselves or defend themselves against this idiot.

I would also report this idiot the authorities in your area - animal control or something.

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Originally Posted by L.West

Under no circumstances do you surrender an animal to a known abuser just to avoid hurt or angry feelings.

It it was me - since you live with your dad - I would just find a suitable home for them and give them up to someone else. When they ask where they are - you simply say you don't know.

What can they do - beat you up!!! Your first responsibility is to those snakes - they cant speak for themselves or defend themselves against this idiot.

I would also report this idiot the authorities in your area - animal control or something.

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We really need a "Thanks" or "Like" button.

Yes, he was my snake originally, but I had a horrible now exhusband and I gave the snake away because I thought it was the best thing at the time. I offered to buy the snake out right from him, since he got it for free he would make a some money on the deal. He told me no because his kids miss the snake. And yes I am a grown woman, but my ex left me and 2 very small kids with nothing a year ago, and my parents helped us out alot to get back on our feet. So I can't be mad at my father since he let us stay rent free in one of the company's houses for a couple of months so I could get an income coming in, and that made his business partner a little upset. And his business partner didn't really want me to take the snakes in the first place, my father pushed it since they were in bad shape. But he believes that if the guy takes them to his house that he will take care of them.

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Originally Posted by aldebono

We really need a "Thanks" or "Like" button.

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Bottom left...

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...nks-button.jpg

;)

I don't live with my parents, I have my own place, it is just one of the houses from their company that I rent from. What I don't get is that this guy had taken care of the snakes great for a long time. When he first brought them down to the building they both looked good. It was just the last 6 months that he quite caring for them. And my father honestly believes that this guy will take care of them if he takes them back to his house. I will probably try again to see if this guy will sell me the snake after he cools down.

I personally wouldn't give them back. He gave them to you. If he wants them back he can buy them from you IF you want to sell them. They are your snakes.

I haven't read the other responses above mine

You are your fathers child, he knows you inside and out.

It would be a cold day in hell before I would surrender those animals over to that idiot!

Umm, I hate to break it to your dad and his so-called friend, but once you have cared for an animal for 5 days, it becomes your property.

Let dad get mad, he's your dad he'll get over it if he loves you. You however, will hate yourself for a long time if you give them back. Don't let them guilt trip you into a bad decision. Put your foot down. The animals stay with you, period. If they don't like it, give them to a reptile shelter. I'd put them down before I gave them back to that monster.

Right now they want you to feel in debt to them for being nice to you. Tell your dad yes you appreciate what was done for you, but like he double-hockey sticks are you going to give those snakes back. What kind of father chooses a friend over his own child anyway!!

Gale

Something similar to this happen recently at a petstore I go to.
A guys BP escaped recently cause he was keeping it in horribly secured cage.
Well someone found it and brought it to the local police department and then the police department brought it to a local pet store so they could care for it.
Well about 30 days pass by and the guy calls the Police and the police tell him what pet store its at. So the guy calls the pet store so he can get it back. Well the owner of the pet store tells him there is a boarding fee of 10 dollars a day for 30 days. Well the guy decides he doesnt want the snake since its just a normal and not worth 300 to him.
Now personaly I think that is kind of wrong for the pet store to do. In your case I think its justified. Charge the guy a boarding fee and see what he decides to do then.

Stand your ground and tell him no. Do you have pictures of the snakes when you took them in? If so, you could get him to drop it if you bring up Animal cruelty.

Thanks everyone for the replies:) I will do the best thing I can do. I did want to mention that I don't think my dad is trying to guilt trip me, his friend is, but not my dad. My dad loves me and my 2 kids more than anything. My dad just got stuck in the middle, and I shouldn't have drug him into it, and he stood up for me with his friend. My dad just simply wanted me to know that he thinks that now that the guys house is done being remodled, and the snakes will be back in the house where they were before when he did take care of them that he thinks he will take care of them again. He is just as irritated as I was about the situation. I am giving the snakes to a friend of mine and leaving it at that. Thanks again for all the replies.