Neglected bp

In my high school, a biology teacher has several animals in his class room, all of which are not being properly cared for. The one that worries me the most is a female bp of around 3 feet. She is in a cage(too small for her) without any type of hides, only a water bowl and an uth MINI size, which is barely anything for her, because everytime i pick her up 90% of her body is ice cold and only a little bit is warm. That room gets very cold even for warm blooded students with jackets. The teacher doesnt feed her properly, because everytime i ask him when she last ate, he tells me he forgot, and that she is due to eat soon, but i ask again and he says the same thing. The snake has issues while shedding, and i usually go to the classroom during my lunch so i can spray her a little and help her remove parts of the shed because i cant soak her for an hour like i would to one of my bp. I ha e cleaned her cage a couple times because its dirty and the substrate is old. She is going to shed soon again because i saw her belly yesterday (pink) and i will be bringing a rat on monday for her because im worried about when was the last time she ate. This makes me angry because its just a sweet snake, eventhough its hungry and neglected she is very docile. I just wanted to share this with you guys because i dont know anybody else who would care, they will just say its a "dumb snake". I actually almost fought another guy because he was hitting the glass tank to make the snake move and he was yelling at the poor snake who was just balled up in there. I told the teacher all of the flaws in the husbandry of the snake and he says "nah, she's fine" "if i put a hide in there then no one could see it" "its ok, she can go without food for long periods"(thats true but you still have to offer food!!) I think that if your not willing to get everything for a snake to be comfy then you souldnt have one (Im not saying my husbandry is perfect, if you seen my other posts you know im working on it in order to get it just right) in the class there is also a gecko without any type of heat, a tarantula without a hide thats gets harrased by students (cage picked up and shaken) fish, and a turtle living in dirty water, and the teacher just got a frog this week :)

Id take it to upper school administration. Thats Baloney. That sounds like 100% neglect and it's actually against the law.

I have thought about it, and i want to do it, but the people in this school wont care for a "dumb snake" im going to talk to the teacher again for one last time, if he doesnt do something i will talk to the administration, can you elaborate more on how its against the law? That way i can bring that up in my argument

You should bring it up with the school and see if anything gets done about it. Poor husbandry to that extent could be considered animal abuse, and if the teacher keeps getting more and more pets without providing the right enclosures and basic needs for the ones they already have, I'd be concerned for the new animals as well.

i'd say find care sheets and research to print and bring with you. maybe read up on your local/state laws regarding animal neglect and abuse; have those printed to bring with as well. you'll need all the fire power you can get with people so seemingly ignorant.

Im definetly going to do that, in the meantime im just going to keep an eye out for her, and im gonna talk to the principal, this is not right

I'm going to second the recommendation to research your local animal neglect statutes before you escalate the issue. Different jurisdictions can have wildly different regulations on animal welfare, and you don't want to go citing stricter regulations than actually apply in your town/county/etc..

It may also help to cite a learning/role-model angle as well. Point out that it's the teacher's responsibility to set a good example of responsible animal husbandry for his students, and that this sorry collection of pets is doing nothing more than teaching your fellow classmates that it's okay to neglect something that they're taken responsibility for. That might induce the admins at your school to pay attention more than whatever technical proof you can muster that the animals are being mistreated.

It's a sad day when young people have to teach morals to adult school teachers!!

That is a very smart approach as well. I'll keep you guys updated of whatever they say. And yes, its very sad, its just that the snake is such a sweetheart! If i was a snake in her condition i would be bitting every human i could. Its like the teacher has it as decoration for his classroom. Also, i wanted to tell you people something else, remember the gecko that doesnt have any heat? He said he put a hide in the enclosure so the gecko can be warm.....last time I checked, reptiles do not work like that.

Remember, there is strength in numbers. The more people that ask to talk to the principal about it on a daily basis, the more attention the problem receives. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Be careful to not bash the teacher. Express concern for the animals, and make sure to mention that you have already tried talking to the teacher more than once with no change. Offer again to bring in new copies of care information, and ideas to improve husbandry. Make sure to not focus on just the ball python.

The school year will be over soon for many districts. Act quickly, and keep nudging. Get parents involved, too, if student discussion is not enough.

At least your trying to do something good for you. Your teacher seems like a deadbeat. And i think that's a nice way of putting it.

I wish a lot of people got involved and cared for the animals as much as i do, but for most people its just a stupid animal or whatever, thats not going to stop me tho. Im going to talk to the teacher once again, show him caresheets for all of his animals, point out the flaws in his husbandry (again) you know, try to get him to fix it, like give him one last chance, if he doesnt, well, i will take it to the principal, and keep annoying them until they do something

What an absolutely horrible standard to set for your students. Talk about an awful role model. I agree with the other posters here that said to mention the "encouraging irresponsible practices" angle. If they have a teacher that is endorsing poor animal care practices by neglecting his animals, using them as ornaments for his classroom without any thought to their needs or wellbeing and then JUSTIFYING IT when a concerned student REPEATEDLY inquires about the health of his animals, it needs to be addressed, and I feel that any school administrator would be deeply troubled if they had this case brought to them. Especially in regards to possible animal abuse, no school wants issues with law enforcement. Bring up that they're lacking basic necessities like heat sources (absolutely needed for cold blooded creatures) and places to hide for security, and the fact that he doesn't feed them. I would also try to recall how many times you talked to him and on what days, to give them a timeline. Also let them know that you've been taking time out of your day and money out of your bank account to care for this mans animals. You're a good person for being so adamant about the situation, I wish you luck and I hope something gets done for those critters before school is out.

ps the fact that this dude is a bio teacher kills me. absolutely ridiculous.

Also! Does your school district have a teacher who teaches Small Animal Management, or have any sort of fast-track Vet Tech program through a local community college? At any of the schools in the district? I know my high school had those programs when I was in school, and I'm sure it's not the only one. Maybe see if there's someone specialized in this stuff who is also employed by your school district, and you could contact them and see what to do from there. If someone who works for them and is paid to teach the proper care of these animals supports your argument it would go a long way.

..sigh.people man everywhere i look and you say hes a teacher?, kudos to you for trying to do something about it man. keep us updated

This is what im going to do, im going to write an essay, today, about everything that my teacher is doing wrong with his animals. Im going to give it to him so that he can see what he is doing is cruel and as a last chance to correct these issues. If not then the administrators are getting the essay as well, and if nothing happens after that i'll think of something else, but i dont want these animals to suffer any more
Update on the ball python: like always, she had a terrible shed, i went there during my lunch to help her and most of the shed is gone now including the eye caps (thankfully it was easy to remove them) i also fed her on monday, a small rat (p/k) and she went for it faster than any other snake ive seen, also, because i happen to be class president, i get a little heater for me because the class is really really cold, and i put it far from the "hot" side of her cage and now she is a little warmer, she doesnt feel like a frozen snake anymore

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Originally Posted by Trisnake

Also! Does your school district have a teacher who teaches Small Animal Management, or have any sort of fast-track Vet Tech program through a local community college? At any of the schools in the district? I know my high school had those programs when I was in school, and I'm sure it's not the only one. Maybe see if there's someone specialized in this stuff who is also employed by your school district, and you could contact them and see what to do from there. If someone who works for them and is paid to teach the proper care of these animals supports your argument it would go a long way.

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No, sadly we do not, i would be in it by now :(

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Take pictures of the environment the snake is in before you change anything. That way, if you do decide to take any action, you still have proof of the environment the snake was in before anyone makes any changes

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cae11ba482.jpg

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The heater is to the left of the picture, and this is a pic of today after i helped her shed, the other side of the cage only has substrate, and i have pictures of the whole set up but they are on my other phone

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Originally Posted by Gc99

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...cae11ba482.jpg

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That poor snake :(
Thankyou so much for helping her. I hope she gets into a better situation soon. That teacher doesn't deserve to keep ANY animals.

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Originally Posted by LightningPython

That poor snake :(
Thankyou so much for helping her. I hope she gets into a better situation soon. That teacher doesn't deserve to keep ANY animals.

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I agree with you, and he just keeps getting more animals, he told us that he HAS to buy another frog every year because they die for some reason....why do they die? I have no clue

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keep us updated! would love to read the essay you're going to write.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

keep us updated! would love to read the essay you're going to write.

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I sure will, and as soon as my bp gulps down his rat im going to start writing

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I would photograph each of the enclosures that have issues and report it to the ASPCA or Humane Society as animal neglect. Also report it to your local congress person (trust me they love having staff make complaint phone calls on behalf of the public) Point out the issues in each case, unregulated heater, filthy cages, stuck sheds etc.

Tell them that you brought it up to the school administration and they have ignored the issue.

Nothing lights a fire under administration like another agency calling them or requesting a site check. Unfortunately, the school will probably just tell the teacher to take the animals home.

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Originally Posted by Sallos

I would photograph each of the enclosures that have issues and report it to the ASPCA or Humane Society as animal neglect. Also report it to your local congress person (trust me they love having staff make complaint phone calls on behalf of the public) Point out the issues in each case, unregulated heater, filthy cages, stuck sheds etc.

Tell them that you brought it up to the school administration and they have ignored the issue.

Nothing lights a fire under administration like another agency calling them or requesting a site check. Unfortunately, the school will probably just tell the teacher to take the animals home.

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Thats what im afraid of! God, if they tell him to get rid of them, i dont know what would happen to them

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In my work, basically all I do is solve problems, that include human relationships. Let me tell you nothing gets more impact than facts. With such a delicate matter where life (of the animals) and law is mentioned, facts are of vital importance!

I am positive that there are tons of people willing to help you make a solid case. Be very careful not to leave any gaps where the teacher or the administration can discredit any of your arguments. Trust me they will try that.

I don't know where is your school but I'm sure there is a zoo or any other expert vet willing to visit your classroom and asses you as an expert whether there really is or not animal neglect. Unfortunately a kids' opinion is easily disregarded, as well try to contact a lawyer or any association, even the vet can help you out with this, to explain the local regulations on these regard. I'm not very fond of green peace but I bet if you send them a mail they will be glad to assist you making a good solid case and oversee that this matter come to a happy ending for the animals.


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Originally Posted by Mike17

In my work, basically all I do is solve problems, that include human relationships. Let me tell you nothing gets more impact than facts. With such a delicate matter where life (of the animals) and law is mentioned, facts are of vital importance!

I am positive that there are tons of people willing to help you make a solid case. Be very careful not to leave any gaps where the teacher or the administration can discredit any of your arguments. Trust me they will try that.

I don't know where is your school but I'm sure there is a zoo or any other expert vet willing to visit your classroom and asses you as an expert whether there really is or not animal neglect. Unfortunately a kids' opinion is easily disregarded, as well try to contact a lawyer or any association, even the vet can help you out with this, to explain the local regulations on these regard. I'm not very fond of green peace but I bet if you send them a mail they will be glad to assist you making a good solid case and oversee that this matter come to a happy ending for the animals.


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I will try to contact a vet now that you mention it, and i will also contact the people at the reptile store i go to, they are very good people, they can help me make a more solid case. if i have an actual store that sells these animals backing me up that will help a lot.

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